Michael Jordan (left) and Kobe Bryant faced off in the 2003 All-Star Game. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

In his upcoming book Eleven Rings, legendary NBA coach Phil Jackson offers a comparative analysis of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, and it turns out there’s really no comparison.

Laying out the players’ relative strengths side-by-side, Jordan, who is responsible for six of Jackson’s 11 rings with the Bulls, consistently prevails over Bryant, who played a leading role with the Lakers in the other five.

The Los Angeles Times has printed excerpts of the book, which is set for release on May 21, and Jackson paints Jordan as the better leader, shooter and defender.

“One of the biggest differences between the two stars from my perspective was Michael’s superior skills as a leader,” Jackson said. “Though at times he could be hard on his teammates, Michael was masterful at controlling the emotional climate of the team with the power of his presence. Kobe had a long way to go before he could make that claim. He talked a good game, but he’d yet to experience the cold truth of leadership in his bones, as Michael had.”

Jackson noted the “pronounced” difference in their accuracy, Jordan shooting almost 50% — an “extraordinary figure” — while Bryant had been at 45%.

“No question, Michael was a tougher, more intimidating defender. He could break through virtually any screen and shut down almost any player with his intense, laser-focused style of defense.”

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Warriors forward Harrison Barnes took a hard fall during the second quarter of Game 6 of a Western Conference semifinals series against the Spurs.

With 1:15 remaining in the second quarter and the Spurs leading 45-36, Barnes came from the weakside to defend a drive by Boris Diaw. Barnes wound up catching his legs on Diaw’s midsection and fell headfirst back to the court. He landed hard on his right arm and shoulder and the right side of his head hit the court. Diaw, meanwhile, was called for travelling on the play.

Barnes then lay motionless on the court for an extended period of time and was quickly surrounded by his teammates and coaching staff on the court. He eventually left the court walking under his own power, but appeared a bit wobbly and he was bleeding from the right side of his head.

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Kevin Durant and the Thunder fell to the Grizzlies in five games in the Western Conference semifinals. (Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

Here’s a look at what’s in store for the Thunder this offseason after their second-round loss to the Grizzlies.

• What’s the biggest priority for Oklahoma City this offseason?

Deciding the fate of the supporting cast.

We can spread fault for OKC’s early playoff bow to any number of relevant parties, but without Russell Westbrook around to draw the attention of defenses, the Thunder role players were exposed. It’s not entirely fair to judge those players based on how they perform in a Westbrook-less context, but defeat begets explanation, and explanation begets blame. Such is the way of the sporting world. In claiming players such as Kevin Martin and Kendrick Perkins held the Thunder back, though, you also have to acknowledge that they were put in a situation where it would have been difficult to do anything else. They — along with Nick Collison, Reggie Jackson et al. — are role players for a reason, and their limitations didn’t disappear the moment that Westbrook went down and their roles were overstretched.

Still, the offseason presents the best time for roster reflection and renovation, and general manager Sam Presti should have ample opportunity for both. Martin will be a free agent, and with that status comes an interesting dilemma: What is Martin’s efficient offense worth to the Thunder, and can it be replaced via the mid-level exception? It’s tough to know at this point what a mid-level exception might buy on the open market, but Presti will fish for possible replacements, likely consider bringing Martin back if the price is right and surely evaluate the progress of 21-year-old guard Jeremy Lamb as a possible replacement.

Outlines: Bucks | Lakers | Nuggets | Nets | Clippers | Rockets | Celtics | Hawks | Bulls

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Derrick Rose should be ready to carry the Bulls’ offense in 2013-14. (Dan Lippitt/NBAE via Getty Images)

Here’s a look at what’s in store for the Bulls this offseason after their second-round loss to the Heat.

• What’s the biggest priority for Chicago this offseason?

Getting healthy while filling out the bench.

Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich figure to be back in action in relatively short order, but this summer will provide a crucial window for Derrick Rose to get as close to game speed and conditioning as possible. He’ll be relieved of all pressure to return as he continues to build a level of comfort with his rehabilitated knee, and by late October — some 18 months since he last played an NBA game — Rose should undoubtedly be ready to carry Chicago’s offense on a full-time basis. In the meantime, this will be a working summer for Rose, as well as a chance for Deng, Hinrich and a banged-up Joakim Noah to rest after a long season.

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Vinny Del Negro’s contract with the Clippers expires on June 30. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

A new coach for the Clippers? Not so fast.

Considered a lock to be fired after the Clippers’ disappointing first-round exit, Vinny Del Negro might be brought be back by Clippers owner Donald Sterling, reports ESPN.com’s Ramona Shelburne and Marc Stein.

The Los Angeles Clippers, after following up the first division title in franchise history with a disappointing first-round playoff exit, have not ruled out bringing back coach Vinny Del Negro, according to sources close to the process.

Sources told ESPN.com that there is a level of interest within the organization to extend Del Negro’s contract despite the widespread assumption in league circles that the embattled coach would take the fall for the Clippers’ six-game exit to the Memphis Grizzlies in Round 1.

The final call ultimately rests with Clippers owner Donald Sterling — who is regarded as Del Negro’s biggest backer in the organization — but one source close to the process said Wednesday that team officials were still deliberating and that no decision has been made yet.

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