by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports

Kobe Bryant has heard the Michael Jordan comparisons his entire life. Wednesday, he joined Jordan in another exclusive club.

The Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard reached 30,000 points during the first half of a game at the New Orleans Hornets. He needed 13 points entering the game and scored 17 in the half.

The 30,000th point came not on a dunk, which would have been a fitting reminder of his dunk champion younger days, or three-pointer, the dominant shot during his time as the NBA’s best scorer in his late 20s and early 30s. Instead, he drove past Hornets forward Al-Farouq Aminu and lofted a shot over center Robin Lopez.

It was vintage Kobe Bryant, any era.

Bryant already was fifth in NBA history in points Here’s the list, as of halftime of Tuesday’s game:

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 38,387

2. Karl Malone, 36,928

3. Michael Jordan, 32,292

4. Wilt Chamberlain, 31,419

5. Kobe Bryant, 30,004

Julius Erving scored 30,026 points over his career in the ABA and NBA, and Bryant could pass him by game’s end if he wants to. He has been renewed this season and leads the NBA in points a game.

But the Hornets lead the slumping Lakers 48-47 at the half. And Bryant, a five-time NBA champion, is nothing if not a winner.

… [For more on Kobe Bryant joins Michael Jordan, 3 others with 30,000 points, click here.]