Phil Jackson's tell-all book settled the Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant comparisons, making it clear that the famed coach does have a preference.

Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success, set to be released on Tuesday, is Jackson's memoirs about his time as one of NBA's most successful coaches. He coached Jordan to six titles with the Chicago Bulls and Bryant to five with the Los Angeles Lakers before retiring in 2011. The Hall of Famer waded into the much-discussed debate over which one of his star athletes, Jordan or Bryant, is the better player.

Jackson did not mince words and praised Jordan for his leadership and skills on the court. Jackson said that it took Bryant years to experience leadership in his "bones" that Jordan had.

"Michael was masterful at controlling the emotional climate of the team with the power of his presence," Jackson wrote. "Kobe had a long way to go before he could make that claim."

Jackson also spoke about the difference the marquee athletes had in terms of playing ball, once again putting Jordan over. He wrote that Jordan was more naturally inclined to let the game come to him and not overplay his hand, and that Bryant would often force the issue.

"When his shot is off, Kobe will pound away relentlessly until his luck turns," he wrote. "Michael, on the other hand, would shift his attention to defense or passing or setting screens to help the team win the game."

He also made note of their personalities, remarking that Jordan was beloved and that Bryant tended to stay more to himself. Jackson said that Jordan was more charismatic and took the time to get to know the other players and security guards. Bryant, on the other hand, had to learn to be more engaging. Bryant joined the Lakers as a teenager and Jackson reasoned that he hadn't yet developed strong social skills.

"Increasingly, Kobe put more energy into getting to know the other players, especially when the team was on the road," he wrote.

Jackson also shared that Bryant's arrest on rape charges in 2003 changed his opinion of the basketball star. His daughter Brooke was a victim of sexual assault by an athlete while she was in college, and Jackson said the situation clouded his judgment and the residual anger kept manifesting itself.

"No matter what I did to extinguish it, the anger kept smoldering in the background," he wrote.

Bryant responded to Jackson's reported comments on Twittter. In a May 17 tweet, he said the comparisons were apples to oranges.

"Wonder what the perception would be if M played wit @shaq instead #differentroles #differentcareerpaths," Bryant also tweeted.

Jackson responded on the social media site as well to all the attention that his book had garnered. He tried to downplay the controversy.

"Listen friends of bball; don't get hung up on words. I was most fortunate to have the chance to coach two of the greatest gds. EVER MJ/Kobe," he wrote.

Tags: phil jackson Kobe Bryant Michael Jordan