I didn't say it was an issue of disrespect, I said it was an issue of appreciation. The Guy has set Laker and league wide records but still can't break into the top ten? what kind of shit is that?Originally Posted by gdatruth
I didn't say it was an issue of disrespect, I said it was an issue of appreciation. The Guy has set Laker and league wide records but still can't break into the top ten? what kind of shit is that?
i would definitely put Kobe in front of Jerry West. Kobe took one from Boston. Only Magic and Kareem can say that. Shaq got 4 Kobe Got 5 so as a Laker that trumps him. Kareem doesn't get enough credit for ebing great and that may be a media thing. The Lakers didnt fold when Shaq's skills diminished, they folded from a mental standpoint> Kobe was burned out and using basketball as a refuge and Shaq played the whole season knowing Kobe dimed him out. They were fractured.
As for Pau Gasol, he'd never gotten out of the first round by himself so it's not like you got a perennial AllStar at the time. Marc Gasol isn't exactly chopped liver. I think it's disrespectful to call Kobe T-Mac because T-Mac has never been out of the first round. Plus T-Mac has never been the defender Kobe was in his prime. Let's not forget Kobe's played the last 3 seasons on broken fingers.
No disrespect or lack of appreciation but imo Kobe isn’t better than the 10 other players I listed in my first post. Championships aren’t the end all be all, but for 3 of his championships kobe wasn’t the lead dog. He doesn’t match Shaq's pure dominance. As someone else mentioned big men have too much of an impact to overlook. I cant put Kobe in front of Shaq, Wilt, Jabar, Hakeem or Duncan. And thats just the bigs. Also Kobe has a chance to eclipse a shitload of records simply cause he came into the league outta H.S. and the advances in medicine allow players to extend their peaks nowadays.
It would help the discussion though if everyone listed their top 10.
See, stuff like this is what I'm talking about. There's always some asterisk people want to put next to Kobe's accomplishments and that same logic is NEVER applied anybody else. Nobody is every going to play under the exact same circumstances.
Yes Kobe Bryant came into the league out of highschool, but you look at the rest of the all time scoring leaders and he's the ONLY one that came off the bench and played under 30 MPG his first two seasons. He's also the only one who had played during a lockout shortened season.
But coming out of high school, he was on the bench for a few years behind eddie jones. You can say the same thing about Moses Malone. You still have to do the work. To be able to impact the game on a championship level from the wing is something that only Magic Jordan and Kobe have done. West can't be Mr. Clutch is his team lost all those chips.
post them top 10s. I'm curious to see what they look like?
In not particular order:
Jordan
Kareem
Magic
Wilt
Russell
Kobe
Robertson
Duncan
Shaq
Hakeem
Im on the fence with this one.As much as I hate Kobe's guts, he's built an impressive legacy over the last few years by winning 2 titles without Shaq who many thought was impossible to do.Sure, he wouldnt have done it without the help of Gasol, Odom, Ariza, Bynum, and Artest, but Kobe was the leader, the man in charge during those victories.
But, if you go back to the 3 peat era...its a way different story.Kobe was a good player back then of course, but lets not act like that Shaq wasnt there, cleaning house, dominating everyone that stood in his path.It wasnt until when Shaq started to decline, that you see Kobe become a greater player, for better or for worse.
Do I think he deserves to get in? of course....if your the all-time leading scorer on arguably the greatest sports franchise of all-time, than your name has to be selected.Im not gonna discredit Kobe for doin his thing and haven the competitive spirit of a champion (even though he has been a bitch at certain times)...but Imo he's not one of the best to ever play this game...not better than MJ, Russell, Wilt, Robertson, Magic, Bird, Kareem, West, Hakeem or Tim Duncan
Well yeah NOBODY can win without a supporting cast.
As for the Lakers 3peat, one thing that people seem to always forget is that during the series against the Spurs KOBE was the one doing the most damage. Shaq was the one beasting during the finals though.
Duncan's first 2 came along side Hall of Famer David Robinson. Lets not forget that Manu Ginobli is a world champion with argentina and Tony parker is a championship MVP. Duncan is not playing with chopped liver
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