Dec 1, 2015 I know I'm nitpicking like f---, but I keep seeing people saying Kobe changed basketball, and it's utterly r-----ed to say (I know KD says he did it for himself, but I've seen this a bit too much now lol). If anybody changed basketball, it was Bird and Magic, then Jordan took it to the next level, and Kobe followed suit. I understand Kobe is a generational legend, just like Lebron and Curry is this generation's legend, but they didn't change the game. Larry and Magic saved basketball in the 80's with their style.
Dec 1, 2015 I put Kobe at 4th. Jordan Bird Magic Kobe Bird is underrated as f---. Mainly because people forget that he was seriously injured in the prime of his career. If he never pulled his back paving his mother's driveway, Bird probably would've had more rings than MJ, Magic and Kobe. The guy was amazing. I'm still not putting anyone over MJ though. I watched Jordan during his prime, and Magic and Bird at the tail end of their careers, and Kobe in his prime... Jordan was hands down the greatest player I've ever witnessed. In saying all of that, it was a pleasure rooting against Kobe, and having my Celtics face his Lakers twice in the Finals. Those were exciting times to be a basketball fan, and it gave new generation Celtic/Laker fans an opportunity to relive the 80's.
Dec 1, 2015 I get what you're saying, when I think of someone in that generation that changed the game, I think of Iverson. When KD was coming up in HS & at Texas, the NBA had changed a bit from the late 90s. A lot more flash, much more of a look at me sort of mentality. Kobe was the bridge between the 2 generations, so for guys like KD, he represented a "change" of mentality compared to most of the other players in the league. My thing is, he did get hurt, so I can't put him over Kobe simply because Kobe proved to be a dominant force over a longer period of time. My list would go something like: MJ Kobe Magic Bird Kareem I think it's a matter of age or preference with Kobe & Magic, they were very different players so it's tough to compare. Magic has said himself he thinks Kobe is the greatest Laker of all time, so that's good enough for me.
Dec 1, 2015 Almost 1000 more attempts, and MJ was always looking to create more than Kobe is/was. Also, Kobe had/has over 6k more minutes. Irrelevant. This is just not true. Unless you're comparing his 3 point shooting to MJ, which in this case, true. Shaq carried more of the load for the younger part of Kobe's career. He didn't make Shaq look good lol. Shaq was just that good. One of the most dominant centers in NBA history.
Dec 1, 2015 Who the h--- doesn't defend MJ? Lol, I mean d--- I like the guy and certainly appreciate what he did but I don't think there's any athlete in history more respected and loved than MJ. Anyways speaking of MJ, I'm surprised this hasn't been talked about much yet but MJ apparently did his retirement letter basically the same way Kobe did, wonder if Kobe knew of this when he decided to do it.
Dec 1, 2015 Some new generational cats really wanna undermine his talent.. at least that's how i feel sometimes
Dec 1, 2015 I'm not necessarily even defending him lol. I guess he was kinda trying to say that Kobe > MJ in some way(s), but I was more so just trying to prove that what he said wasn't the greatest argument he could've used. As for my top 5 comment.... It changes all of the time. Obviously MJ is #1. After that, you can go with so many great players. Magic, Bird, Wilt, Russell, Kareem, Duncan, etc... That's why I said maybe top 5 for Kobe, but definitely top 10. Interesting. I thought it sounded familiar. Kept wanting to go back and read MJ's, just never had the time. Not only shows us how much MJ meant to Kobe and basketball, but how much respect he has for MJ.
Dec 1, 2015 And it's not just his sheer talent, it's the starpower and charisma he took with him in and off the court.. h--- he even meant something for the people who don't follow Basketball over here in Europe..
Dec 1, 2015 You can say a lot about Kobe... I do, all the time. I'm not a Kobe fan in any way, but you can't diss his work ethic and determination. He plays every game like it's game 7 of the Finals. Awesome to watch and learn from.
Dec 1, 2015 However great that is to learn from, i can only admire determination and willpower so much.. talent takes no effort for me to awe at tho
Dec 1, 2015 Kobe is a probably #2 for me for funnest players ever to watch. LeBron might pass him eventually, but Kobe is a once-in-a-generation talent. A lot of the older guys are disqualified from this list tho, because I wasn't alive when they played and have only seen replays of their classic games and stuff lol.
Dec 1, 2015 I almost never watch matches, but i enjoy Lebron more as a person in and off court.. are there any big matches this week?
Dec 1, 2015 I wanna start by saying MJ is the undisputed GOAT. In defense of Kobe, he didn't even average 25 min per game until his 2nd season. He was the 1st player bench player to be voted to start the all star game. He's also the only player in NBA history to have 30k points & 6k assists (I'm sure Bron will be there someday). Regarding Shaq, he was a vet when he got to the Lakers, Kobe's "big brother". As a young guy, of course you're going to defer to some degree to Shaq, at the end of the day it's all about championships. I've just always despised the idea that Kobe was any less dominant than Shaq. It's easy to forget Kobe averaged 30 and close to 30 in those finals and absolutely took charge against Indiana in 2000 as a 21 year old when Shaq got hurt.
Dec 1, 2015 LeBron and the Cavs play in Miami on Saturday night. I'm kind of regretting bringing up the minutes argument now lol. Just so many outliers. The MJ retirement, injuries for both of them, Kobe's younger years, etc... I'd still say Shaq was THE guy for those early-Kobe years finals teams. Not necessarily bashing Kobe with what I said either, was just pointing out that he didn't make Shaq look good. If anything, it was the other way around because they had to focus so much on what Shaq was doing down low. You the guy that's always posting Simmons highlights? Keep that s--- up if you are lol. Funnest player to watch in college basketball.
Dec 1, 2015 I respect your opinion but I think it went both ways in terms of making each other look good. Kobe took a lot of pressure off of Shaq & vice versa. Definitely the best duo in NBA history IMO.
Dec 1, 2015 Ahhhh cool. How can you not be a fan of Simmons? He's so great. NBA ready. Australia basketball is rising. It has been.
