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I don't think it's much of a debate that Kobe has/will surpass Shaq career-wise by the time it's all over.
Sons, laugh all you want, but Pippen still went to the playoffs when Jordan was playing baseball.
I don't think it's much of a debate that Kobe has/will surpass Shaq career-wise by the time it's all over.
Yank 2005 out of there. Dude slipped to All-NBA third team that year and even that was a gift like his All-Defense selections
if he wins this year, or another championship, then yes.
Just because he had a LeBron type supporting cast and won 38 games or so. If he were surrounded by the same talent this season, he would make All-NBA 3rd team again.Yank 2005 out of there. Dude slipped to All-NBA third team that year and even that was a gift like his All-Defense selections
But that's what I mean by lack of dominance - can you see Jordan in his prime not making the 1st team?
Championships as a Laker player, years playing for the Lakers, Records broken as a Laker player...i think after this year, If Kobe wins his 5th, he'll be the best laker player of all time.
Kobe would certainly have the argument and that's all that really matters.
But I'd still put him a notch below Magic ..9 finals in 11 years. Won thewith Kareem hurt in game 6 which gets under-looked.
Kobe isn't going anywhere though. He's got at least 3 years at a high level left and he'd still probably put up 20+ppg in his sleep into his late 30s.
In order: Yes, Possibly, not for the old-timers, definitely not.
Kobe will be the greatest Laker when it's all said and done.
He beats the Celtics in this year's edition of the Rivalry, he's in the discussion with Magic as the greatest Laker of all time. Even greater than Shaq.
The Celtics are always a rite of passage for the Lakers and vice-versa.
How many les did Magic win?
How many did Shaq win?
homer? is that you? doh!
+1. the way it should be.
Laker legacy or overall legacy? I'd say no to the former and no to the latter.
People need to stop pretending with this revisionist history, because the further and further we get away from Duncan's and in particular, O'Neal's prime, the more it's forgotten that they were by far the two best players in the league for a large part of Bryant's career.
Historically, he's below Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, O'Neal, Duncan etc. He can pile on ten more of these gifted championships, nothing is going to change that, even though the media is desperate to have us believe it is.
Speaking of Abdul-Jabbar, I actually think he's underrated historically. Like Duncan, he didn't fit the mold of an all-time great basketball player personality/at ude/flash wise, so he rarely get's his just do.
I hear constant talk about Jordan, Johnson, Bird, Bryant, James, etc. and big men in general are often left out. Then when they're mentioned, it's all about Russell and Chamberlain. Can anyone make a legit case for Abdul-Jabbar not being one of the three greatest players of all-time?
West and Kareem are tough. Kareem won more rings, but he played with Magic who is arguably the 2nd best player in history behind Jordan. Kobe has a chance to eclipse Magic. I'm not a huge Kobe guy, but I can't deny his talent.
Kobe eclipsed Shaq's legacy last season. If Kobe wins a le this season he would move ahead of Magic. I luv buck but MJ was a better player and Kobe Bryant is proving to be better as well. I'ts Michael and Kobe, that's it! It will be Kobe and Michael when it's all said and done.
For a franchise as storied as the Lakers do you want Kobe as the best Laker ever? Had shaq stayed decent chance that he isn't going for 5 but maybe 6, 7, or 8. He takes a good portion of the blame for Shaq leaving and sprinkle on the Rape charge. In 10 years is this the guy you want as the franchise best ever?
Only to the uninformed it'll be "Michael and Kobe when it's all said and done". To those of us that are informed, Bryant still will be behind more than a handful of players, before even considering Jordan.
By the way, I said "just do" in my last post. Of course I meant "just due".
Kobe gave us no choice with his stellar play. We can only go by what he's done on the court. On the court Kobe is the Best Lakers player ever.
if he wins this season.
I had the pleasure to watch Magic, Jordan and Kobe throughout their careers. They were all Great. Magic Johnson is my all time favorite Lakers player but not to be a homer, i realize and except that Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are the best basketball players to ever suit up in the NBA.
Mikan doesn't get any love? He brought 5 les to Minneapolis.
I think he is there with Jordan on a talent basis but its a team sport. What would his legacy be if the Lakers weren't given Gasol? The loss to the Pistons when the Lakers were favored and the obliteration by the C's in 08' make it hard to put him as number 2.
Lakers fans get sentimental when it comes to Magic. We all love him like he's family. It took years for a lot of us to except that Michael Jordan was a better player even when it was painfully obvious. Magic changed the game and brought excitement and championships to the city. Not being called the best Lakers player wont change anything. He is the Most liked Lakers player of all time. That's undisputed.
Horrible.
In one paragraph, you just discredited his wins by mentioning Gasol, and blamed him when they lost in the Finals (even when he wasnt the "#1" guy at the Pistons loss).
Pretty much a no win situation with you.
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