Scottie Pippen: "Lebron James Greatest Player Ever"

[TheNextGen]

You sorta kinda contradicted yourself there.

Kobe would be a good scorer if he took high percentage shots.

Greg Oden would be a good center if he didn't get injured.

Russell Westbrook would be a good point guard if he passed the ball.

hes already that good with crazy shots, imagine when he NOT is taking fadeaway turnaround jumpshots.

[LkrFan]

You sorta kinda contradicted yourself there.

Kobe would be a good scorer if he took high percentage shots.

Greg Oden would be a good center if he didn't get injured.

Russell Westbrook would be a good point guard if he passed the ball.

Not really. What makes Kobe great is he is not afraid to take a pressure-packed shot. When he hits it (and does his "big-sack" dance ) it adds to his legend. However, a lot of times he would take a shot that he has no business taking and actually hit it - even with a triple team. That adds to his confidence/ iness because he knows he can get off any shot he wants. Problem is, when that shot misses it makes the Lakers vulnerable because the other team fast breaks us to death (one detriment of having 2 seven footers). When he makes tough shots, it adds to his legend. But when he misses the trolls come out in full effect - led by none other than BSPN and Laker haters that post on ST.

[Technique]

So when Kobe goes 6-24 in the final game of the season and the Lakers still win, does that add to his legend or to the fact he got carried his entire career.

[Cessation]

lol lakerfan thinking bean is a better scorer than jordan

[DAF86]

I know this doesn't have much to do with the GOAT argument but I was thinking: why did Lebron get so much for joining Wade when Jordan had Pippen, Magic had Kareem and Bird had a bunch of hall of famers playing at his side? Those players didn't have to change teams but still got arguably more help than what Lebron is getting right now.

[Proxy]

Every championship team has a sidekick. You could give Rodman tons of credit too, being a top 3 glass cleaner of all time. That shouldn't deteriorate MJ's worth. MJ's success has a lot to do with Pippen, sure. Pippen isn't top 50 without MJ though.

MJ is the greatest of all-time. No one has come close yet. LBJ has the potential, but I doubt he cracks the top 10 since he left Cleveland to join an already accomplished star that ranks among the same tier of talent.

[JoeTait75]

I know this doesn't have much to do with the GOAT argument but I was thinking: why did Lebron get so much for joining Wade when Jordan had Pippen, Magic had Kareem and Bird had a bunch of hall of famers playing at his side? Those players didn't have to change teams but still got arguably more help than what Lebron is getting right now.

It's about the "how" more than the "what", IMO.

[Amaso]

Every championship team has a sidekick. You could give Rodman tons of credit too, being a top 3 glass cleaner of all time. That shouldn't deteriorate MJ's worth. MJ's success has a lot to do with Pippen, sure. Pippen isn't top 50 without MJ though.

MJ is the greatest of all-time. No one has come close yet. LBJ has the potential, but I doubt he cracks the top 10 since he left Cleveland to join an already accomplished star that ranks among the same tier of talent.

Pippen isn't a top 50 player without MJ? Did you even watch basketball in the 90s?

[mystargtr34]

Scottie Pippen joined ESPN's "Mike & Mike in the Morning" on Friday and did what has been done a million times since LeBron James graced the cover of Sports Illustrated as "The Chosen One" back in 2002:

He compared LeBron to Michael.

But Pippen also did what has been done maybe only once: he said LeBron may be better.

Key word: may.

The exact quote:
Michael Jordan is probably the greatest scorer to ever play in the game, but I may go as far as to say that LeBron James may be the greatest player to ever play the game because he's so potent offensively that not only can he score at will, but he keeps everybody involved and you have to be on your P's and Q's on defense because no guy on the basketball court is not a threat to score when LeBron James is out there.


It's interesting to hear Jordan's longtime teammate say that the reason LeBron may be superior is that "he keeps everybody involved."

Is Pippen right?

Is Jordan a better scorer than LeBron? Probably. Is LeBron a better distributor? Probably. Does that make LeBron a better player than Jordan?

Now, that's where we need some help.

Let's put Pippen's assertion to the test.

If we're doing an honest evaluation, we need to grade LeBron and Jordan on the same age curve. Let's compare LeBron's statistical profile to Jordan's statistical profile through their age-26 season.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoopmiam...-the-stats-say

Amazing how statistically dominant LeBron has been throughout his career... Jordan still matches him and has a 'considerably' better PER.. MJ was ridiculous. Obviously LeBron is pretty much the only wing player who comes close to Jordan's numbers and overall impact on a basketball game.

[Proxy]

Pippen isn't a top 50 player without MJ? Did you even watch basketball in the 90s?

I'm exaggerating to the same level that previous posters are when they say MJ doesn't get a ring without Pippen.

[Giuseppe]

I'm exaggerating to the same level that previous posters are when they say MJ doesn't get a ring without Pippen.

Empirical evidence withstanding.

[BanditHiro]

A pretty good take on it

[DMC]

Wait though, what about Harold Miner?

LOL Pip sucking Le , you broke da Pip?

[joshdaboss]

So when Kobe goes 6-24 in the final game of the season and the Lakers still win, does that add to his legend or to the fact he got carried his entire career.

HAHAHAHAHa!!!!! ING KILLED IT! THIS X1000000.

[joshdaboss]

People must have their heads up their asses. Scottie Pippen, in his prime, would lock a player like Kobe Bryant down completely and then score on him on the other end. , he did that to Kobe when he was what? 40-years-old playing with Portland?

[redzero]

it figures that Batman's Robin is saying the other Batmans's Robin may be the greatest.

Pippen wasn't talking about Wade.

[Tuddy]

How can someone who can't shoot or post up be considered the best player ever?

[LkrFan]

So when Kobe goes 6-24 in the final game of the season and the Lakers still win, does that add to his legend or to the fact he got carried his entire career.

6-24 is just part of the story. What about the fact that he had to get his knee drained twice in the same playoffs - yet he still averaged 29.2 ppg? What about the fact in that same game he amassed 15 rebounds - which was more than KG? What about the defense he played on Ray Allen (who shot 3-14 in 45 minutes)?

6-24 gets the headlines but it doesn't tell the whole story. But then again it's too convenient for the haters to harp on 6-24. Let us proceed.

[LkrFan]

lol lakerfan thinking bean is a better scorer than jordan

[redzero]

Kobe scored 42 in one half against a middle-aged Michael Jordan?

[LkrFan]

Kobe scored 42 in one half against a middle-aged Michael Jordan?

I see you're moving the goal post. that hommie. that shiiiiitttt!!

Kobe sent the old bag to the tree of woe. He should have stayed retired.

Kobe won back to back rings as a 1st option and no hall of fame teammates. Something MJ never did. Also: 81 > 69.

[BanditHiro]

I see you're moving the goal post. that hommie. that shiiiiitttt!!

Kobe sent the old bag to the tree of woe. He should have stayed retired.

Kobe won back to back rings as a 1st option and no hall of fame teammates. Something MJ never did. Also: 81 > 69.

lol when are you Laker Fans going to accept that Gasol was De Facto Alpha Dog in the two-peat...its okay the ring count is still

Kobe:5
Duncan:4

but this delusion that Bryant was primary reason they won has to stop.

[joshdaboss]

lol when are you Laker Fans going to accept that Gasol was De Facto Alpha Dog in the two-peat...its okay the ring count is still

Kobe:5
Duncan:4

but this delusion that Bryant was primary reason they won has to stop.

You're crazy, man. 6-24 = MVP. Stop being such a homer. The referees, Pau Gasol and the length of the Lakers had little to do with it.

[LkrFan]

lol when are you Laker Fans going to accept that Gasol was De Facto Alpha Dog in the two-peat...its okay the ring count is still

Kobe:5
Duncan:4

but this delusion that Bryant was primary reason they won has to stop.

Who was the De Facto Alpha Dog during the Spurs' last two-peat?

[Nathan Explosion]

lol when are you Laker Fans going to accept that Gasol was De Facto Alpha Dog in the two-peat...its okay the ring count is still

Kobe:5
Duncan:4

but this delusion that Bryant was primary reason they won has to stop.

Kobe hasn't won a ring when his superstar big man isn't playing well. How many les did Kobe win without Shaq or Pau? , Kobe actually missed the playoffs in that span and got bounced in the first round. Pau comes and it's Finals time. Pau gets punked, Lakers lose to C's. Pau grows balls, Lakers win back to back. Pau loses balls, Lakers get swept.

In the past decade or years, only 3 teams that I can think of won les without more than one superstar, the 2003 Spurs, 2004 Pistons and 2006 Heat. The Spurs had Duncan, an over the hill Robinson, not ready from prime time Parker and Gino and a head case in Stephen Jackson.

The Pistons won with 4 extremely good players (Billups and Sheed weren't superstars imo but damn close), and Wade carried an already over the hill Shaq and Zo to a le.

Going back a little further, you had the first Houston le team (pre-Drexler iirc) with 1 superstar. You don't win without superstars unless you have a special player (or in Detroit's case, 4 extremely good players). And in Detroit's case, Kobe shot 30 something percent from the field and averaged way more shots than Shaq who was shooting 60% from the field, so that's probably a big reason they won the le that year too.