Read on Twitter
A thread on why Kobe Bryant is the 2nd best basketball player in NBA history.
The resume.
5x NBA Champion
18x All-Star
11x All-NBA 1st Team
9x All-NBA Defensive Team
2x FMVP
1x MVP
4x All-Star Game MVP
2x All-NBA 2nd Team
3x All-NBA 2nd Team
2x Scoring Champion
Amazing father to his daughters
5x NBA Champion 18x All-Star 11x All-NBA 1st Team 9x All-NBA Defensive Team 2x FMVP 1x MVP 4x All-Star Game MVP 2x All-NBA 2nd Team 3x All-NBA 2nd Team 2x Scoring Champion Amazing father to his daughters
First off would like to say that Michael Jordan should be viewed as the GOAT. He was a 6x Champion, undefeated in the Finals, 6x FMVP, never let a finals get past the 6th game. Arguably the best scorer of All-Time. Made the terrible Chicago Bulls relevant the second he arrived.
Competition.
Kobe Bryant played what I describe the most competition of any player in history. He never once played a team below .500 in the playoffs, went 25-10 against teams with 50 wins or more & played multiple 50 win teams in just the first round of the playoffs.
Kobe Bryant played what I describe the most competition of any player in history. He never once played a team below .500 in the playoffs, went 25-10 against teams with 50 wins or more & played multiple 50 win teams in just the first round of the playoffs.
Part 2.
Kobe never had the luxury to play in the weaker Eastern Conference or the weaker Western Conference back in the 80s. He played 3 50 win teams in the First Round (01, 08 & 10) & a 49 win Blazers team in 2002 & the 48 win injury-riddled Jazz (two teams just short of 50).
Kobe never had the luxury to play in the weaker Eastern Conference or the weaker Western Conference back in the 80s. He played 3 50 win teams in the First Round (01, 08 & 10) & a 49 win Blazers team in 2002 & the 48 win injury-riddled Jazz (two teams just short of 50).
Part 3.
Competition played should be heavily weighed when comparing players, stats matter but don’t tell the entire story, it’s also how you get those stats and who you accumulate them against is what matters as well. And Kobe exceeds the eye test of playing elite competition.
Competition played should be heavily weighed when comparing players, stats matter but don’t tell the entire story, it’s also how you get those stats and who you accumulate them against is what matters as well. And Kobe exceeds the eye test of playing elite competition.
Elite offensive prowess.
Kobe Bryant is one of the 2 or 3 greatest scorers of all-time and arguably the most skilled, there was nothing offensively he couldn’t do, finish at the rim, killer mid range, 3pt shooting ability, a great post game, elite footwork & a great FT shooter.
Kobe Bryant is one of the 2 or 3 greatest scorers of all-time and arguably the most skilled, there was nothing offensively he couldn’t do, finish at the rim, killer mid range, 3pt shooting ability, a great post game, elite footwork & a great FT shooter.
Part 2.
Kobe Bryant had a streak of 9 straight 40 pt games in 2003, 4 straight 50 pt games in 2007 & 16 straight 30 pt games in 2003. He also has the most points recorded in the modern day era with 81, 62 pts in 3 quarters outscoring the Mavericks (60 win team) in that span.
Kobe Bryant had a streak of 9 straight 40 pt games in 2003, 4 straight 50 pt games in 2007 & 16 straight 30 pt games in 2003. He also has the most points recorded in the modern day era with 81, 62 pts in 3 quarters outscoring the Mavericks (60 win team) in that span.
Part 3.
To put Kobes ridiculous scoring into a comparison, he has more 50 point games alone than Lebron James, Stephen Curry & Kevin Durant have combined. He was elite everywhere on the court had zero flaws offensively, and is arguably the most skilled basketball player ever.
To put Kobes ridiculous scoring into a comparison, he has more 50 point games alone than Lebron James, Stephen Curry & Kevin Durant have combined. He was elite everywhere on the court had zero flaws offensively, and is arguably the most skilled basketball player ever.
Elite Defense.
Kobe had 9 All-Defensive 1st selections, 3 All-Defensive 2nd teams, was top 3-5 in DPOY voting on 3 different occasions (2000, 2002 & 2008). Him & M.Jordan are the only players in the modern day era to average 35 ppg & make All-Defensive 1st Team in the same year.
Kobe had 9 All-Defensive 1st selections, 3 All-Defensive 2nd teams, was top 3-5 in DPOY voting on 3 different occasions (2000, 2002 & 2008). Him & M.Jordan are the only players in the modern day era to average 35 ppg & make All-Defensive 1st Team in the same year.
Kobes case to be above Kareem.
My case for Kobe to be higher than Kareem is mainly competition played, Kareem played in a very thin and weak league early in his career and even with the Lakers in the Western Conference that was abysmal from the 70s on until the early 90s.
My case for Kobe to be higher than Kareem is mainly competition played, Kareem played in a very thin and weak league early in his career and even with the Lakers in the Western Conference that was abysmal from the 70s on until the early 90s.
Part 3.
Simply put Kobe was a better scorer at their peaks, more skilled & won just as much with much less consistent help than Kareem, being a better offensive force & playing by far much higher competition stands out to me. So I have Kobe slightly above Kareem.
Simply put Kobe was a better scorer at their peaks, more skilled & won just as much with much less consistent help than Kareem, being a better offensive force & playing by far much higher competition stands out to me. So I have Kobe slightly above Kareem.
Kobes case to be above LeBron.
What sticks out to me most in Kobe and LeBron is the difference in skill, Kobe was far more skilled. Better footwork/post game, better jumpshooter, a better & more consistent defender and of course his killer instict mentality to close out games.
What sticks out to me most in Kobe and LeBron is the difference in skill, Kobe was far more skilled. Better footwork/post game, better jumpshooter, a better & more consistent defender and of course his killer instict mentality to close out games.
Part 2.
Kobe was better at elevating his teammates. You look at guys like A.Bynum, Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar, S.Vujacic, Smush Parker, Luke Walton & more who were good role players but after leaving Kobe they disappeared & Kobe even managed to make Kwame Brown look decent.
Kobe was better at elevating his teammates. You look at guys like A.Bynum, Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar, S.Vujacic, Smush Parker, Luke Walton & more who were good role players but after leaving Kobe they disappeared & Kobe even managed to make Kwame Brown look decent.
LeBron has had many teammates who have flourished without him rather than with him such as C. Bosh, http://K.Love , J.Clarkson, R.Hood, J. Crowder & many more come to mind. Kobe was able to adapt to any system while LeBron can only play in his own self-made system.
Part 3.
Kobe has more championships than LeBron in 3 less attempts, won more with less talent, he never had 2 top 10 players (teammates) with him like LeBron in 2011, never had a meltdown even close to as bad as LeBron in 2011. LeBron has lost too many times on the grand stage.
Kobe has more championships than LeBron in 3 less attempts, won more with less talent, he never had 2 top 10 players (teammates) with him like LeBron in 2011, never had a meltdown even close to as bad as LeBron in 2011. LeBron has lost too many times on the grand stage.
Part 4.
At the end both are great players, i’m taking Kobe who won more with less talent than LeBrons had his whole career, is a better scorer in every way, better defender, more skilled & also managed to win more without the ability to handpick his teams like LeBron has had.
At the end both are great players, i’m taking Kobe who won more with less talent than LeBrons had his whole career, is a better scorer in every way, better defender, more skilled & also managed to win more without the ability to handpick his teams like LeBron has had.
Kobes case to be above Duncan.
To start off Kobe was more dominant than Duncan throughout both of their careers, more skilled, was a better offensive player & went through 6 coaches throughout his career not having the luxury to maintain structure like Duncan did with Popovich.
To start off Kobe was more dominant than Duncan throughout both of their careers, more skilled, was a better offensive player & went through 6 coaches throughout his career not having the luxury to maintain structure like Duncan did with Popovich.
Part 2.
Duncan had a more consistent supporting cast and also stability in the front office and the coaching staff with one of if not the greatest coach all time in Pop. And with that Duncan was never able to 2peat let alone 3peat like Kobe did both in 2000-2002 & 2009-2010.
Duncan had a more consistent supporting cast and also stability in the front office and the coaching staff with one of if not the greatest coach all time in Pop. And with that Duncan was never able to 2peat let alone 3peat like Kobe did both in 2000-2002 & 2009-2010.
Part 3.
Kobe was 4-1 in the playoffs against Duncan from 2000-2008 and in them 5 series Kobe averaged nearly 30 ppg on 48 % Fg. Kobe was a better playoff performer, more dominant overall player, far better offensive player by any metric imaginable & a better leader than Duncan.
Kobe was 4-1 in the playoffs against Duncan from 2000-2008 and in them 5 series Kobe averaged nearly 30 ppg on 48 % Fg. Kobe was a better playoff performer, more dominant overall player, far better offensive player by any metric imaginable & a better leader than Duncan.
Kobes case to be above Magic.
Magic is the best point guard of all time by a wide margin that is not debatable. He himself though has been on record saying that Kobe is a better player and Laker than he was. Much weaker era and less overall dominance is what stands out to me.
Magic is the best point guard of all time by a wide margin that is not debatable. He himself though has been on record saying that Kobe is a better player and Laker than he was. Much weaker era and less overall dominance is what stands out to me.
Kobes case to be above Shaq.
Kobe and Shaq are the greatest duo of all time. But Shaq’s inability to win without Kobe the way he did WITH Kobe stands out. Kobe is a more skilled player by far, has the edge in rings, was a better leader both on and off the court than the Diesel.
Kobe and Shaq are the greatest duo of all time. But Shaq’s inability to win without Kobe the way he did WITH Kobe stands out. Kobe is a more skilled player by far, has the edge in rings, was a better leader both on and off the court than the Diesel.
Part 2.
Shaq may have won the FMvps of this great duo but don’t let that fool you. Kobe was the best player for the Lakers in the West playoffs vs the toughest competition in the 2000s. Shaq had better numbers and play against the weaker teams the Lakers played in the finals.
Shaq may have won the FMvps of this great duo but don’t let that fool you. Kobe was the best player for the Lakers in the West playoffs vs the toughest competition in the 2000s. Shaq had better numbers and play against the weaker teams the Lakers played in the finals.
Part 3.
Shaq without Kobe has 1 ring and that 1 ring is where he averaged 13 ppg with very lackluster defense in a series where Dwyane Wade had one of the best Finals series in league history in 2006. Kobe showed he was the better player, as Shaq had little success without him.
Shaq without Kobe has 1 ring and that 1 ring is where he averaged 13 ppg with very lackluster defense in a series where Dwyane Wade had one of the best Finals series in league history in 2006. Kobe showed he was the better player, as Shaq had little success without him.
Overall.
I’m aware Kobe can fluctuate between 2-5 on most peoples lists but i would have to put him 2nd because he is arguably the most skilled player ever, a top 2/3 scorer ever, great defender, won 5 championship rings & faced the most competition of anyone in league history.
I’m aware Kobe can fluctuate between 2-5 on most peoples lists but i would have to put him 2nd because he is arguably the most skilled player ever, a top 2/3 scorer ever, great defender, won 5 championship rings & faced the most competition of anyone in league history.
