Whether you love him, loathe him or do not have an opinion of Kobe Bryant, he is a first ballot Hall of Famer. Even at his age, 33, he is still arguably the best player in the game. He is the oldest player in NBA history to record four consecutive 40 point games. He also happens to be the last of a dying breed of NBA players who play through injuries in an effort to entertain fans. Obviously, no reasonable fan wants a player to seriously injure themselves in the name of entertainment. However, we do expect players to forge through minor discomforts as we do every day at our jobs. Might I add that we do so for a fraction of the salaries NBA players command. Not too long ago, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone and Reggie Miller played in the NBA. I do not recall a sprained ankle, or a headache keeping them from playing. In fact, Influenza could not thwart Jordan’s ability to play the game he loves. Nowadays, NBA players miss game for almost any reason. The bevy of excuses NBA players use nowadays is frustrating to me as a fan of the game. Kobe Bryant is a player who is determined to play the game he loves no matter what the cost may be. He is truly the last of a dying breed.
Kobe Bryant was drafted in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets. He was drafted number thirteen overall. Wait, you mean to tell me there were 12 better players drafted ahead of Kobe Bryant? YES. However, at the time, Kobe was a high school player and many of the players drafted ahead of him were college basketball stars and were thought to be safer picks. I find it rather funny that Kobe had the foresight and maturity as an 18 year old to broker his way out of Charlotte but failed to sign a prenuptial agreement with his wife a few years later. I digress. If Kobe was drafted thirteenth overall, who were the players drafted before him? The class of 1996 was special indeed with Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Ray Allen, and Stephon Marbury being a part of the class. Of these great players, only two remain in the NBA (Ray Allen and Steve Nash), and Kobe is clearly better than them both.
Kobe has been called selfish many times during his career. There may be a hint of truth to the accusation. However, not even the most unreasonable critic can say Kobe does not want to win. His competitive nature has been compared to that of Michael Jordan. Obviously, Michael Jordan is the greatest to ever play the game, but Kobe has a similar competitive nature. To that end, if you watch him carefully, he wants to guard the other team’s best player. He does not want to wait until the fourth quarter or crunch time to do so either. He wants to guard Ray Allen, Dwyane Wade and other great shooting guards from the tip off until the final buzzer sounds. How many bonafide superstars or even marginal players compete at that level on both ends of the court the entire game? I’ll wait. Basketball is a team sport but in the NBA, superstars win championships. If Kobe Bryant outplays Kevin Durant, the Lakers will likely be successful. With that said, I believe there is some validity in superstars winning individual matchups during games.
Just a few short years ago, people questioned Kobe’s place amongst the all time great players because he had not won a championship as the focal point of the team. I disagree with the school of thought that makes winning championships the most important factor in determining the worth of a great player. If fans adopted that logic, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, John Stockton, and Reggie Miller were not great players. The entire idea is ridiculous in my opinion. During his first three championships, he was the second best player on his team. He was the second best player to Shaquille O’Neal when he was in his prime. Kobe never liked being the number two guy and that separates him from some of his contemporary competitors. He was determined to win a ring as the clear number one guy. He accomplished that feat not once, but twice, and solidified his place as the second best shooting guard in the history of the game.
Kobe Bryant was so athletic and explosive when he entered the league. He regularly appeared on Sportscenter highlight reels because of his athletic dunks, blocks, steals and open court, one-on-one moves. At that point of his career he was not a consistent jump shooter. He was so talented that it did not matter and he could get all the way to the rim at will. That last line sounds eerily like the current version of Lebron James. Now, Kobe is 33 years old and a relative elder statesman in the NBA. His game is not predicated on athletic ability nearly as much as it once was. Instead, he relies on superior balance, experience, skill, and intellect. His footwork in the post is impeccable. He also has the best up-and-under move in the game. His fade-a-way jumpshot is indefensible (sound like another player later in his career?).
The Sports world is infatuated and determined to crown somebody as the next Michael Jordan. Players such as Grant Hill, Vince Carter, Lebron James, and Kobe have been compared to MJ. This type of comparison can certainly bring great pressure upon a player to measure up to the athletic accomplishments of Michael Jordan. Kobe is clearly the closest player to MJ even though he is still nowhere near as dominant as MJ was. Michael Jordan won six championships in his career and won the NBA Finals MVP each time. That means that when the season was on the line, he rose to the top to ensure victory for his team. He did not play with a dominant post player at any point of his career. Kobe had Shaquille O’Neal and Pau Gasol. Michael Jordan was the best offensive and defensive player on the court each time he entered an arena. I do not want this to turn into an article about MJ, but I believe the point needs to be cemented that there is only one Michael Jordan and all others pale in comparison.
Kobe Bryant is a great player and he deserves respect from people for his on-court talents. I could care less about what he does off the court because he is human just like anyone else. Kobe will play through injury and pain because he loves the game that much. He gives maximum effort when he is on the court; he is truly the last of a dying breed.
Peace
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