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[CP1708]

I honestly doubt 99% of you haters have the authority to correctly comment on who is/was/or will be the Greatest Laker of all time. 

Everyone's arguments are FAR ranging, from Magic won 5 titles as the main guy (even though 2 of those times he wasn't the finals MVP) he played with 2 hall of famers beside him for basically his entire career (minus a couple seasons before Worthy got there).  There is no doubt, Magic was one of the all time greats.  The guy made me watch basketball, he was ridiculous. 

However,

Kobe Bryant is not finished yet.  If his career ended today, it would be close, and I would have to sit down and go thru it all again in my mind to pick a winner, but it ain't over today.  Kobe has 3-4 years left on his odometer.  If he puts in work, regular season and post season, we're talking about a career that Magic could not touch.  No way, no how.  Now that's IF Kobe can stay in a relatively top tiered zone that he currently resides in.  If he turns into a 12 point, 2 assist performer next season, well then things change.  So please, allow the next 3-4 years to play out.  But I'm sorry, if Kobe Bryant finishes his career with the all time most rings as a Laker, most points, playoff points, games, wins, series wins, 3's, free throws, buckets, steals, top 3 assists, all star games, All NBA first team selections, all Defense, and whatever else ALL as a Laker, I would give anything to hear someone try to work around that and say he still comes up short.  Cuz that's just stupid. 

Bottom line, Chuck spoke too soon is all.  No crime, he just needs to wait like the rest of us. 

And just because, had Magic been allowed to play out his career, and get 4-5 more seasons, it's quite possible he coulda put the #1 slot way outta reach.  Sadly, he was not given that chance, and we all suffered because of it.  So if someone wants to put an * next to Kobe like he's Barry Bonds, go right ahead.  1A, 1B, whatever, I don't care, as long as the Lakers continue as the elite of the elite NBA franchises, I'm good either way. 

 

[CP1708]

I honestly doubt 99% of you haters have the authority to correctly comment on who is/was/or will be the Greatest Laker of all time. 

Everyone's arguments are FAR ranging, from Magic won 5 titles as the main guy (even though 2 of those times he wasn't the finals MVP) he played with 2 hall of famers beside him for basically his entire career (minus a couple seasons before Worthy got there).  There is no doubt, Magic was one of the all time greats.  The guy made me watch basketball, he was ridiculous. 

However,

Kobe Bryant is not finished yet.  If his career ended today, it would be close, and I would have to sit down and go thru it all again in my mind to pick a winner, but it ain't over today.  Kobe has 3-4 years left on his odometer.  If he puts in work, regular season and post season, we're talking about a career that Magic could not touch.  No way, no how.  Now that's IF Kobe can stay in a relatively top tiered zone that he currently resides in.  If he turns into a 12 point, 2 assist performer next season, well then things change.  So please, allow the next 3-4 years to play out.  But I'm sorry, if Kobe Bryant finishes his career with the all time most rings as a Laker, most points, playoff points, games, wins, series wins, 3's, free throws, buckets, steals, top 3 assists, all star games, All NBA first team selections, all Defense, and whatever else ALL as a Laker, I would give anything to hear someone try to work around that and say he still comes up short.  Cuz that's just stupid. 

Bottom line, Chuck spoke too soon is all.  No crime, he just needs to wait like the rest of us. 

And just because, had Magic been allowed to play out his career, and get 4-5 more seasons, it's quite possible he coulda put the #1 slot way outta reach.  Sadly, he was not given that chance, and we all suffered because of it.  So if someone wants to put an * next to Kobe like he's Barry Bonds, go right ahead.  1A, 1B, whatever, I don't care, as long as the Lakers continue as the elite of the elite NBA franchises, I'm good either way. 

 

[kali4nikated]

yea kobe still has a good 3-4 years left and the way he keeps his body up he will mostly likely be as healthy as he is today and as effective. i don't think it will be much of an argument once kobe retires from the league. ppl will finally realize his worth to the nba. but right now it's clear ppl aren't ready to give him his due props, but that's ok for now.

 

[kali4nikated]

yea kobe still has a good 3-4 years left and the way he keeps his body up he will mostly likely be as healthy as he is today and as effective. i don't think it will be much of an argument once kobe retires from the league. ppl will finally realize his worth to the nba. but right now it's clear ppl aren't ready to give him his due props, but that's ok for now.

 

[tennhouse2]

Why are people acting like its outrageous to think that?

 

[CP1708]

Originally Posted by Fatal Lightning

Originally Posted by bijald0331

Originally Posted by Deuce King

I think alot of people in here are either too young or simply don't know their NBA history.  Magic put the Lakers on the map, no doubt about it, all Kobe did was help carry on the tradition.  Also, without Magic, Larry Bird one of the the top 5 players of all-time ends his career with 7 or 8 championships rings, instead he ended his career with just 3.  There's a reason for that, and his name is Magic.  I think dudes really don't know the history of the Lakers and Celtics and what Magic and Bird did for the NBA. 
   

Where do you get this stuff? Ever heard of Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, hell George Mikan...? 

  Of course Magic and Larry took it to another level but for you to insinuate that the Lakers were not "on the map" before Earvin's arrival, well then I don't know who needs a history lesson more. 
Magic and Kobe are incredibly close. I don't see a clear winner in that battle.  Magic is the greatest PG in NBA history, bar none. If I had to pick, I would say Magic. If he didn't retire in 1991, his career statistics would be eye-popping. Kobe's career statistics will be. 

Like it's crazy to look at Magic's playoff stats. He avg 19.5, 12 and 8 in the playoffs... 

i wouldnt say greatest pg in nba history, that belongs to john stockton

You should retire from Niketalk, effective immediately.  

  

 

[CP1708]

Originally Posted by Fatal Lightning

Originally Posted by bijald0331

Originally Posted by Deuce King

I think alot of people in here are either too young or simply don't know their NBA history.  Magic put the Lakers on the map, no doubt about it, all Kobe did was help carry on the tradition.  Also, without Magic, Larry Bird one of the the top 5 players of all-time ends his career with 7 or 8 championships rings, instead he ended his career with just 3.  There's a reason for that, and his name is Magic.  I think dudes really don't know the history of the Lakers and Celtics and what Magic and Bird did for the NBA. 
   

Where do you get this stuff? Ever heard of Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, hell George Mikan...? 

  Of course Magic and Larry took it to another level but for you to insinuate that the Lakers were not "on the map" before Earvin's arrival, well then I don't know who needs a history lesson more. 
Magic and Kobe are incredibly close. I don't see a clear winner in that battle.  Magic is the greatest PG in NBA history, bar none. If I had to pick, I would say Magic. If he didn't retire in 1991, his career statistics would be eye-popping. Kobe's career statistics will be. 

Like it's crazy to look at Magic's playoff stats. He avg 19.5, 12 and 8 in the playoffs... 

i wouldnt say greatest pg in nba history, that belongs to john stockton

You should retire from Niketalk, effective immediately.  

  

 

[tennhouse2]

Why are people acting like its outrageous to think that?

 

[ekinklat]

Originally Posted by alsquared

Kobe is better. Look a the guys Kobe is playing against and look at who magic was playing against. I'm not even talking about talent. Everyone in the league now is way bigger and faster than players in 70s and 80's. Kobe's skill set is also way more versatile than magic. He can basically do everything Jordan was able to do. He also adjusted his game as he aged just like mj did. Kobe's midrange/post game is undefendable with the spin moves, fadesaways and pivots. The only thing like that magic ever did was a sky hook.

 

[ekinklat]

Originally Posted by alsquared

Kobe is better. Look a the guys Kobe is playing against and look at who magic was playing against. I'm not even talking about talent. Everyone in the league now is way bigger and faster than players in 70s and 80's. Kobe's skill set is also way more versatile than magic. He can basically do everything Jordan was able to do. He also adjusted his game as he aged just like mj did. Kobe's midrange/post game is undefendable with the spin moves, fadesaways and pivots. The only thing like that magic ever did was a sky hook.

 

[JD617]

Why are people acting like its outrageous to think that?
Because it is.

Kobe's prime was not on the level of Magic's prime or Bird's prime. It doesn't matter how much longer he plays, that's not changing.

 

[JD617]

Why are people acting like its outrageous to think that?
Because it is.

Kobe's prime was not on the level of Magic's prime or Bird's prime. It doesn't matter how much longer he plays, that's not changing.

 

[kali4nikated]

Originally Posted by westcoastsfinest

Originally Posted by kali4nikated

Originally Posted by westcoastsfinest

pffft c'mon chuck. this is coming from a guy that said kobes days of scoring 30+ are over then kobe averages 30+ against the utah series

and for all you guys saying kobe>magic cause magic johnson said it himself. uuuuhhhh do you really think magic is gonna say im the best Laker? no. what would that make magic look? like an arrogant jerk right?

the fact is id put magic over kobe regardless how many kobe ends up with because magic brought the Lakers back and he could score and dish it at the same time. IMO a 6'9 guard
who can play every position thats something special. plus a rookie winning the finals MVP?

 whos ever done that? yeah everyone can score but not everyone can get the rebound and run then set up his man up for a basket. dude could play every position.

overall magic wins.

dont get me wrong i do think kobe is top 5

he never said it directly, but indirectly it was clear as glass. after kobe won in 2009 he said he would need to win won more time to be the greatest laker. obviously, until that time came he himself stood atop of kobe and all other lakers.

regardless if its directly and indirectly he is still not gonna come out and say i'm the greatest Laker.   

yes, but my point is that he didn't even have to say it directly for ppl to understand what he meant. it was clear he was talking about himself being the best laker until kobe would win one more. it wouldn't make sense otherwise because magic had the most rings out of any other laker at that point.

 

[kali4nikated]

Originally Posted by westcoastsfinest

Originally Posted by kali4nikated

Originally Posted by westcoastsfinest

pffft c'mon chuck. this is coming from a guy that said kobes days of scoring 30+ are over then kobe averages 30+ against the utah series

and for all you guys saying kobe>magic cause magic johnson said it himself. uuuuhhhh do you really think magic is gonna say im the best Laker? no. what would that make magic look? like an arrogant jerk right?

the fact is id put magic over kobe regardless how many kobe ends up with because magic brought the Lakers back and he could score and dish it at the same time. IMO a 6'9 guard
who can play every position thats something special. plus a rookie winning the finals MVP?

 whos ever done that? yeah everyone can score but not everyone can get the rebound and run then set up his man up for a basket. dude could play every position.

overall magic wins.

dont get me wrong i do think kobe is top 5

he never said it directly, but indirectly it was clear as glass. after kobe won in 2009 he said he would need to win won more time to be the greatest laker. obviously, until that time came he himself stood atop of kobe and all other lakers.

regardless if its directly and indirectly he is still not gonna come out and say i'm the greatest Laker.   

yes, but my point is that he didn't even have to say it directly for ppl to understand what he meant. it was clear he was talking about himself being the best laker until kobe would win one more. it wouldn't make sense otherwise because magic had the most rings out of any other laker at that point.

 

[CP1708]

Originally Posted by JD617

Why are people acting like its outrageous to think that?

Because it is.

Kobe's prime was not on the level of Magic's prime or Bird's prime. It doesn't matter how much longer he plays, that's not changing.
That makes no sense whatsoever.  That's like saying that TMac would be an all time top 5 since his "prime" 2-3 years are elite level.  That's ridiculous. 

Bird never won back to back championships.  Bird wasn't the Final MVP every time he played either.  Bird played every game of his life pretty much with 2 Hall of Famers by his side, and damn near 3.  So what makes Bird's "prime" so much better? 

It's their entire career.  Not a 3-4-5 year stretch that makes them great. 

  

 

[seymore cake]

YUKU is an absolute piece of *$%%.

It wouldn't let me alter that poster comments nor did it allow me to ask why on gods green earth he felt Kobe was a better creator than Magic...

 

[CP1708]

Originally Posted by JD617

Why are people acting like its outrageous to think that?

Because it is.

Kobe's prime was not on the level of Magic's prime or Bird's prime. It doesn't matter how much longer he plays, that's not changing.
That makes no sense whatsoever.  That's like saying that TMac would be an all time top 5 since his "prime" 2-3 years are elite level.  That's ridiculous. 

Bird never won back to back championships.  Bird wasn't the Final MVP every time he played either.  Bird played every game of his life pretty much with 2 Hall of Famers by his side, and damn near 3.  So what makes Bird's "prime" so much better? 

It's their entire career.  Not a 3-4-5 year stretch that makes them great. 

  

 

[seymore cake]

YUKU is an absolute piece of *$%%.

It wouldn't let me alter that poster comments nor did it allow me to ask why on gods green earth he felt Kobe was a better creator than Magic...

 

[JD617]

To me, looking at a player's peak is more important than their longevity.

T-Mac is an obvious exception because he was so injury-prone that he didn't have much of a career other than those few years of his prime.

 

[JD617]

To me, looking at a player's peak is more important than their longevity.

T-Mac is an obvious exception because he was so injury-prone that he didn't have much of a career other than those few years of his prime.

 

[srvballer]

I think Kobe is in that 8-10 range right now. But by the time he retires he could very well be top 5. We'll just have to wait and see...

 

[srvballer]

I think Kobe is in that 8-10 range right now. But by the time he retires he could very well be top 5. We'll just have to wait and see...

 

[CP1708]

Originally Posted by JD617

To me, looking at a player's peak is more important than their longevity.

T-Mac is an obvious exception because he was so injury-prone that he didn't have much of a career other than those few years of his prime.

Maaaaan, you need to look at that. 

So then Mike's career you define by his 88-93 run?  That's how you judge Jordan right?  His "peak". 

  

 

[srvballer]

I think Kobe is in that 8-10 range right now. But by the time he retires he could very well be top 5. We'll just have to wait and see...

 

[srvballer]

I think Kobe is in that 8-10 range right now. But by the time he retires he could very well be top 5. We'll just have to wait and see...