Originally Posted by tupac003
Airmag I respect and agree with just about everything you say, but I don't agree with the 1988 thing. Now I am 26 but age should disqualify somebodies opinion.
My take.
Kobe is one of the best players to have played this game. I love the focus, the drive and the ability to just wow the crowd. Very Jordan-esc as some people say. But he just isn't Jordan. The fact that he patterned his game after Jordan rubbed people the wrong way and some just began hating him. As his fan base grew it became vocal. They said our guy Kobe is better then Jordan. The first thing folks look at is rings. Kobe has 3 Jordan has 6. Everybody knows legacies are built on championships, so how can Kobe be better then Jordan?
Some people have said that Shaq could have had that 3 peat with any 2 guard. Why didn't he win a chip with Penny? You need a speical player to win a chip with. Kobe and Wade were those players. I understand that Shaq does have the Finals MVP's but damn the center's he played were TRASH (expect deke). Shaq & Kobe were meant for each other.
Kobe being an introverted person also hurts his legacy. The guy seems like a douche. I have met the guy a couple of times and he seems like a good guy. None of us hang with the guy on a regular basis yet there are always posts about him being an a-hole and being very cold to teammates. We all know Jordan was the same way but that doesn't seem to bother some people.
When I was growing up NOBODY could tell me anything bad about MJ. I thought he was the greatest player ever while older members of my family would tell me that Magic or Dr. J were better players. We have the same issue now. Its always going to be that way. Now Lebron is in this mix and sooner then later the Lebron>MJ argument will start if it already hasn't started. IMO none of it matters.
When its all said and done Kobe is a top 5 SG. Top 10 all time but if he wins another chip or 2 he is top 5. I just don't think I could ever put him about Jordan because he set the bar so high. I don't see how anybody could pass that bar.