IF he wins a couple more championships he will.

 

I think people have it in there heads that Jordan is the greatest of all time (which he is ) & NOBODY could ever take his place as the greatest, no matter what. We all remember Jordan dominating & winning multiple championships. Right now Kobe is domniating so we'll have to wait & see on those ships. It's not looking good though. We need to "ttt" this sucker in about 10 years or so.

Kobe didn't run Shaq out. They chose Kobe over Shaq. Think about it, it only makes sense. The Lakers did the right thing.

 

 

Yes he did pretty much. I mean Kobe didn't want to play with Shaq anymore, and if Shaq stayed he was going to leave. Kobe wanted to try to go out and try to prove people that he can be great even without Shaq. I remember even watching a interview with him, and he talked about how he wanted to try to prove it without Shaq. So yeah knowing Kobe didn't want to play with Shaq anymore and would have left, they did do the smart thing in keeping Kobe instead of Shaq. However Kobe cared about himself and wanted to try to prove things, instead of just trying to win championships...

He's not there yet but he is without a doubt the closest there has been.

 

I do agree with that!!!:thumb:

And the Lakers will be hard pressed to win a championship within the next five years because of that choice. So maybe they did the right thing, maybe they did not?

The Lakers will sell so many tickets for the next 10 seasons while Kobe is there that it will be well worth it. Shaq won't be in the league that long.

 

Did you really think that the Kobe move was primarily a basketball decision? Of course one can make the argument that it was beneficial for the team, but I'm sure the fact that Kobe will be selling tickets far after Shaq is gone that was the real decision maker.

The Lakers will sell so many tickets for the next 10 seasons while Kobe is there that it will be well worth it. Shaq won't be in the league that long.

 

Did you really think that the Kobe move was primarily a basketball decision? Of course one can make the argument that it was beneficial for the team, but I'm sure the fact that Kobe will be selling tickets far after Shaq is gone that was the real decision maker.

 

No doubt the Lakers made the right choice in Kobe, if they had to choose between the two. However they probably wouldn't have to had to choose, if Kobe didn't want to go off and be by himself. He didn't want to play with Shaq anymore and would have left if they kept him, so it was smart to keep Kobe. However if Kobe wasn't all about himself, then they probably could have kept both, but Kobe wanted to prove that he can do it without Shaq. (And I heard this straight from Kobe's mouth in a interview on tv...)

Sports Guy brought up the possibility of Jordan playing under the "no hand check" rule...

The Lakers will sell so many tickets for the next 10 seasons while Kobe is there that it will be well worth it. Shaq won't be in the league that long.

 

Did you really think that the Kobe move was primarily a basketball decision? Of course one can make the argument that it was beneficial for the team, but I'm sure the fact that Kobe will be selling tickets far after Shaq is gone that was the real decision maker.

The Lakers sold millions of tickets before Kobe Bryant, and they will sell millions of tickets after Kobe.

He's not there yet but he is without a doubt the closest there has been.

 

Oscar Robertson fans would argue that point. In another ten years Lebron James fans may get into the mix.

Oscar Robertson fans would argue that point. In another ten years Lebron James fans may get into the mix.

I don't see it for Lebron.

Kobe is the ONLY player that can be in this debate. Those of you that are trying to look at stats or championships to make your judgment do not know how to watch a player. To even for one second try to equate Kobe's cast to MJ's shows either a lack of knowledge or a distaste for Kobe. MJ never won a championship without Pippen and Kukoc. KB never won one without Shaq. Kobe is now stuck with Luke Walton and Odom as his best options while MJ had a Top 50 all-timer in Pippen and an early Dirk Nowitzski type player in Kukoc.

 

They're very, very close.

 

He won at least three without Kukoc and does anyone actually think Pippen deserved to be top 50.

 

Kobe is phenominal but MJ played the entire game at another level. Someone talked about how well Kobe plays when he is ticked off, I seem to remember MJ putting personal beat downs on teams and players he felt had dissed him.

 

MJ's stats are better in every way. He played D every possesion and in every game. MJ on this Laker team would be capable of winning a title in a couple of years (IMHO), Kobe won't without a huge trade.

 

Bottom line....in their respective primes who would you take and who would win heads up. I think MJ in both cases. If only MJ had gone to UK he would have been the perfect player .

I don't see it for Lebron.

 

Just curious, why not? His early career numbers at the same age as Kobe are better. At least I heard someone say that once. Do you think he's peaked and won't improve any more? Of course, unless he moves teams I don't see the championships coming.

I don't see it for Lebron.

 

We agree on something. I believe by the time Lebron gets to 28-29 he'll be a completely different player than Jordan and Kobe. He'll weigh about 250 by then, and I see him getting more post-up opportunities and not running the offense as much. He's going to put on weight, just because his frame is naturally large.

I don't see it for Lebron.

 

He has to win multiple titles, and right now, that's not looking good. Kobe is at least half way to matching MJ's six.

 

To dethrone Jordan, I think a guy is going to have to win at least 4 titles, and more likely 5 or more. I threw four in there, because suppose Lebron lead the Cavs to 4 straight, then that four would probably get him there...

The debate between Kobe and Jordan has to be put into context.

 

How weak is the league now, compared to when MJ played?

 

Athletes are better BUT the league has went rhough expansion, rule changes and even the 3pt line is shorter.

 

MJ is the best, period.