:laugh: He's not even the best player in the NBA. See: Kobe Bryant.

 

It's too early in the season for this discussion. Each player is great and a valid argument can be made either way.

It's too early in the season for this discussion. Each player is great and a valid argument can be made either way.

 

I'm talking about overall. Besides that, does the greatest player for each year get to change the rules as he sees fit? That's ridiculous.

It's too early in the season for this discussion. Each player is great and a valid argument can be made either way.

 

4 rings to 0.

There's a difference in "keeping fan interest up" and "singlehandedly keeping the NBA afloat."

 

LeBron deciding he wants to change his # should have no effect at all on anybody else choosing to wear that number. It's not his call to make, and to be honest his arrogance and attitude over the last couple of seasons has worn very thin with me. Is he a great player? Sure. Is he the only reason anybody tunes in? Obviously not, because I watch games that the Cavs are not playing in. Am I tired of him? Getting there.

 

And yes, he can do what he wants. And so can Marcus Camby, Jason Richardson, Kevin Martin, Jodie Meeks, and all the other players who wear #23 in the league.

 

:thumb:

Not to get too far off topic, but Kobe is a huge Asian and global icon (same for Yao). I will never forget the footage of Mamba in Beijing.

Didn't I create a thread about a month ago with the same suggestion? Looks like Lebron has been following me on BGP.

I am fine with LeBron changing his to honor MJ, but it is not his place to lead a league wide policy against the number.

 

Why not? I'm sure he's not the only one that thinks that way.

Why not? I'm sure he's not the only one that thinks that way.

 

If LeBron wants to give up the # to honor MJ himself (or to sell more jerseys), that's his business. Nobody else should have to follow suit just because he decided to do so.

^ I agree with that.

If LeBron wants to give up the # to honor MJ himself (or to sell more jerseys), that's his business. Nobody else should have to follow suit just because he decided to do so.

 

I agree.

 

I hope the league doesn't retire 23. If he doesn't want to wear it fine, but I hope the league doesn't retire the number.

4 rings to 0.

 

Kobe has also played longer, and has had better teams around him. Kobe didn't win any rings when he had Kwame Brown at Center did he? A ridiculous argument, IMO. In that regard Robert Horry must be better than Kobe and LeBron both. :idunno: Rings are an indication of who you have played with more than the individual player. LeBron will get his, and some will still say Kobe is better. It's a close race, and either one is probably the correct answer. Kobe has the bling and maybe the best collection of offensive moves in the history of the game, including MJ. LeBron is the a freak, he combines everything you'd want in a basketball player, talent wise. To say one is definitely that much better is off, IMO.

Kobe has also played longer, and has had better teams around him. Kobe didn't win any rings when he had Kwame Brown at Center did he? A ridiculous argument, IMO. In that regard Robert Horry must be better than Kobe and LeBron both. :idunno: Rings are an indication of who you have played with more than the individual player. LeBron will get his, and some will still say Kobe is better. It's a close race, and either one is probably the correct answer. Kobe has the bling and maybe the best collection of offensive moves in the history of the game, including MJ. LeBron is the a freak, he combines everything you'd want in a basketball player, talent wise. To say one is definitely that much better is off, IMO.

 

Do you honestly believe this to be the case- that rings, especially in basketball, are more an indication of who a great player plays with than an indication of any single player's greatness?

Kobe has also played longer, and has had better teams around him. Kobe didn't win any rings when he had Kwame Brown at Center did he? A ridiculous argument, IMO. In that regard Robert Horry must be better than Kobe and LeBron both. :idunno: Rings are an indication of who you have played with more than the individual player. LeBron will get his, and some will still say Kobe is better. It's a close race, and either one is probably the correct answer. Kobe has the bling and maybe the best collection of offensive moves in the history of the game, including MJ. LeBron is the a freak, he combines everything you'd want in a basketball player, talent wise. To say one is definitely that much better is off, IMO.

 

That's when the number of rings become a factor into the argument, and to this day, Kobe has 4 to Lebron's 0. We'll see how many Lebron ends up with.

Do you honestly believe this to be the case- that rings, especially in basketball, are more an indication of who a great player plays with than an indication of any single player's greatness?

 

Yes I do. It's because Titles are skewed IMO. A player like the Big 0 only has one title, while a player like Olajuwon has two. Both are great players, but I think most people believe that Oscar was the better player. Jordan won nothing without Pippen, etc. A player that is going to be considered the best of all-time should have a title, but I don't think you can compare a players entire (or nearly entirely) body of work to a player who has just reached his prime. IMO, if you look at Kobe and LeBron you can't say the titles (for now) as the main arguement. LeBron is still young, and hasn't had a cast capable of winning the title without catching some (okay alot of) breaks. As a basketball player, IMO, I think that the case can be made for either. At the end of both their careers, titles can enter the discussion.

 

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That's when the number of rings become a factor into the argument, and to this day, Kobe has 4 to Lebron's 0. We'll see how many Lebron ends up with.

 

That's one way to look at it. IMO, that's more of saying that Kobe is greater than James rather than a better player if that makes any sense. Kobe has had a greater career than LeBron so far, but that doesn't make him the better player today.

Yes I do. It's because Titles are skewed IMO. A player like the Big 0 only has one title, while a player like Olajuwon has two. Both are great players, but I think most people believe that Oscar was the better player. Jordan won nothing without Pippen, etc. A player that is going to be considered the best of all-time should have a title, but I don't think you can compare a players entire (or nearly entirely) body of work to a player who has just reached his prime. IMO, if you look at Kobe and LeBron you can't say the titles (for now) as the main arguement. LeBron is still young, and hasn't had a cast capable of winning the title without catching some (okay alot of) breaks. As a basketball player, IMO, I think that the case can be made for either. At the end of both their careers, titles can enter the discussion.

 

 

 

That's one way to look at it. IMO, that's more of saying that Kobe is greater than James rather than a better player if that makes any sense. Kobe has had a greater career than LeBron so far, but that doesn't make him the better player today.

 

You really don't like Kobe do you?