- Apr 16, 2005
- 16,110
- 16,867
R.I.P Kobe Bryant.
- Thread in 'General' Thread starter Started by Lee And His Sneaks,
- Start date
- Jun 28, 2004
- 7,127
- 17,419
Younger fans need to understand that GOAT =/= my favorite player.
I grew up with Kobe. I'll never cared more about another NBA player than Kobe. And yet, he's not the GOAT or even easily top 10 and that's fine. That's awesome, in fact.
There was not a single season where he was the consensus best player in the league. That fueled him to get better, every single season. It's one thing to be seven feet tall and good at basketball, it's another thing to be 6'6 and great at basketball. But to be 6'6 and good at basketball? You have to fight and compete and conspire to own that sport. For over two decades, Kobe did just that.
They think VC or AI are better? I'll make 1,000 jumpers in the offseason. T-mac is better? I'll extend my range further than his. Duncan owns the post? I'll further develop my left hand in the post. Steve Nash wins more than me, I'll get better teammates and win more. LeBron has better numbers and deserves the MVP, here's two numbers: 2009 and 2010 Finals MVP.
Eventually, Kobe's body simply couldn't answer these public challenges like he used to but he still worked like crazy. Even on his last legs, he scored 60. Utah took it easy on him, which is to say they didn't double team him. He gave them 60. A few years prior he shot two free throws on a ripped Achilles tendon.
Sadly, we'll never enjoy decades of the Mamba as an MC at NBA or Laker events but his ability to focus and battle through the the hubris of youth, the exhaustion and complacency associated with with being in one's natural prime, and his dogged determination to make his final years as dominant as possible, all make Kobe my favorite player. The lower you rank him all time, the more you make me love him even more.
I grew up with Kobe. I'll never cared more about another NBA player than Kobe. And yet, he's not the GOAT or even easily top 10 and that's fine. That's awesome, in fact.
There was not a single season where he was the consensus best player in the league. That fueled him to get better, every single season. It's one thing to be seven feet tall and good at basketball, it's another thing to be 6'6 and great at basketball. But to be 6'6 and good at basketball? You have to fight and compete and conspire to own that sport. For over two decades, Kobe did just that.
They think VC or AI are better? I'll make 1,000 jumpers in the offseason. T-mac is better? I'll extend my range further than his. Duncan owns the post? I'll further develop my left hand in the post. Steve Nash wins more than me, I'll get better teammates and win more. LeBron has better numbers and deserves the MVP, here's two numbers: 2009 and 2010 Finals MVP.
Eventually, Kobe's body simply couldn't answer these public challenges like he used to but he still worked like crazy. Even on his last legs, he scored 60. Utah took it easy on him, which is to say they didn't double team him. He gave them 60. A few years prior he shot two free throws on a ripped Achilles tendon.
Sadly, we'll never enjoy decades of the Mamba as an MC at NBA or Laker events but his ability to focus and battle through the the hubris of youth, the exhaustion and complacency associated with with being in one's natural prime, and his dogged determination to make his final years as dominant as possible, all make Kobe my favorite player. The lower you rank him all time, the more you make me love him even more.
- Apr 24, 2006
- 18,867
- 13,204
No matter where the “experts” rank him, his peers who actually played against him rank him much higher.
No matter what everyone says, he is the second greatest two-guard of all time and one of the greats
No matter what everyone says, he is the second greatest two-guard of all time and one of the greats
- Dec 9, 2002
- 34,702
- 28,073
MakeNTGreatAgain
Supporter
- Aug 5, 2017
- 8,898
- 9,420
i rarely come into this thread, makes me so sad
- Apr 24, 2006
- 18,867
- 13,204
(Delete)
- Apr 16, 2005
- 16,110
- 16,867
Street Mamba
- Apr 16, 2005
- 16,110
- 16,867
- Sep 21, 2012
- 7,754
- 10,719
Periodically i re-read this first couple pages........
rbk93
Supporter
- Jun 29, 2016
- 14,380
- 13,750
We miss you Kobe.
- Oct 13, 2001
- 161,807
- 144,218
- Mar 5, 2005
- 24,023
- 15,830
I loved this interview.
- Oct 13, 2001
- 161,807
- 144,218
- Apr 24, 2006
- 18,867
- 13,204
At the 3:09 mark you can listen to Spo talking about that
- Oct 13, 2001
- 161,807
- 144,218
- Oct 13, 2001
- 161,807
- 144,218
- Dec 9, 2002
- 34,702
- 28,073
I know it's been said but Kobe would be so proud of the leap in popularity that women's ball had this year.
- Oct 13, 2001
- 161,807
- 144,218
- Oct 13, 2001
- 161,807
- 144,218
Phil Handy's shirt
- Oct 13, 2001
- 161,807
- 144,218
- Jul 29, 2001
- 20,944
- 11,083
Responding to old post, but who you think is the best player of all time will almost never equate to who you consider your favorite player. Shawn Kemp is my favorite athlete of all time. He played his whole career side by side with Ken Griffey, Jr. in Seattle. Their careers basically started and ended together in Seattle, lasting a decade.. I loved Griffey, but the magic that Kemp brought just put him over the top for me. I was a basketball guy.
- Oct 28, 2013
- 42,903
- 179,036
'Jellybean' Bryant, father of Kobe, dies at age 69
Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, the father of Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, has died. He was 69.
6 Rings G.O.A.T.
Supporter
- Feb 11, 2006
- 137,103
- 118,756
3900stabler
Supporter
- Aug 23, 2004
- 1,619
- 1,161
Did Nas and Kobe ever patch things up? Nas was pretty hard on Kobe in one of his songs off his Street Discipline album.
- Apr 24, 2006
- 18,867
- 13,204
These are our heroes. I remember that joint. Huge Nas fan
