Kobe Bryant

[PCLoadLetter]

But Jordan only gave up the ball when he had quality teammates. He didn't give up the ball early in his career, it was only when Pippen and company joined the squad.
Of course, Kobe made his bed by forcing Shaq out and now he can go fork himself in it.

And you made your counterpoint by that second statement ...

Kobe was, right or wrong, the catalyst for his highest-quality teammate leaving the team. Kobe was selfish with a great teammate, and he's been selfish without any great teammates.

Here's hoping the Lakers get Kidd, and see what that combination can do in the postseason ...

Why does Shaq always get a free pass on this? As a Laker he was fat, out of shape, insulted the owner who was paying him a fortune... and not for nothing, he didn't exactly want to play with Kobe, either. They managed to turn it into an either/or choice for Buss, and he made the only choice that made sense.

 

[SoSueMe]

Why does Shaq always get a free pass on this?

Three words: Three straight titles.

You'd get a free pass, too.

And then another in Miami while LA and Kobe (the player they "chose to keep") didn't win one.

 

[Angola!]

Why does Shaq always get a free pass on this?

Three words: Three straight titles.

You'd get a free pass, too.

Wasn't Kobe apart of those?

 

[jdklamp]

It really should be pretty simple. There are two parts of the game — offense and defense. Kobe is great at both. LeBron, Nash and Wade are all bad defensively. They can't guard anyone. All great players in the NBA can score. But how many can defend. It's like nobody cares about defense anymore. It's totally irrelevant if a guy can defend. Nash and Wade make Allen Iverson look like a competent defender. Wade goes for the steal on every play. Nash is just god awful. Yet people still think of them as the best player in the league. I just don't understand it. The offensive side is only half the game.

And Kobe was a good enough teammate to win three championships. So it's not like because he is a selfish A-hole you can't win with him.

 

[Montezuma's Revenge]

Nobody should mention Kobe in the same breath as Jordan on any level.

Jordan was just flat-out better than Kobe.

At everything.

Even when Jordan wasn't passing the ball much during his early years, he was shooting close to 50 percent. Kobe has never done that.

 

[Freelance Hack]

Why does Shaq always get a free pass on this?

Three words: Three straight titles.

You'd get a free pass, too.

And then another in Miami while LA and Kobe (the player they "chose to keep") didn't win one.

Shaq rode D-Wade's coattails to that title, and Kobe's got at least 10 more years to win another title.

 

[Almost_Famous]

i know everyone is saying wade had shaq .. but if you watched the finals, Wade pretty much brought them back by himself.

In game 3, Shaq was just 6-9 for 16 points. Also 11 rebs.
In game 5, which the Mavs won by 1, Shaq had 18-12 but took only 12 shots.
In game 6, shaq was a waste - only played 30 mins, 9 points, 12 rebounds

He's a shell of what he was in LA (obviously). Nobody can win a title alone ... but Shaq wasn't getting a touch on every possession.

 

[BYH]

...should be in jail.

And I'd love to see the Lakers get Jason Kidd just because he and Joumana about the only couple in the NBA who can match Kobe and Vanessa re: dual reprehension. Yes, I know, they're getting divorced, etc etc.

 

[Chuck~Taylor]

Kobe is the best player in the league.

Alot of people on here have said that Kobe dosn't pass the ball. This year, he's been passing ALOT more and it's really impressed me. It has shown another side to his game. Not only is he an excellent scorer, but he can pass with the best of them.
I think you gotta' give him the MVP this year. The guy is playing with Smush Parker and Luke Walton in his lineup, and he's got his team as one the elites in the WESTERN confrence. That's pretty amazing.

 

[fever_dog]

kobe is the best player in the league.
his shots are at 20 per game this season, down from 27 last season.
he's making his teammates better this season, utilizing a revolving cast that has changed because of injuries to lamar odom, chris mihm, kwame brown, luke walton and now vlad rad. i know those guys aren't great, but kobe has helped make them vital pieces to the lakers.

the most impressive thing about him is that he's still evolving after 10 years in the league.
and the guy gets a bad rap about the passing. he's averaged more than five assists a game for 7 of the past 8 years.

and he had plenty to do with the lakers' three title runs.

 

[Dedo]

Sure, he's competitive. But he doesn't pass.

He's averaging 5.5 assists per game. That's tied for 19th in the league. Not sure you want the most talented scorer in the game passing any more than that.

 

[SoSueMe]

Sure, he's competitive. But he doesn't pass.

He's averaging 5.5 assists per game. That's tied for 19th in the league. Not sure you want the most talented scorer in the game passing any more than that.

But only four more players shoot more than he does.