When basketball fans have a discussion about the greatest of all time, a few names come to mind: Chamberlain, Russell, Magic, Bird and my choice, Jordan. But if, and at this rate when, Kobe Bean Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers win their 5th NBA Championship since 2000, Kobe has to be considered in that list. Without a doubt, to most storied franchises in the NBA are the Lakers and Celtics. Collectively, they probably have over 40 hall of famers in their history. The Celtics have names like Russell, Cousy, Havlicek, Jo Jo White, Bird, Parish, McHale. Now add Garnett, Allen and Pierce to the mix…all three who I believe will make it to the hall of fame one day eventually. The Lakers have names like Baylor, Mikan, West, Chamberlain, Magic, Worthy, Kareem. Now add Shaq and Kobe to that list. But what makes this championship run more impressive is that Kobe is about to go back to back without Shaq. By doing so, he not only affirms that he can be the man to lead a team, but he also separates himself from Shaq and Duncan, who have 4 rings apiece.
Let’s put this thing in perspective. Shaq loves to claim that he won titles with different guards…that he took them over the hump. Now I love Shaq, but rarely does he say that he wouldn’t have won without them. It’s always; he took them over the hump. Shaq couldn’t win a title early in his career and he couldn’t win won late in his career. He won 4 titles; 3 with Kobe and 1 with D-Wade. He lost won with Anfernee Hardaway and he couldn’t win with the Suns – who did better this year without him then they did last year with him – nor could he help Lebron this year. Shaq won in his prime. Kobe on the other hand never won a title in the prime of his career. Kobe won his first 3 titles by the age of 24. Last year when Kobe won his 4th title, Kobe was 30. So from the ages of 25 to 29, the four years where Kobe was in his prime and statistically a monster, he never won. But Kobe has had the rare fortune of winning young and winning old.
If Kobe wins his 5th title, he’ll be tied with Magic in the rings department and one short of Jordan. Kobe could possibly get 6 next year, if he wins number 5 now. And this is all about Jordan. Kobe is not chasing Magic, he’s chasing MJ. Kobe won 5 rings with MJ’s coach, has won more playoff games with Phil than MJ, he’s two possibly one ring behind MJ, Kobe chews his gum like MJ, makes faces like MJ, interviews like MJ, shoots like MJ…Kobe wants to be MJ in every aspect. Lebron kisses MJ’s ass. Kobe is trying to literally replicate MJ. And why not? MJ is the greatest ever in my opinion. One thing that separates MJ from the rest is the level of competition that he play and his finals win/loss record. Now, Kobe or anyone for that matter can compete with the finals win/loss record. MJ went to 6 NBA Finals from 91 to 98. He won all 6 of them and no team ever took him to a game 7 in the finals. Now, competition, well…Let’s look at the finals. MJ played against Magic, Clyde Drexler, Sir Charles, Gary Payton, John Stockton and Karl Malone. Kobe…he played Reggie Miller, Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups, Garnett, Pierce, Allen and Dwight Howard. In the eastern conference, MJ had to face Ewing, Bird, Isiah Thomas, Reggie Miller, Mourning and Shaq. In the west, Kobe has gone against Steve Nash, Carmelo, Chris Webber, Scottie Pippin, Garnett, and Tim Duncan. A slight edge goes to MJ’s competition, but only a slight one.
Kobe’s reputation as a person makes him unlikable. But MJ’s personality is equally comparable. They are both creeps in their own ways. The difference is that Kobe is more arrogant and cocky in general than MJ is. But pure basketball, you got to say, the two are comparable, and Kobe makes the two more comparable every day. With all of the good players in the NBA, we have the unique opportunity to watch greatness before it goes. Kobe has been the league’s best player for year and he is under appreciated. Only 1 MVP? He’s beaten all of the men that have won them in years where he should have won. When Jordan played, all cherished his greatness. With Lebron, all await his greatness, while we let the chance to watch the greatness of Kobe Bryant pass us all by. But when its all said and done, Kobe will be one of the greatest of all time.

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