Kobe Bryant is the best basketball player ever Hands Down!
 

He did what Michael Jordan never did. He set the record in New York, scoring more points then anybody ever at Madison Square Garden. 61 points! Love him or Hate him, you have to agree, he is the best to ever play this game.

Stats for yesterdays game

19-31 shots
3-6 3pt
20-20 free throws
61 total points

He sucks, he can't win championships..

Turbobullshit.

I watched all SIX Bulls championships in the 90's. Kobe is good, but never has been, and never will be, the best.

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what a bad ass show he put on yesterday

Gary... While I agree Kobe is a great player. Kobe is far from a great Teammate, Jordan was that. If Kobe can learn to do this, I highly doubt he can at this late stage of his career, he will become the greatest.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....html?bcnn=yes

That article speaks the truth.

the best basketball player ever? lol

One can argue neither Jordan or Kobe are the greatest ever. :2 cents:

Couldn't have said it better! :thumbsup:thumbsup

Will Lebron James be better than Michael Jordan one day ?? He seems like a good team player ..

Most people don't know that Mike D'Antoni (Knicks Head Coach) was Kobe's favorite player growing up in Italy. Early in his career with the Lakers, Bryant chose to wear the numeral 8, D'Antoni's old jersey number with the Olimpia Milano. It is the Garden and everyone wants to dominate, I am sure that was a little extra motivation.

Kobe isn't even close to Jordan status.

Len Bias would have been better than Jordan, had he lived. :2 cents:

http://nbcsportsmedia.msnbc.com/j/NB...as.hmedium.jpg

agreed :thumbsup

So when Kobe scores 60+ points, he is dangerous to his team? But when Jordan, Wilt, or Lebron does it, they are great players? Jordan wasn't a great teammate, he punched out players in the locker room, froze out teammates and even froze out other teammates that didn't follow his freezeout orders.

I am not arguing that Kobe is the best ever. I just think these articles get a bit tiresome.

At the end of the day, Kobe and Jordan are similar. Jordan had less competition, gambling issues, and lets be honest, he was suspected of infidelity on occasions. He was a jerk. He had to have HIS points. Kobe is arrogant, issues with infidelity, stiffer competition but he had Shaq.

How much of that matters? None.....

Neither of them are the greatest ever. Shaq is and will be for some time.

Also, breaking the scoring record in Madison Square Garden is a bit of an overhyped accomplishment. Every team is different. This one has a coach known for allowing individual players to torch his defenses.

Did he not demonstrate that he could do this last year, when he got all of his teammates involved, and dropped his scoring average down considerably and got his team to the finals without bynum?

Come on Eric, you have to admit he has to be up there in the top 3, besides, the topic of this post was Player, not teammate...

You and I have had this conversation personally. Kobe's record this season proves the point better then ever. When he takes less then 20 shots a game the Lakers have a much larger chance at winning then when he becomes selfish.

dude, he's not even the best all round player in the game today...how can you say he's the greatest of all time? lol

Plus Kobe's stats are nowhere near Jordan's...and Kobe has yet to win a ring as the "franchise player".

The best all "around player" in the NBA by far is LeBron James, it's a fact. No one does more with less...and not one "active player" in the league has ever put up seasons compareable to his last 5 seasons. Think about that. Not one active player has gone for 27+ Points, 6+ rebounds, 6+ assists in a season...and LeBron's about to do it for the 5th straight year (and just turned 24). Also, he's in the running for defensive player of the year...not to mention one of the best team players ever.

LeBron's Stats this year: 27.8pts, 7.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.3 blocks (team record: 37-9)
Kobe's Stats this year: 27.4pts, 5.5 recounds, 5.1 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.5 blocks (team record: 38-9)

*and LeBron plays in the East, which has taken over as the more dominant league.

Another note on LeBron -- he's on pace for his 3rd season of 27+ points, 7+ assists, 7+ rebounds...which will make him only the 2nd player in NBA history to do that more than 2 times in his entire career...Oscar Robertson was the other (and he played long before the game ever truely evolved).

Never has a player done more at his age than LeBron James has done in the NBA.

Now replace Kobe With LeBron last year...and who would have won the The NBA Finals? The Lakers. LeBron nealy took out Boston in 7 Games to get back to the Finals...and he didn't have much of a team to work with.

Lebron is the only one on that team, that why he gets all the stats that he does. Kobe has quite a few good players that also need to score on the team, or else, he would have numbers like Lebron's.

Put Kobe in Cleveland, and he would have the same numbers, or even better.

Ya, and so did the Atlanta Hawks.. Should we replace Kobe with Mike Bibby too?

Dude, you aint got a clue.

Remember the other year when the Lakers struggled? Why didn't Kobe put up those kinds of numbers then?

I don't have a clue? You couldn't even follow the point I was trying to make.

If Kobe's the best player in the league, he should have won the title with the team he had last year. I don't imagine anyone in the basketball world would say the Lakers would have lost last year, if they would have had LeBron instead of Kobe.

Why should he have won?

The topic of this thread was Best Basketball Player, Not the Best Team.

What part of that don't you understand?

There are 5 guys on a team, you can't win the game all by yourself.

lol

you must never seen Shawn Bradley play.

kobe the greatest :321GFY, lucky for him, Shawn had a higher calling

Exactly this thread is about the best player...you just contradicted yourself ;)

because if he was the best player they would have won last year. You obviously don't pay much attention to basketball when you say "there are 5 guys on a team"...have you seen their roster? saying it takes 5 players isn't an excuse at all with the Lakers...They had/have tons of talent.

You can't compare generations... Kobe is the best player in the NBA right now, and has been this decade.
Jordan in the 90s, Magic in the 80s

The best NBA player ever, Kobe is not in that league yet. You have guys have forgoten Oscar Robertson, Kareem, Larry Bird a white guy, ha ha. You have Jerry West, don't forget about Magic.

Jordan himself would be in the top three now. People must not remember Bill Rusell, or some guy named Wilt Chamberlin. All of these players played in a league that had much better players.

The best decade for talent in the NBA, was in the 80'S. I saw how the Celtics dominated! Kobe. I seem to remember that Jordan put up 63 against one of the best Celtic teams of all time.

If Kobe can win a championship without Shaq, this will help him move into the top five of all time. Until then, I don't see Kobe being able to get past the Celtics by himself.

Don't be surprised if Kobe busts 50 on the Cavs on Sunday.

Cavs lose their first home game to LA....

Best Ever? NOT EVEN CLOSE.

MJ would have NEVER lost to the Charlotte Bobcats

Don't be surprised? actually that would be a massive surprise, since he had 20 the last time they played.

Again, you have no idea what you're talking about. He won't put up 50 against one of the best defensive teams in the league...another fact for you.

Ya even worse, he lost to the Charlotte Hornets.

Their Record

41-41, Finished 6th in NBA Central Division

This was in 1995-1996 when the Bulls went 72-10

He also lost to the Toronto Raptors that year, when Toronto went 21-61

Not sure if your a betting man, but Im willing to put a wager on the game, I say lakers win. You want to do it?

What's your ICQ#? I'll bet after watching tonight's game to see how Ilgauskas is playing. He's the reason they lost to the Lakers the other week, because he was injured and LA was too big inside.

If Ilgauskas is moving better than he did the other night -- I'll bet with you Cleveland wins, they just have too much confidence on their home court and no one can play with them at home.

Not sure if you watch basketball, but the Lakers biggest man is out. His name is Andrew Bynum... That should help out any other team that plays the lakers, but anyways I still think Lakers will win.


icq 275532012

No offense Cory...Shaq is not even in the conversation. 53% lifetime FT% takes him out of the equation. :2 cents:

Shaq is the most dominant inside force in the history of the NBA -- he certainly deserves to be in the conversation.

and if you really knew the game you would have said Chamberlain didn't deserve to be in the conversation either ;) His free throw numbers were even worse.

Thanks and I do know, the Lakers are still bigger and stronger inside.

Jordan never got to play a shit Knicks team like Kobe does. When Jordan was around, the Knicks had a lot more talent and one of the best defenses in the league. They also had different rules in that era which made it harder for guards to score.

He is not the best basketball player ever. He is one the best players in the NBA these days.

Jordan is still the best player ever.

Kobe is one of the best ever.

Shaq is the most dominant.

LeBron is the future best player ever, but needs to win 6 or more titles to be in that conversation. I do think he'll do it though. But hey, I'm from Cleveland, so let me dream a little.

Kobe is the best 1 on 1 player ever and can score at will. He's much better at dishin' the rock then in the past. It's not too late for him to be the best, but can only be the best with 3 more championships. Lakers can win 3 more with the team they have now.

My question is, if the Lakers get Shaq again, use him as a back up to Andrew, will they win a title? And is it really possible for the Lakers to get Shaq again? Sounds like Shaq is buttering up the Lakers for a potential move.

Kobe isn't even the best player in the league, Lebron is. Comparing Kobe to Jordan is silly. Here are some reasons why:

- Jordan played with hand checking, something that was a big disadvantage to guards.

- Kobe plays in an era with defensive 3 seconds and the charging circle in the lane. Huge advantage to players who drive the lane. Jordan did not.

- Jordan was a much better defender than Kobe.

- Jordan was a 50% FG shooter, Kobe is 45%. Huge difference between the two.

- Jordan was a better rebounder and passer than Kobe.

- Jordan will win more championships than Kobe with less talent.

I don't know how anyone could even come close to making this argument. In this era, under these rules, Jordan would put up 35-40 points a night with ease. He also wouldn't have to shoot as much as Kobe does to do it. Kobe is a great player, one of the best ever. But he's not in the league of Jordan.

I think the Lakers will get Shaq again, and I doubt he'll be a backup. The way Bynum's knees are...he could be out for quite awhile. They should have traded him the other year while they could have still gotten something for him. So much potential and I'm scared it'll never be met.

Cory... Shaq? WTF I knew you liked big black cock :P

I think we can all agree on one thing.. Kobe and Jordan were both amazing players! Jordan was no more of a teammate then Kobe has ever been. As a matter of fact the last year and a half Kobe was as much or more of a teammate then Jordan ever was.

People will always dispise Kobe because he is the 2nd coming. That's how it always works and nobody likes it. Jeff Gordon is every bit of a driver that Earnhardt Sr. was. But everyone hated him because he was the 2nd coming. But look at his numbers! I hate the fag and Im actually a Earnhardt fan but just making a point. It happens in every sport. People will hate the "NEXT" guy

Go Kobe... 15 straight 40pt games a few years ago? LOL wtf... he had like 20 straight 30pt games.. the things he has done are amazing..

I didnt know Chamberlain was mentioned by anyone other than you in this thread. I think that is because nobody besides you has mentioned him. So in that case if you really new the game when mentioning the most dominate forces in the game you failed to mention Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell and Julius Erving.

The argument can be made weather Shaq is the most dominate Center in NBA history but not the best player in NBA history. I will reiterate with one of these :2 cents: to make sure you notice that this is just my opinion.

If you want fact then I will say this. Gretzky is the best hockey player of all time, hands down, no arguments to be made. FACT!!!

I can post dozens of stats that show either is better. It really comes down to preference. As a matter of fact I have side by side framed posters in my office of the two of them.

The one thing I think you are mistaken about is the talent that Jordan had on his team.
Rodman.. the best rebounder and defender the game has ever seen
Pippen.. maybe the best 2nd best player on his team EVER. Also one of the best small forwards ever.
The bulls also had some very good point guards over those years.. the Lakers have had nothing.
Center... The one advantage you can now give to the Lakers.. Shaq stint was short but now having Pau and a hurt Bynam gives the Lakers the edge.

I would also have to bring up the point that it was easier for Jordan to score back in the day. The players were smaller, the d was softer and the average team scored 10+ more points per game. More points to go around more easy layups and assists.

Lots of shots doesn't always equal selfish play.

That stat shows how good the Lakers are this year that they don't need him to put up that many shots every night and he is obviously aware of that and hasn't forced things. It's almost always better when you spread the scoring around that doesn't mean there aren't going to be nights when one guy gets it going or the best player needs to take up more of the work load. You have to take what the defense gives you.

Jordan is still the best by the way. Kobe has a shot at it but would have to win a championship 3 out of the next 4 years to have any kind of serious discussion about it.

http://www.jordanextreme.com/time838...offsBoston.jpg

Michael Jordan en-route to an NBA Playoff record 63 points against one of the greatest teams of all time in the era of legal hand checking, agressive defense and a lot of double teaming Jordan.

So take Kobe's 61 against a pathetic team in the regular season and SHOVE IT!

Jordan vs. Bird from that game:
(who did Kobe have guarding him? Oh that's right, garbage.)

Great player,no matter what...

What a dumb statement. Wow.

Would you like to review who the 72-10 Bulls lost to?

Or should we just squash irrelevance?

I am for the latter, personally.

That is a great post. I agree with all that.

In concern with Shaq, I have to go with him because he won the Title in two conferences with two different teams. He appeared with three teams. Every team he is on is a dominant force. That's my take.

Eric, I don't argue that they aren't better when he scores less. I argue that with Jordan and Lebron as well. That's the point. Sometimes players as good as Kobe score 60.

What? You mean Jordan had good teammates? Say it ain't so....I thought Jordan had a bunch of scrubs and he elivated them to play like NBA stars?

haha

Funny how people never bring up how good the Bulls were, and how weak their competition was.