Give The Guy a Break!
Before he could even lay claim to his fifth championship ring, the ever so present question of Kobe Bryant’s legacy crept up. During half-time of the decisive game 7 of the NBA Finals, analysts analyzed Kobe’s place in history. And as we all know, whenever you discuss the greatness of any NBA player, especially Kobe, the mention of Michael Jordan is inevitable. It’s no mystery that Kobe patterned his game after Jordan. Everything from the sway of his walk to the pumping of his fists screams Jordan. Considered the greatest player of all time, Jordan’s accolades along with his earned admiration could fill a book. Players of today often cite him as the blueprint they studied for their own games. But no other player has followed the guide as faithfully as Kobe.
Kobe entered the league back in 1996 straight out of high school and spent most of his rookie season coming off the bench. As with many first year players, Kobe experienced his fair share of hard times. Like the three air balls he shot in one game that ultimately ended the Lakers playoff run. But it wouldn’t take Kobe long to start settling. Within two years, Kobe had become a starter for the Lakers, voted an All-Star starter and signed a contract extension worth $70 million. But the huge success wouldn’t start to surface until the 2000s. Behind the force that was Shaquille O’Neal and the guidance of Phil Jackson, the Lakers started the decade by winning three straight championships. While Kobe had steadily improved and was coming into his own, there was no question that Shaq was the focal point of the Lakers.
It is said and believed that Shaq’s departure is a result of Kobe’s disdain of playing the sidekick.
After Shaq and Jackson’s departure, the Lakers went through a rough period.
The 2004-05 season was especially tough for Kobe. In his book, The Last Season: A Team in Search of its Soul, Jackson deemed Kobe as “uncoachable.” Although Kobe was the second leading scorer in the league during that time, the Lakers failed to reach the playoffs. One year later in 2006, Bryant would find his career at a crossroads, one that brought Jackson back to L.A. It would also be the same year that he scored 81 points in a game against the Toronto Raptors. In fact, that season saw many scoring feats by Kobe and the Lakers improved by winning 11 more games. However, Kobe still wasn’t pleased and 2007 saw demands to be traded and displeasure with ownership. Ironically, it would be Jackson who would talk Kobe down from the trade ledge. Fast forward a few trades later that brought Pau Gasol and Ron Artest to Tinseltown and the Lakers are back-to-back champions.
Now a five-time champion the comparisons to Michael Jordan have gained more fuel. Jordan totaled six rings throughout his 15 year career. At the age of 31, Kobe has already been in the league 14 years and only one shy of Jordan’s total. While some believe that he has already seen his best days, many prophesize that he could end up with more rings than Jordan, therefore surpassing him as the greatest player of all time. To that I only have one thing to say: WAKE UP! If greatness was solely measured on championships alone, than why do we take so seriously the talents of Charles Barkley or Karl Malone? Does Robert Horry having one more ring than Jordan also put him contention for greatest player? Judging an individual in a team sport by championships is truly ludicrous. I will admit that a championship does help to validate one’s legacy but ultimately doesn’t make it. Whenever I enter the Jordan/Kobe debate, I always turn to the individual stats and how each player meshed with their respective teams.
It took Jordan three more years than Kobe to win his first championship but through no fault of his own.
Much like Kobe, Jordan needed help. When the Bulls organization got him a supporting cast he could work with the greatness that was MJ skyrocketed. He led the Bulls to their championships as the MVP in each one. He still holds the record for the highest scoring average in the playoffs. Kobe’s situation is much more different. While he did win a championship three years quicker than Jordan, he was by no means the best player. In each of his first championships with the Lakers, Shaquille O’Neal was the MVP. It has only been in the last two runs that Kobe has been awarded that title, the last one questioned by many as they believed it should have gone to Pau Gasol. Whenever the situation beckoned, Jordan heeded and delivered. Kobe on the other hand hasn’t been as efficient. It’s true that he can put up huge numbers, but it too often comes at the expense of his team or his own numbers them self. Take the other night for instance, he had a terrible shooting performance and ended up going a horrendous 6-24 from the field. To many it was all the proof needed to justify that Kobe is no Jordan. When have you ever known Jordan to perform so poorly in a clutch situation?
With that being said here’s what’s really good! It’s hard for anyone to become better than the person they set out to be. And while I am not a Kobe fan, I am a basketball fan. It would go against my passion for the game to not recognize Kobe’s greatness.
Although I hate to admit it, there are times that I watch Kobe play in astonishment. The man does things on the basketball court that can only be described as: WOW.
He is often and sometimes unfairly criticized for his “selfish” ways but he is who he is. We, as in the fans, are so quick to judge him on all the “mistakes” he makes that we forget that he ultimately is a great player. So what he wasn’t the most important piece of his first championships runs, he was still an integral part. So what we’d rather invite Shaq to a party. So what he’ll always be in the shadow of Jordan. The guy has a career that many would kill for and he has worked hard to rightfully attain it. So how about for now, while he celebrates his fifth championship, we give him his just dues and most importantly how about we simply give the guy a break.
Kobe Bryant will never be a Michael Jordan!!!!
He doesn’t need to be Jordan…saying his name let’s you know he’s a legend already. Kobe Bryant is the best! Once you’re compared to the best it means you’re there, it’s just a case of agreement/disagreement. But the case has already been made. It’s better for him to just be him, he’s making his own lane and that’s better IMO.
Listen we need to stop being so subjective to our memories of jordan. In the finals against the jazz, aside from the winning shot, jordan had poor shooting nights. Kobe has come up clutch after clutc after clutch. Did we already forget the close out game against the suns in the previous series to the finals? he made the most amazing clutch shots in crunch time amongst double teams, and it wasn’t nowhere near the first time he’s done so. Like the artcle says, give the guy a break