re: Is Kobe Bryant top 5 all time......for the Lakers?

Posted by Zamoro10

Member since Jul 2008

14743 posts

Posted on 4/29/13 at 8:55 am to Palm Beach Tiger

If your question is - who would I draft starting my Laker team in order of dominance and to win immediately? As a longtime Lakers homer...

1. Magic
2. Shaq
3. Kareem
4. Kobe

All top 3 entered the league and dominated from Day 1 - with Magic and Kareem carrying their squads and winning immediately and Shaq taking his team to the Finals. People really forget how dominate Kareem was...

(Never saw West or Baylor so no point in pretending with speculation.)

This post was edited on 4/29/13 at 8:58 am

3 ...

Posted by mcneil912

Member since Feb 2013

5322 posts

Posted on 4/29/13 at 8:56 am to Palm Beach Tiger

Magic > Kobe

Posted by shel311

McKinney, Texas

Member since Aug 2004

112939 posts

Posted on 4/29/13 at 8:57 am to Vicks Kennel Club

quote:
Nah, he will be close to the top 5 all-time due to the fact that his sustained excellence is longer than almost any other player

We're 2 for 2 in agreements already this morning./

Plus, I just don't have the fight in me today, gonna let this one go, no round 17 of this discussion for you and I today.

Posted by craigbiggio

Member since Dec 2009

31805 posts

Posted on 4/29/13 at 8:57 am to Palm Beach Tiger

I think the real question is where would Lebron rank if he played for the Lakers?

Posted by mcneil912

Member since Feb 2013

5322 posts

Posted on 4/29/13 at 8:58 am to craigbiggio

Nope, not the question

Posted by Vicks Kennel Club

29-24 #BlewDat

Member since Dec 2010

31259 posts

Posted on 4/29/13 at 9:00 am to shel311

You still have him too low in your all-time list. At absolute minimum, he is top 15.

Plus, I have an assignment due in a couple hours. Probably should not be fricking around too much.

Posted by Vicks Kennel Club

29-24 #BlewDat

Member since Dec 2010

31259 posts

Posted on 4/29/13 at 9:03 am to Zamoro10

Well, part of the reason Kobe did not dominate at the very beginning of his career is because he probably still had a learner's permit.

Regardless, those top three are definitely qualified to be ahead of him. I would probably go second after Kareem, but it is all opinion.

Posted by Palm Beach Tiger

Orlando, Florida

Member since Jan 2007

30109 posts

Posted on 4/29/13 at 9:06 am to Zamoro10

quote:
If your question is - who would I draft starting my Laker team in order of dominance and to win immediately? As a longtime Lakers homer...

1. Magic
2. Shaq
3. Kareem
4. Kobe

All top 3 entered the league and dominated from Day 1 - with Magic and Kareem carrying their squads and winning immediately and Shaq taking his team to the Finals. People really forget how dominate Kareem was...

(Never saw West or Baylor so no point in pretending with speculation.)

So you can draft Wilt or Kobe and get them for their entire career and you take Kobe?

Posted by shel311

McKinney, Texas

Member since Aug 2004

112939 posts

Posted on 4/29/13 at 9:07 am to Vicks Kennel Club

quote:
You still have him too low in your all-time list. At absolute minimum, he is top 15

It'll be in that vacinity.

quote:
Plus, I have an assignment due in a couple hours. Probably should not be fricking around too much

Posted by AlexLSU

Member since Jan 2005

25341 posts

Posted on 4/29/13 at 9:08 am to Palm Beach Tiger

quote:
So you can draft Wilt or Kobe and get them for their entire career and you take Kobe?

So Wilt's 5 seasons in LA > Kobe's 17 seasons?

You could argue that Wilt is a greater player, but not a greater Laker.

To answer the question, Magic, Kobe and Kareem are the three greatest Lakers. Arguments could be made for all three as the greatest, IMO. Of all the players available, I'd draft Shaq first overall.

This post was edited on 4/29/13 at 9:10 am

Posted by onmymedicalgrind

Nunya

Member since Dec 2012

12209 posts

Posted on 4/29/13 at 9:11 am to AlexLSU

quote:
So Wilt's 5 seasons in LA > Kobe's 17 seasons? You could argue that Wilt is a greater player, but not a greater Laker.

I really don't get what is so confusing about this concept.

I guess Hakeem Olajuwon is the greatest player in Toronto Raptor history.

Posted by Palm Beach Tiger

Orlando, Florida

Member since Jan 2007

30109 posts

Posted on 4/29/13 at 9:29 am to onmymedicalgrind

In my original post I state clearly that the requirement is they played for the lakers for at least 5 years. You can draft any player that meets that requirement and you get to keep them for what ends up being their entire career. Doing that I draft

Shaq
Wilt
Magic
Kareem
then Kobe although him vs West is extremely close IMO.

2 ...

Posted by ShamelessPel

Metairie

Member since Apr 2013

13148 posts

Posted on 4/29/13 at 9:32 am to Vicks Kennel Club

quote:
Nah, he will be close to the top 5 all-time due to the fact that his sustained excellence is longer than almost any other player.

This.

Dude is a cyborg.

26-6-6/best defender on his team in his SEVENTEENTH season is absurd. You won't find a player even close to his output at year 17.

Also, F the Lakers and their travelling bandwagon.

2 ...

Posted by onmymedicalgrind

Nunya

Member since Dec 2012

12209 posts

Posted on 4/29/13 at 9:40 am to Palm Beach Tiger

I understand your question, I just want you to realize what you are asking is different than asking who are the top-5 Lakers of all time.

Anyways,

quote:
Shaq

You would draft Shaq for the entirety of his career over Kobe? You're crazy. If you want to argue that Shaqs prime was better than Kobe's, I'd agree. But Kobe was definitely the more committed player who had the better overall career. Compare kobes 17th season with Shaqs latter yrs with Celtics/Cavs.

quote:
Wilt Magic Kareem

I'd agree.

Posted by shel311

McKinney, Texas

Member since Aug 2004

112939 posts

Posted on 4/29/13 at 9:44 am to ShamelessPel

quote:
26-6-6/best defender on his team in his SEVENTEENTH season is absurd

26/6/6 is great at his age, but he was in no way, shape, or form the best defender on thE Lakers this year.

Posted by jturn17

Member since Jan 2011

4978 posts

Posted on 4/29/13 at 9:50 am to Zamoro10

quote:
(Never saw West or Baylor so no point in pretending with speculation.)

I've been watching a lot of old Laker games from the 60s and 70s recently. Jerry West was amazing. If he got a off a jump shot it was practically automatic. Hell he had 1 year with a TS% of 59% without the aid of the three pointer. Not positive he was better than Kobe though, but I could easily put him #5 on your list.