Kobe Bryant Appreciation thread

[Jordan]

"I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success. Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses."

I am writing a post for the website, return post after a long time away, and won't have it finished until tomorrow. I'm struggling to put what his career means to me into words. His approach to the game was the greatest I've ever witnessed and he was the third most dominant player of my viewing lifetime.

 

[godfather]

He's a great player. I appreciate greatness.

But I never cared for him and don't feel like celebrating an asshole like him.

 

[czvo]

"I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success. Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses."

I am writing a post for the website, return post after a long time away, and won't have it finished until tomorrow. I'm struggling to put what his career means to me into words. His approach to the game was the greatest I've ever witnessed and he was the third most dominant player of my viewing lifetime.

That's nice... wasn't better than Duncan's.

 

[Huber.]

He's a great player. I appreciate greatness.

But I never cared for him and don't feel like celebrating an asshole like him.

Neither do his teammates.

 

[GreasySpread36]

they always show the highlight where kobe hit the GW in the 2006 playoffs against the suns

they lost that series after being up 3-1. story of his career. revisionist history

He flat-out quit on his team in Game 7, too.

 

[All4One1ForAll]

I'm still mad we were robbed of a LeBron-Kobe Finals...

 

[FritzLn]

That's nice... wasn't better than Duncan's.

great point. if duncan doesn't get a sendoff like this the NBA should be ashamed. difference between the 2 is duncan probably doesn't want a sendoff like this. approached the game with the same attention to detail, intensity and passion, just wasn't as flashy, demonstrative and had half (probably less) the ego

 

[godfather]

He flat-out quit on his team in Game 7, too.

I remember that, and Barkley killed him and called him out for that.

He's the same guy that drove Shaq out of town, because he wanted all the attention and glory for himself.

They would have probably won a few more titles too.

I mean, LeBron catches a lot of shit for joining super teams or whatever. But at least the guy is willing to set aside ego to some degree, and at the end of the day really does just want to win.

Kobe was willing to sacrifice winning for himself.

But the guy has been great. No denying that.

I just find the love fest going on for him a bit overkill.

Does anyone actually even like him? I'm not sure Kobe has a legit person that truly likes him.

 

[Ohio]

He's a great player. I appreciate greatness.

But I never cared for him and don't feel like celebrating an asshole like him.

Pretty much.

 

[czvo]

great point. if duncan doesn't get a sendoff like this the NBA should be ashamed. difference between the 2 is duncan probably doesn't want a sendoff like this. approached the game with the same attention to detail, intensity and passion, just wasn't as flashy, demonstrative and had half (probably less) the ego

Duncan wouldn't tell anyone ahead of time he was leaving. He'll just decide to leave at the end of the season, and that will be it.

That was the funny part about Kobe's retirement announcement. He said he didn't want the whole "retirement tour," then he goes and announces it for season's end right after the year starts. Like what did he think was going to happen?

 

[Walter White]

Kobe not off to a good start.

 

[Jordan]

That's nice... wasn't better than Duncan's.

Disagree. Their approach, in a vacuum, was the same. But Kobe's ego and emotion made his something relatable. It's why there has been a history of NBA players saying they respect how much effort he put into games. Duncan is a more likable character, but in terms of what he did for the NBA, I struggle to see how one could not pick Kobe. Maybe I'm just biased though

 

[Jordan]

I remember that, and Barkley killed him and called him out for that.

He's the same guy that drove Shaq out of town, because he wanted all the attention and glory for himself.

They would have probably won a few more titles too.

I mean, LeBron catches a lot of shit for joining super teams or whatever. But at least the guy is willing to set aside ego to some degree, and at the end of the day really does just want to win.

Kobe was willing to sacrifice winning for himself.

But the guy has been great. No denying that.

I just find the love fest going on for him a bit overkill.

Does anyone actually even like him? I'm not sure Kobe has a legit person that truly likes him.

If you read a lot of the biographers and journalists who wrote about the team it is a bit more complicated than that. I don't disagree, Kobe was especially egotistical with Shaq. But don't forget how bad 2002-03 and 03-04 were for those Lakers teams. Kobe and Shaq started as a duo that disliked each other - something totally acceptable - but were completely incompatible at the end.

Was it mainly Kobe's fault? Oh hell yeah. He refused to be option 1b for rankly a player who was much more dominant.

Was Shaq to blame somewhat too? Yep. He was getting overweight by that point and reports suggested he had started missing practices.

More of where I think people should take issue with Kobe's management is his kicking out Phil Jackson around the same time. In my mind that was a greater sign of Kobe being an egotistical maniac than his dismissal of Shaq.

 

[czvo]

Disagree. Their approach, in a vacuum, was the same. But Kobe's ego and emotion made his something relatable. It's why there has been a history of NBA players saying they respect how much effort he put into games. Duncan is a more likable character, but in terms of what he did for the NBA, I struggle to see how one could not pick Kobe. Maybe I'm just biased though

Fair enough. And I don't mean to pick on Kobe fans or "hate" on the guy. He's obviously one of the greatest to ever play. There's no denying that.

For my money, I just prefer a guy like Duncan. Just as skilled and technically sound as Kobe. Both have the same drive and will to win. But where Kobe could be undone by his ego, Duncan would put all the bullshit aside to win. Duncan wouldn't get locked into meaningless one-on-one battles. He wouldn't butt heads with players taking a lead role. Hell, he willingly let other guys take over when that's what the match-up dictated. If you needed him to take over in the post and score at will, he could. If you needed him to set screens, play great defense and rebound, he was fine doing that too. Duncan, to me, is the ultimate winner.

Kobe had to win, but he had to win on HIS terms. Duncan had to win, and he played whatever role he needed to make that happen.

 

[Jordan]

Fair enough. And I don't mean to pick on Kobe fans or "hate" on the guy. He's obviously one of the greatest to ever play. There's no denying that.

For my money, I just prefer a guy like Duncan. Just as skilled and technically sound as Kobe. Both have the same drive and will to win. But where Kobe could be undone by his ego, Duncan would put all the bullshit aside to win. Duncan wouldn't get locked into meaningless one-on-one battles. He wouldn't butt heads with players taking a lead role. Hell, he willingly let other guys take over when that's what the match-up dictated. If you needed him to take over in the post and score at will, he could. If you needed him to set screens, play great defense and rebound, he was fine doing that too. Duncan, to me, is the ultimate winner.

Kobe had to win, but he had to win on HIS terms. Duncan had to win, and he played whatever role he needed to make that happen.

Totally fair. Duncan's willingness to sacrifice everything to win is admirable. I suppose what I was referring to is different. I love both guys and think both are top-10 players since I was born (1992), maybe even top-5, although I think that's tougher to justify.