<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">for degens, this is the best nba daily sidebet game: <a href="https://t.co/SV7d5c2Djh">pic.twitter.com/SV7d5c2Djh</a></p>— alex (@steven_lebron) <a href="https://twitter.com/steven_lebron/status/671911267335069697">December 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When you lavish her with Xmas gifts & then she says "this is so sweet! You're gonna make some woman SO happy 1 day!" <a href="https://t.co/NeykZGU7Sh">pic.twitter.com/NeykZGU7Sh</a></p>— Tweetgood Mac (@SnottieDrippen) <a href="https://twitter.com/SnottieDrippen/status/671877647878651904">December 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yo, <a href="https://twitter.com/lesterfreamon">@lesterfreamon</a> said what Kobe is doing this season will never be seen again unless a dictator suits up for his national team. </p>— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/672075695867035649">December 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Gotta give respect where respect is due. I cant stand Kobe and his MJ wannabe persona. But, hes a great player with a great work ethic that deserves to go out in any way he wants. Hes an elite scorer and a plus defender for his career. Historically overrated, but still a top 12 probably a top 10 player of all time. Can't stand his personality but the dude had IT. One of the best tough shot makers of all time. He benefitted greatly from Shaq and Phil, but its hard to knock him for that. Not a good teammate but he does have 5 rings. One recollection that stood out to me was when he first got drafted he said he thought he was going to be surrounded by guys that loved basketball first and foremost the way he did. He quickly realized that it wasnt the case, and that most guys thought of it as 'work'. He couldnt believe that. Thats one thing I respected about him. He always worked his ass off. The NBA will def miss him.
Ridiculous. Too many people have the Kobe from the last 5 years, who wasn't as efficient, still fresh on their minds. But from 2000-2010 was definitely a top 10 all time player. Dirk and KG dominated for a long time and I would say Dirk during his MVP years was almost as good as Kobe but that window was short compared to Kobe's peak.
Even at his absolute peak, he was not in the class of the "top ten" which, IMO, consistent of these guys (in no particular order): Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan and LeBron James. He's a top-25 guy, but doesn't come particular close to cracking that class, as far as I'm concerned.
I remember exactly what he was. A great player, that could be his own worst enemy by taking ill advised shots because he knew he could make them, just not nearly as often as he thought he was making them.
Derp, I somehow missed Bill Russell in my list, probably pushing Tim Duncan out of the top-ten. Just too many nearly-flawless players in NBA history for a flawed great player like Kobe Bryant to be in the top ten all-time.
This is actually the perfect scenario for the Lakers. They will get all the media attention and the money associated with it because of the circus tour for Kobe's last season no matter how bad Kobe shoots these days. They will likely end up with another top three pick in the draft. And with Kobe and his giant contract gone they will be able to lure some top tier FA next summer. If I were Kobe I would just retire now. He has no business shooting 17 threes and losing to a 0-17 team while holding back his young teammates at this stage of his career.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe Bryant Tears Up While Reflecting On All The Mistakes Teammates Made During His Career <a href="https://t.co/mhcLVXPRp3">https://t.co/mhcLVXPRp3</a> <a href="https://t.co/dECvO1DGSs">pic.twitter.com/dECvO1DGSs</a></p>— Onion Sports Network (@OnionSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/OnionSports/status/672884965139460098">December 4, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
You gotta be ****ing kidding me... I think he can dethrone Shaq and Bird if not LBJ off that list instantly... Even Magic Johnson and Time Duncan or our beloved Hakeem.... You know what, I'd be an idiot to argue with you since you probably didn't really examine Kobe's career.. He's literally like top 5.
These "top (insert a number here) all time" lists are just stupid. It's too hard to gauge these sorts of things and put them in any meaningful order. Kobe is right there with them in the greatest of all time category. A great player that the NBA will sorely miss. That's all there is to say really.
An Excellent Article http://www.economist.com/blogs/gametheory/2015/12/statistical-analysis-basketball Check this out, guys. It talks about the analytics movement and how in some aspects, energy expended on defense is less rewarding than the glory of offense. It made me think of Harden. More importantly, it talks about how Kobe is overrated as a defender
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe is on a global conference call. On farewell tour: "It’s so beautiful. I’m paying my respects to the fans & they’re doing the same"</p>— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkG_Medina/status/679044294326353921">December 21, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe reiterated his deference on if he doesn't make ASG. Kobe: "I'm completely fine with whatever role I have at All-Star weekend'</p>— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkG_Medina/status/679045063754645504">December 21, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Kobe's top players: Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Clyde Drexler.</p>— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkG_Medina/status/679045542572257280">December 21, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe’s top-five toughest teams that he’s faced in his career: Spurs, Kings, Celtics, Pistons, Bulls.</p>— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/679045579213635584">December 21, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe says the top five players of his era were Hakeem Olajuwon, MJ, Durant, LeBron and, interestingly, Clyde Drexler.</p>— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mike_Bresnahan/status/679046023814053888">December 21, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe on post-NBA career: "I would have loved to play overseas for a season, but it’s not going to happen…My body won’t let me. it’s fine."</p>— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/679048057749561344">December 21, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe on <a href="https://twitter.com/BenSimmons25">@BenSimmons25</a>: "I think he’s a fantastic player. I think he has, obviously, a tremendous amount of potential."</p>— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/679046881054343169">December 21, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe on Simmons maybe coming to LA: "It's not about handing over keys. Do you have the attitude of winning championships as the only goal?"</p>— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/679050106843238400">December 21, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe on how Lakers move on from him: "Makes smart decisions. Make smart choices. Build the team."</p>— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/679050397256781825">December 21, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe called his recent dunk vs. HOU "one of the special moments of my career." He called it a "reward" for all he'd experienced health-wise.</p>— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mike_Bresnahan/status/679050645387673600">December 21, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe on Boston: "That’s always been one of my favorite places to play. The fans are so knowledgeable of the game & there’s so much history."</p>— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/679050785393545216">December 21, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Prior to his final game in Salt Lake City against the Utah Jazz on Monday, Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant was presented with the following gifts, according to Jazz PR: a decade pass to all National Parks in the US, a VIP experience for Bryant's family at the National Park of their choosing, a framed picture of Arches National Park in Utah, an annual pass to the Utah State Parks, a season pass to Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, and a pair of skis and custom fitting from Salomon.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/utahjazz">@UtahJazz</a> paid tribute to <a href="https://twitter.com/kobebryant">@KobeBryant</a> last night<a href="https://t.co/5SSR3TLp7Y">https://t.co/5SSR3TLp7Y</a></p>— NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/714816984890744832">March 29, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
If only Astroworld was still open. We could give Kobe a lifetime pass, for about a month. Also did the Jazz do a tribute vid to Jordan in the late 90s?
