What I don't get is why folks are saying Kobe is definately a better defender than Drexler in all aspects, when ALL of Clyde's defensive numbers are better. Before uttering that statement again as if it's not debatable, please explain why.
com'on tinman, you of all people shouldn't have missed that point, those guys were former rockets. just a joke
I don't think Drexler was ever known as a great defensive player. He as active getting steals and rebounds, but that doesn't cover everything there is about defense. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe Drexler ever made an All-Defense team (1st or 2nd team). Kobe's made All-Defense 1st team four times, and 2nd team twice. That's not an explanation of why Kobe is better, I know. But clearly Drexler doesn't have the same reputation, defensively, as Kobe.
It has more to do with the fact that Drexler has been retired for almost ten years now and Kobe is still fresh in everyone's memory. I'd go with Drexler. As others have said, Kobe may be the better scorer but the rest of Clyde's game makes up for that.
My lack of having seen Drexler is balanced by my distaste towards the rapist. It balances out. Once we get past that, we can get objective. The determining factor for me is that Kobe's PER is significantly higher, and that Kobe won 3 rings, and Clyde only one. Both won them with the help of dominant big men, but Kobe won more.
I'm going with kobe, but drexler didn't play with hakeem through mostly prime years, of himself or hakeem. while shaq was in his prime, and kobe was just entering.
Clyde took the Blazers on his back to the finals twice. Kobe hasn't done JACK without Shaq. Clyde in a landslide. Also, we're not even -counting- Clyde's brilliant college career, even though we should, since Kobe started playing at 18.
Come on man, Drexler was great, but he isn't in Kobe's league. Love Kobe or hate him, you have to give the guy credit for his skills.
It's only been 2 years without shaq for Kobe. He still has time to prove himself. He took a horrible team with the Lakers to a 7 game series with a very good Suns team. You can argue that Kobe is the best player in league today and at no time in Drexlers career could you say he was a top 3 player.I like Drexler but only reason he is close to Kobe in the poll is because this is a Rockets fan site.
OMG...I WANT TO THANK YOU...I was reading through everyone's comments and my blood was starting to boil... it saddens me that Cylde is seemingly being forgotten about...like you said, if you SAW Cylde play in his prime...you'd know...his discipline, class, post-up, team play all speak for themselves...I beleive he was a more intelligent player than Kobe as well... so many people keep mentioning "last shot, clutch situation"...so you're tell'n me that is the ONLY part of a game that counts??? in that case Big shot BOB (Horry) is one of the BEST NBA players of all time... I persoanlly would rather have Horry take my final shot than Kobe... for all you who don't know...the man was a legend...just an outstanding tallent and athlete...enjoyed watching him play for all those years... I like what someone else wrote too..."Clyde even got a nickname...and back when they used to MEAN something..." oh yeah and thanks for that short youtube drexler highlight reel...brought a smile to my face...miss those day...
disagree with this statement. drexler was 2nd in the MVP voting in 91-92 season behind jordan. I believe that makes him the 2nd best player that year.
this doesn't make sense to me, obviously kobe won more because he had the help of the most dominant player at the time. if clyde had started his career with dream i can bet you that they would have challenged for the title for a decade, maybe even took away some of jordans rings. but clyde did go to the finals himself twice with terry porter as the 2nd best player on the team. in 92, they got by the lakers, suns (who ousted the lakers 2 years before) and utah with stockton and malone.... id say thats a pretty good playoff run for drexler and his boys im going with drexler on this one, until kobe can get his team to the finals with him as the best player on not the 2nd best.
