HAYJON, agree with everything you said. TMACSROCKETS: you have mentioned that you think Kobe shouldn't get it because he hasn't won a finals MVP. that's fine, but you mentioned it FOUR times. we get it. you have an opinion, you are unique. the question posed is not a black and white one. it is not determined by scoring titles, mvps, finals mvps, or even rings, although OF COURSE these things help. those of you saying shaq and duncan have a case. they are dominant, dominant, as in you just sit back and watch type dominant, esp shaq in his prime. but if you all don't think that kobe has been the best basketball player on that team since 02/03, you are f***ing batsh!t. Shaq had a bigger impact, drew more attention, but Kobe has been the best individual basketball player in the league since Jordan retired. nobody can create their shot, facilitate an offense, and lock down other defenders like Kobe. i understand the rocket's resentment and you are not required to agree, but sheeez, some of the blind kobe haters here... the lakers management is sooooo bright, they couldn't have been wrong to check the market what his value is, right?? bottom line is they did NOT trade him, and you are naive to think that even the hottest commodity isn't tradeable. the reason they were shopping him, i suspect, is more because of his own demands rather than, 'hey we think kobe is overrated.'
MVP's are media voted popularity contests. Though they are a nice recognition, they are trivial in accessing a players skillset and talents.
The MVP is regular season award. Shaq has usually missed 20% of the games during the regular season so I don't see why he should have won them.
Tmac is the BEST PLAYER. Most Successful? No. But if I had to take any player in his prime (after Jordan) it'd be Tmac.
I think in terms of leading their team to a championship, it's Duncan. However, individual skill set, creativity, and most entertaining.. Kobe.
There's no doubt the vote is between Shaq and Duncan. Kobe could enter the conversation a few years down the road if he accomplishes more, but right now there can only be two names. And it pains me to say, I'd have to give the edge to Shaq. For a few years he was THE game changer. While Duncan is solid as a rock, teams didn't have to make as many adjustments as they did against Shaq. And I'd have to give Shaq a little credit for drawing enough attention from defenses to allow Kobe and Wade to improve faster than they could've anywhere else. Hey, Penny Hardaway looked like the next Big Thing in Orlando until Shaq left.
I already answered this another thread...Kobe is a great scorer and versatile on occassion. I would never take him over a solid, great big man, like I would Jordan. It was something about MJ that made him a great. He could do anything, not saying Kobe can't but not like Michael Jordan....LB, Magic, Wilt could... I remember one article about MJ during his MVP season where he shutdown a starting sg and held him to zero points and scored like 40 something. That's domination. I laugh when people say MJ never played against any great opposing SG/SF....I said to myself are you kidding me..... Have any of these youngsters ever heard of Dominque Wilkins, Clyde, King, Alex English, Joe Dumars, Lever, K.Trupicka, Ricky Pierce, Ron Harper (pre Bull days), Steve Smith, Allan Houston, Penny Hardaway, Reggie Miller, Mitch Richmond, and etc. The 80s and 90s were flooded with SGs and SFs who could score bunches of points. Shaq in his prime (circa 94 - 04) could take just about any team in the league right now to at least conference finals, even Duncan I believe could do something similar or almost as well. I don't think Kobe could do that....he needs good to great big man or good frontline to be successful.
Skill and talent wise, kobe is the best! Achievements and success wise, it has to be Shaq and Duncan!
he couldn't hit the curveball. and he couldn't and wouldn't shoot the 3. that said, MJ is the greatest NBAer ever; Kobe is the closest thing to MJ. the only thing that Kobe can do better is his 3-pt range.
actually, MJ had a better mid-range jumper, a better driver, a better defender, a better passer, a better fighter (tho Kobe is pretty close); Kobe is better w the 3pt shot.
No it is not. Tim Duncan isn't popular by any means but yet have more MVP's than both Shaq or Kobe. Also Finals MVP's go to the best player. Point being, Kobe has never been the best player.
Shaq and Duncan are way out from the rest. There is a reason they are 3 time playoff MVPs. Shaq right now is the best post Jordan. Post Magic-Bird era you have Jordan as a clear 1, with Hakeem or Shaq next (2-3 OR 3-2 whatever), followed by Duncan (4). Wide open after that (Kobe, Malone, Barkley, Lebron, DRob, heck Tmac or Wade on their healthiest peak seasons deserve mention)? Everybody seems to talk too much about Kobe "skill set". Hell, Jeff George had among the best skill sets of NFL QBs. Your ability to translate your individual skills into team success and your leadership in a team game is an entirely seperate matter.
ur all mixed up. Jeff George did extremely well in pre-draft scouting compounds, not in live game situations. on the other end of the spectrum, People have been amazed by the incredible things that Kobe has done in live game situations.
No no. George could also do it in live plays. The problem is with his consistency, timing and leadership in the team game. I am not saying Kobe is a mentally weak and failed in leadership as George, but he ain't Jordan (or Magic or Bird) in this regard either.
