Kobe's All Time Top 5 from ESPN 710 LA

[HammerDown]

Am I the last to see this? No one's talking about it?

“It’s not very difficult for me. I’d go Magic, Jordan, Bird, Russell and Jabbar.
[…]
“I will say as the years go on people really forget how great Larry Bird was,” Bryant said. “He was ridiculous. And I grew up in LA — just like everyone else here — hating his guts. Dude — the guy was just money.”

 

[lakersrule]

And I grew up in LA — just like everyone else here — hating his guts.

Kobe didn't grow up in LA. I can't believe no one is talking about this.

 

[shitsho]

PR stunt? Kobe grew up in Italy and Philly if I am not mistaken. I do agree about Bird. That was a bad man.

 

[b_lake]

I like his top 5...

I maybe would put Hakeem over Jabbar, but that probably has to do with my youth...

 

[BOTSLAYER]

I think he meant when he came into the league...but that does not make sense either...?

 

[WhiteMamba]

Yep that is the top 5.

HM. West, Chamberlain, Shaq, Kobe, Robertson, Olajuwon, Duncan

 

[HammerDown]

Yep that is the top 5.

HM. West, Chamberlain, Shaq, Kobe, Robertson, Olajuwon, Duncan

Three dominate 7' 1" guys? Nah. It all starts with Magic at PG. No substitute.

I would, however take the Mailman over Russell. Even James Worthy.

 

[WhiteMamba]

Three dominate 7' 1" guys? Nah. It all starts with Magic at PG. No substitute.

I would, however take the Mailman over Russell. Even James Worthy.

Well I was saying I agree with Kobe's top 5...

Then my Honorable mention were those guise.

I take Kevin McHale over Mailman or Worthy for the record.

 

[HammerDown]

Well I was saying I agree with Kobe's top 5...

Then my Honorable mention were those guise.

I take Kevin McHale over Mailman or Worthy for the record.

 

[starbigd]

I think Olajuwon was the greatest center ever.......that guy is REALLY underrated. Especially when you consider he didn't even start playing ball until he was an adult. And don't forget he fasted for like half the season and still dominated. His athleticism and understanding of the game were ridiculous.

 

[HammerDown]

Well I was saying I agree with Kobe's top 5...

Then my Honorable mention were those guise.

I take Kevin McHale over Mailman or Worthy for the record.

Oooh, Wasn't thinking when you said HM I thought you meant Here's Mine.

 

[Flauge]

I also grew up in southern california with Kobe. We grew up two houses down. Not sure why this is being questioned... anyways, is there no respect for Wilt on the west coast?

 

[HammerDown]

I think Olajuwon was the greatest center ever.......that guy is REALLY underrated. Especially when you consider he didn't even start playing ball until he was an adult. And don't forget he fasted for like half the season and still dominated. His athleticism and understanding of the game were ridiculous.

Will not argue with anything after the first sentence.

 

[b_lake]

Oooh, Wasn't thinking when you said HM I thought you meant Here's Mine.

I took "HM" for his His Majesty, which would have meant Jordan for me...

 

[WhiteMamba]

Hey, Barkley said McHale was the best player he ever guarded.

McHale was a dominant PF. He had to share points n rebounds with Chief and Bird and still had a season where he went 26 and 10 and 2 blocks.

He had many seasons of 20 points+ and 8 boards plus... Playing with Larry.

Mailman was good but where would he be w/out Mr Assist? Stockton got him soooooo many easy looks. McHale could take any defender in his prime to the block and score on him. Worthy? cMon.... Good. But not really close to McHale.

Worthy was a very good forward that could run the floor better than almost any other forward. But McHale was a dominant offensive player that could score on the block or take you out and bury a 18 footer on ya.

 

[HammerDown]

Hey, Barkley said McHale was the best player he ever guarded.

McHale was a dominant PF. He had to share points n rebounds with Chief and Bird and still had a season where he went 26 and 10 and 2 blocks.

He had many seasons of 20 points+ and 8 boards plus... Playing with Larry.

Mailman was good but where would he be w/out Mr Assist? Stockton got him soooooo many easy looks. McHale could take any defender in his prime to the block and score on him. Worthy? cMon.... Good. But not really close to McHale.

Worthy was a very good forward that could run the floor better than almost any other forward. But McHale was a dominant offensive player that could score on the block or take you out and bury a 18 footer on ya.

I'm not detracting from what McHale was but to say he's a dominant offensive player and Worthy wasn't? Totally unrealistic. Big Game James had speed at 6' 9" that no one has ever had. A lightning-quick first step or spin move that was never defended.

 

[HammerDown]

Hey, Barkley said McHale was the best player he ever guarded.

Sir Charles says a different player every week. He's funny but full of shit and everyone knows it.

 

[WhiteMamba]

HD,

I bet we would have had this same argument RE: McHale vs Worthy when we were in Middle School... LOL...

I was a Celtics follower then. Loved McHale, Bird, and Native Oregonian Ainge.

They were both great. I just hold the opinion that McHale was better. Hard to compare though. McHale was a great half court offense type of guy, great on the block, etc.

While Worthy was the best forward of all time in running the court. And maybe the quickest feet for a 6'9" guy. Also, he developed a damn good midrange jumper after a few years in the league.

 

[WhiteMamba]

I will say this. Worthy ended up at the perfect team for his skill set as did McHale.

It is like God put those 80s Lakers and Celtics teams together. They were just perfect. Total contrast in a hundred ways. But yet so similar in many ways.

I miss the 80s NBA.... What a great time.

 

[HammerDown]

I will say this. Worthy ended up at the perfect team for his skill set as did McHale.

It is like God put those 80s Lakers and Celtics teams together. They were just perfect. Total contrast in a hundred ways. But yet so similar in many ways.

I miss the 80s NBA.... What a great time.

The way everything fell into place was divine. No other way to explain it because THAT doesn't "just happen."