Wake Up and Smell the (Black) Coffee

Written by Daniel Buerge on 08/20/2010 in Editorials - 8 Comments

Written by: Alan Ni

Here’s a quickie, how many championships did Michael Jordan and LeBron James have at age 24?

June 17, 2010 - Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - epa02208487 Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant celebrates after the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics 83-79 to win their 16th NBA Championship at the Staples Center in Los Angeles California, USA 17 June 2010.

Zero.

Here’s another, how many rings did Kobe Bryant have at age 24?

Three.

Now that I got that out of the way, I want to ask you guys something, why do people hate on Kobe so much? To me, it’s because they don’t want to admit his greatness.

Every single time Kobe does something that nobody has ever seen before, the result is, “Oh, it’s just Kobe.” Not amazing. Not great. It’s normal? Because “Kobe” did it?

That makes absolutely no sense to me.

People take every chance they get to diminish this guy’s talent and work ethic for the game, basically to the point that they stole an MVP from him. Yeah, Kobe should have two of them. Most Laker fans should know what I’m referring too. That dreaded 2006 season, when he went on a tear during the regular season. From the string of 40 and 50 point games to that other-wordly rampage he had on January 22nd.

Then in the 1st round, he had his game winner that still gives us Laker fans chills when we watch it on YouTube. If that isn’t an MVP season, I really don’t know how high the bar was that year for MVP. But, oh wait, Steve Nash won. I really didn’t follow Steve Nash’s game that year, but it was his SECOND STRAIGHT MVP. Only Bill Russel, Wilt, Kareem, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan, and most recently LeBron have done that.

Do you mean to tell me that he is in the same category as those players? No disrespect to Steve Nash, but he is far beyond that class of players and let’s not forget that his SECOND STRAIGHT MVP season was better than Kobe’s in the opinions of the “professionals.” Sorry, but that is simply not true.

Next: The Next MJ or the First Kobe?

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About the Author

Daniel is the editor-in-chief for Lakers Nation. He's always doing his best to keep you informed and entertained. Follow Daniel on Twitter - @DanielBuerge_LA.

Comments

comments

http://www.richardsonshops.com RockitD

I second that AMEN!!! I was privileged to watch the Showtime era as a kid, was glued for the first 3peat and now the Back-to-Back Kobe reign. Everyone hates a winner. I couldn’t stand Jordan and the Bulls and non-Laker fans can’t stand Kobe. It’s all good…his legacy will stand the test of time.
http://www.richardsonshops.com RockitD

I second that AMEN!!! I was privileged to watch the Showtime era as a kid, was glued for the first 3peat and now the Back-to-Back Kobe reign. Everyone hates a winner. I couldn’t stand Jordan and the Bulls and non-Laker fans can’t stand Kobe. It’s all good…his legacy will stand the test of time.
Richard

Great argument my man. Living here in Denver, I have to listen to the all the sports radio honks go on about the Nuggets and one dude in particular admittedly hates Kobe. Why? Because, in his mind, Kobe isn’t his own player and has tried to copy Michael Jordan all the way down to his mannerisms. I called in the day after the Lakers clinched and asked him what’s he got to say now and he just flippantly said that he still needs to win one more to match MJ.

Whatever.

What’s wrong with wanting to model your game after the greatest ever? It really does boggle the mind that people can just dismiss KB’s greatness and for the dumbest reasons. Kobe is already one of the top 10 players of all time. When he’s done, he may break into the all-time starting five. There will never be another player like him.
Richard

Great argument my man. Living here in Denver, I have to listen to the all the sports radio honks go on about the Nuggets and one dude in particular admittedly hates Kobe. Why? Because, in his mind, Kobe isn’t his own player and has tried to copy Michael Jordan all the way down to his mannerisms. I called in the day after the Lakers clinched and asked him what’s he got to say now and he just flippantly said that he still needs to win one more to match MJ.

Whatever.

What’s wrong with wanting to model your game after the greatest ever? It really does boggle the mind that people can just dismiss KB’s greatness and for the dumbest reasons. Kobe is already one of the top 10 players of all time. When he’s done, he may break into the all-time starting five. There will never be another player like him.
Bigbear36

Dude you r right kobe is the greatest player after jordan but we all have to remember first three rings were shaq’s rings. Without Shaq kobe would have only two
Bigbear36

Dude you r right kobe is the greatest player after jordan but we all have to remember first three rings were shaq’s rings. Without Shaq kobe would have only two
Bigbear36

Dude you r right kobe is the greatest player after MJ as a guard but we all have to remember that first three rings were Shaq’s rings. Without Shaq kobe would have only two
Bigbear36

Dude you r right kobe is the greatest player after MJ as a guard but we all have to remember that first three rings were Shaq’s rings. Without Shaq kobe would have only two