Legacy: Kobe Bryant #24

The Black Mamba, the Assassin, KB24, The Heir Apparent, #24 ... these are just a few of the names that come up when people talk about Kobe Bryant.

Here is an article that I would like to share on my favorite player. i will be a bit [actually a lot] biased so please excuse me.

Growing up in Fiji [an island paradise stuck in the middle of the South Pacific] Basketball was never a favorite. The only thing that made people aware of the sport was Michael Jordan. If you asked anyone in Fiji who their favorite player was, they would immediately answer Michael Jordan. The Chicago Bulls were also everyone's favorite team. In fact Michael Jordan was the reason why the game had become so popular world wide. Knock-offs of MJ's #23 Jersey could be found at every street corner in Fiji's towns and Cities.

Following Michael Jordan

I however grew up watching the Showtime Lakers: Magic [Greatest Point Guard ever], Kareem [His Sky Hook was Sick] and a host of other Laker Legends. I m must admit though, when the Chicago Bulls started winning championships, I kind of leaned a lot towards them. The rivalry between Boston and LA, Magic and Bird for so long really got me to love the game. The 96' Bulls [probably the best team assembled to date] was a revelation to watch. The Dream team that swept the Olympics - what a decade of Basketball especially after the Magic-Bird Era. Than came Kobe Bryant straight out of High School - The Future of the NBA.

Man, his first game against the Greatest, MJ, was a treat. Kobe was destined to take over the reigns from Jordan. There was some skepticism about whether he could considering there were others that had tried and failed such as Grant Hill [No offense to Mr. Hill who to me is still a damn good Ball player but not in the class of MJ and Kobe]

MJ had 6 championship rings - WOW!!! that was unreal. If he had not gone to baseball, I would think that the Bulls would have gone for 7 to 8 in a row. But 6 is definitely a remarkable feat. He led the Dream team to Gold in the Olympics, picked numerous awards along the way such as MVP trophy's and countless other selections. But the greatest thing about MJ's legacy is the fact that he truly took the Game of Basketball and more specifically, the NBA, to the World.

Drafting Kobe

The vision of the Laker heads and to take a kid straight out of High school in 1996 [not to mention trading their starting center - Vlad Divac to the Charlotte Hornets for KB] was something short of INSANITY! But 13 years down the line, it looks like one of the best things they have done. Not only did they acquire Kobe, they decided to get stronger with Shaq. What a One Two punch these two were going to make.

The Lakers could have gone for anyone else in the 1996 NBA draft but they chose to pursue Kobe along with one of their picks, Derek Fisher [who has become the glue that has held together the sometimes volatile Lakers]. The 1996 draft has been considered one of the best of all time and rates high with the 1984 draft which had the likes of Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley and John Stockton. Unfortunately for the latter 2, if it they were to play in a different time to MJ, I am sure they would be sporting a couple of NBA Championship rings but as luck [or bad luck] would have it, MJ would be in the same time as them. The 1996 Draft on the other hand had many great players and future Hall of Famers too such as Allen Iverson [#1 Overall pick], Stephon Marbury [Starbry], Ray Allen [One of the greatest shooters along with Reggie Miller], steve nash [2 time MVP] and our man Kobe Bryant [13th Overall pick from Lower Merion High School]

This is just part one of my story on Kobe Bryant so there is more to follow ...

Feel free to leave comments but PLEASE do leave constructive ones. Most of this is my private understandings and my personal thoughts so leave any malicious comments for another forum.

Kobe is now 15th on the NBA all time career scoring leaders list with 24870 points and counting. Notable scoring leaders ahead of him are "Mr. Clutch" Jerry West with 25192 points [14th], Reggie Miller [13th] with 25279, Oscar Robertson [9th] with 26710, Shaquille O'Neal [5th] with 27948, Michael Jordan [3rd] with 32292 and man with the sky hook, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at #1 with a staggering 38387.

kobe is 31 years old and in his 13th season. For him to surpass Kareem on the all time scorers list, he will need to average between 27 to 28 points a game for the next 6 to 7 seasons. I would not be surprised if Kobe is able to play till he is 40 but at an average of 27 points a game for the next 8 to 9 years is asking alot from a guy who has played 13 seasons for the Lakers already.

Something that is also to be noted is LeBron James is fast climbing up the list [133rd] with 14055 points and is also in contention for the G.O.A.T. tag along with Kobe and M.J. With 6 seasons under his belt already, LeBron is just beginning. However, for him to seriously challenge Kobe and M.J. for the Greates off all time tag, he has to win a couple of championships. M.J. has 6, Kobe has 4 and counting while LeBron is yet to win one though reaching the finals in just his second season.

Stay tuned for an analysis on Kobe and the Lakers in 2010 and a Kobe vs. LeBron match-up