KOBE: The Legend Continues

Kobe Bryant became the 6^th leading scorer in NBA history on Tuesday night. He passed Moses Malone 27,410 and crept closer to catching Shaq’s ever increasing 28,600. The two follow Michael Jordan (32,292), Karl Malone (36,928), and finally Kareem Abdual Jabbar (38,387) who currently holds the NBA scoring title.  Kobe passed Moses Malone one week after moving past Elvin Hayes for seventh. He has also topped the scoring totals of Hakeem Olajuwon, Oscar Robertson, Dominique Wilkins and John Havlicek this season. When asked Kobe has downplayed the significance of his climb up the all time scoring list, mostly because his team needs to position themselves well in the postseason for another run at the ring.

To say his climb up the scoring ranks means nothing to Kobe would be inaccurate, it just that it means nothing without the 6^th Ring. The new Gold Standard in NBA Excellence ever since Jordan sealed his Legacy. In the Kobe-Jordan debate, Michael Jordan always takes the cake. Kobe’s chasing his own legacy and yet he’s loathed for this as though he’s undeserving.  Kobe’s just striving for excellence the best way he knows how; following the lead of those that went before him.  Kobe and Jordan had two very different careers and this is not a fair comparison. I don’t think Kobe’s trying to beat Jordan because he never will. He’s trying to beat Shaq.

Kobe and Shaq both have 1 MVP, Shaq is 4 time Champion: Kobe 5, Shaq is 3X Finals MVP: Kobe 2.  Shaq is 3X All Star MVP: Kobe 4.  Shaq is 8X All NBA First Team: so is Kobe.  The Lakers winning another championship will mean a 6^th Ring, and another NBA Finals MVP. If Kobe doesn’t take the scoring title from Shaq this season he’ll take it early next season. 

You’d be mistaken to think Shaq’s not painfully aware of this. He’s saving his best for last in his quest to derail Kobe’s plan and help push the Boston Celtics to their tie breaking championship title. With a championship Shaq would tie Kobe for 5 rings, and would prevent Kobe from claiming another NBA Finals MVP.  Only then will Shaq will be able to retire, having humiliated Kobe one last time. Shaq said to NBATV Canada that Kobe has had the most impact on him as a player and he feels their careers are intertwined. Kobe is the one player that fires Shaq up the most.

This years Final is going to be a repeat of last years. It’s going to get ugly. Not only from a bloodthirsty team out for vengeance but for a fading NBA legend who wants nothing more than to stop his greatest competitor. Expect some hard fouls.

The Boys at NBA.com approached Kobe recently and said that if he could keep his scoring average 20+ for the next 5 years he would he be the All Time NBA scoring leader. Kobe’s response: “Maybe I do it in 4 years.” Of course, if Kobe does challenge for the scoring title he’ll be derided for not showing the proper respect to those that came before him. Reality Check: Kobe is the closest thing we’re going to get in this era of the NBA to seeing a player that is even close to Jordan. Lebron hasn’t won a ring yet, and until then doesn’t enter the conversation. Kobe also played against Jordan giving him the best opportunity for learning. Kobe‘s definitely not Jordan though, and living in the shadow of this giant has had people rooting against him his entire career. While everyone criticized, Kobe was at the gym putting in the work that has assured his legacy.

When Jordan was asked who was the best player in the League: “Kobe or Lebron?” Jordan smirked and said point blank: “Kobe.” The video’s on Youtube. In this era of the NBA, Kobe is King and he’s got the accolades to boot. With all the NBA’s major shakeups this past year in NYC, MIA, and NJ, Kobe has been able to able to fly under the radar.  They are on nice winning streak right now (minus a recent loss to the Heat) after looking rusty at the ¼ season mark. Come the playoffs nobody will be talking about what’s wrong with the Lakers. The Heat wins mean nothing.

As always Kobe keeps quiet and keeps preparing, working his way through the regular season. This approach is why there is hardly any one talking about Kobe for MVP. Kobe is an MVP caliber player, but the Lakers as a team are so filled out that it’s difficult to see how much he contributes as their leader. In June however, Kobe will be the last man standing with his 3^rd NBA Finals MVP. Derrick Rose has a lock on the regular season MVP award already.

We are witnessing history in Kobe Bryant’s career, the likes of which we may not see for along time after. I personally know a lot of people that are consciously choosing to ignore it. Hater’s are going to hate, but in the end the numbers speak louder than anything else. Kobe has always known this. Kobe is the best player in the world today, even at his age. Look, he knows his body’s deteriorating and that he’s not a kid anymore, but he also knows how to make the necessary adjustments to keep his game at the highest level. All hail the modern King of the NBA! 

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My Favorite Kobe story:  Kobe was doing a cover for Slam and asked if they could find a black snake for him to pose with. Slam was able to deliver and on the day of the shoot Kobe was like a kid in the candy store. Most people around the shoot were amazed to be spending time around him but all his attention was focused on the Snake and the Trainer. He kept asking questions about the snake, his eyes all lit up. He was half excited, half freaked out. All of sudden the snake lunges at his arm, Kobe barely gets out of the way. “Holy $%^*, you see how fast that thing was! I Just S^&* myself!” Kobe says, his heart racing with a look of disbelief on his face.