Kobe Bryant says no rivals in career

[Heilige]

LOS ANGELES -- Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has always been lauded for his self-motivation and drive to be the best. It's a good thing he has that internal ambition, because according to Bryant, he's gone through his 16-year career without a true rival on the exterior to push him to succeed.

"I didn't have one," Bryant said after scoring 38 points in the Lakers' 115-107 win over the Sacramento Kings on Friday.

The Lakers play host to the Miami Heat on Sunday. Bryant called it a "measuring stick" game against Miami, which has the third-best record in the league at 28-8 and is 3-0 against Bryant and the Lakers since "The Decision."

Despite Bryant's acknowledging that it's not just another game, he wouldn't characterize his relationship with LeBron James as a rivalry.

"Not for me," Bryant said. "I get up for everybody just the same, to be honest. It's hard for me to turn my meter up any higher than it normally is."

OK, Bryant was asked, how about Dwyane Wade? After all, Wade plays shooting guard just as Bryant does, Wade has one Finals MVP trophy to Bryant's two, and Wade has to be close to as competitive as Bryant or else he wouldn't have given Bryant that hard foul across the face in the All-Star Game.

"He's too young," Bryant said. "He's too young. When I came into the league, he was in elementary school."

Bryant is three years older than Wade, but was already a seven-year veteran when Wade was drafted in 2003.

Bryant said it is "a little late in the game" for him to develop a rivalry with any current NBA player, so instead he is chasing names in the record books rather than in box scores from the 2011-12 season.

"At this point my rivals, in terms of what I have left to accomplish in my career, (left the game) when Magic (Johnson) and Michael (Jordan) retired in '98," Bryant said, referring to the second of Jordan's three retirements that came after he won his sixth and final championship with the Chicago Bulls. "That's it. In terms of what I'm looking to accomplish, that's about it."

Bryant is one championship behind Jordan, with five, which ties him with Johnson, who also won all five of his rings with the Lakers. Earlier in the season, Bryant said he was "obsessed" with adding another championship to his collection.

"What I have left to accomplish, those players retired a long time ago," Bryant said.

The San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan won four championships to Bryant's five throughout their shared careers, but Bryant said while the Spurs might have qualified as a team rival to his Lakers, Duncan's individual rivalry came against Shaquille O'Neal as a fellow big man.

"He was never in my position," Bryant said. "He was more Shaq's rival than mine. As a team, the Spurs were always a team that we had to go through. So from that standpoint, yes, but in terms of personally, no. I've outgrown them all, from A.I. (Allen Iverson) when I first came in to (Tracy) McGrady to Vince Carter and so forth and so on."

Bryant said that he developed the desire to win multiple championships from an early age.

"It's always what I want to accomplish," Bryant said. "That's what you set your goals at. Growing up, watching them, they've always won multiple championships and that was always something that I felt like must be done. So, my goal originally when I was a kid and so forth, and when I was a teenager, always started from gauging them."

That gives James and Bryant something in common, of course, even though James was ridiculed for his now-infamous, made-for-TV interview when he declared he wanted to win "not four, not five, not six, not seven ..." championships with the Miami Heat.

James was under the microscope again Friday after putting up 35 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots against the Utah Jazz in helping to overcome an 18-point deficit, but he passed off to Udonis Haslem with the outcome on the line. Haslem missed a potential game-winning shot in the Heat's 99-98 loss.

The NBA All-Star Game ended in similar fashion. Instead of attempting the potential game-winning shot with Bryant guarding him, James' pass to Carmelo Anthony was stolen in the waning seconds of a tight game. Bryant heckled James at the time, imploring him to shoot the ball, but said on Friday he only did that because he wanted the duty of defending the player who was taking the last shot.

"I think everybody kind of took it out of context in terms of his performance last year in the Finals, like I was out there thinking about that or something," Bryant said. "It was moreso the challenge that I wanted. I wanted him to try to score. I wanted that challenge (to guard him). So, I was more upset than anything that I didn't get a chance to face that."

Bryant might not get to face James in a last-second scoring situation Sunday, but he'll certainly see plenty of him for 48 minutes -- whether he thinks of him as a rival or not.

"The big test is Sunday," Bryant said. "I'm very interested to see how we respond to that challenge."

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/7640850/los-angeles-lakers-kobe-bryant-says-had-no-rivals-16-year-nba-career

[konex]

No "current" rivals is more realistic. T-Mac, AI, Vince, Ray, Pierce, Arenas and a few others were all his rivals at some point in time.

Gotta respect Kobe's longevity as an elite player. Several of his rivals are out of the league or shells of themselves while he's now compared to guys 6/7 years younger

[d21221hk]

You gotta respect his longevity.

[bwink23]

Most of his so-called "rivals" played in the EAST early in his career, so he rarely saw them at all.

[DMV2]

"He's too young," Bryant said. "He's too young. When I came into the league, he was in elementary school."

What!!!??? Wade is only 4 years younger. Wade was also in high school in 1996-97, not elementary school. :lol

[AMISTILLILL]

This clowns ego knows no bounds.

[blablabla]

What!!!??? Wade is only 4 years younger. Wade was also in high school in 1996-97, not elementary school. :lol
kobe probably doesn't even know when wade was drafted

[inclinerator]

kobe is calling wade dumb

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

A bunch of good SGs came and went during Kobe's career. Indeed, a number of guys who made a career by trying to be "Kobe stoppers". They all came and went and, outside of AI, few if any will be in the Hall.

[Eric Cartman]

T-Mac should'v been that guy. Sad to think about it really.

[bizil]

The early 2000s was a golden era for SG's. U had Kobe, AI, Ray, Mac, PP when he was playing SG, and Vince. A little later u had Wade join the fray. Peak value wise ALL of these guys were HOF material. I think Kobe, Ray, AI, and PP will get in the HOF. Vince I think has a very good shot to get in as well. Mac, who was probably the best equipped to be that rival was on teams that weren't competing for titles. Or Mac and Yao had the injury bug that stopped them from competing with the Lakers and Spurs for West supremacy.

So it was a combo of these factors and the other guys being on teams that weren't competing for titles like Kobe over the long haul. But in the early 2000s, Kobe had plenty of rivalry material don't get it twisted. The SG spot was more top heavy at the top than it was during MJ's era. We are talking Drexler, Miller, Dumars, and Richmond vs. AI, Mac, Ray, and Vince. Kobe had more competition than MJ had to deal with. If anything other than Drexler, it seemed guys like Bird and Nique were the guys closest to MJ's level. Kobe didn't have to look outside of the SG spot like that. He had plenty of HOF material right there at the position.

[bwink23]

The early 2000s was a golden era for SG's. U had Kobe, AI, Ray, Mac, PP when he was playing SG, and Vince. A little later u had Wade join the fray. Peak value wise ALL of these guys were HOF material. I think Kobe, Ray, AI, and PP will get in the HOF. Vince I think has a very good shot to get in as well. Mac, who was probably the best equipped to be that rival was on teams that weren't competing for titles. Or Mac and Yao had the injury bug that stopped them from competing with the Lakers and Spurs for West supremacy.

So it was a combo of these factors and the other guys being on teams that weren't competing for titles like Kobe over the long haul. But in the early 2000s, Kobe had plenty of rivalry material don't get it twisted. The SG spot was more top heavy at the top than it was during MJ's era. We are talking Drexler, Miller, Dumars, and Richmond vs. AI, Mac, Ray, and Vince. Kobe had more competition than MJ had to deal with. If anything other than Drexler, it seemed guys like Bird and Nique were the guys closest to MJ's level. Kobe didn't have to look outside of the SG spot like that. He had plenty of HOF material right there at the position.


Do me a favor and name all this competition he had in the WEST....including the guys he played against in the playoffs.

[bwink23]

The early 2000s was a golden era for SG's. U had Kobe, AI, Ray, Mac, PP when he was playing SG, and Vince. A little later u had Wade join the fray. Peak value wise ALL of these guys were HOF material. I think Kobe, Ray, AI, and PP will get in the HOF. Vince I think has a very good shot to get in as well. Mac, who was probably the best equipped to be that rival was on teams that weren't competing for titles. Or Mac and Yao had the injury bug that stopped them from competing with the Lakers and Spurs for West supremacy.

So it was a combo of these factors and the other guys being on teams that weren't competing for titles like Kobe over the long haul. But in the early 2000s, Kobe had plenty of rivalry material don't get it twisted. The SG spot was more top heavy at the top than it was during MJ's era. We are talking Drexler, Miller, Dumars, and Richmond vs. AI, Mac, Ray, and Vince. Kobe had more competition than MJ had to deal with. If anything other than Drexler, it seemed guys like Bird and Nique were the guys closest to MJ's level. Kobe didn't have to look outside of the SG spot like that. He had plenty of HOF material right there at the position.


Many of the guys you mentioned had SHORT-LIVED primes and played in the EAST, which Kobe saw just 2 times a year. He literally has played against the top tier guards of his time just 17% of his career, and actually did a little better against them than against the average guys...

Matchups get WAY OVERBLOWN sometimes.

[Nick Young]

blaxck mamba da gawd:bowdown: :bowdown:

[pegasus]

Many of the guys you mentioned had SHORT-LIVED primes and played in the EAST, which Kobe saw just 2 times a year. He literally has played against the top tier guards of his time just 17% of his career, and actually did a little better against them than against the average guys...

Matchups get WAY OVERBLOWN sometimes.
It's not his fault that they played in the opposite conferences. In the end, like he said, he has outgrown them all. Plus, I believe Ginobili has been the third best SG in the 2000's, behind Kobe and AI, and Kobe faced him several times and got the best of him.

[LamarOdom]

Many of the guys you mentioned had SHORT-LIVED primes and played in the EAST, which Kobe saw just 2 times a year. He literally has played against the top tier guards of his time just 17% of his career, and actually did a little better against them than against the average guys...

Matchups get WAY OVERBLOWN sometimes.

Two games is pretty much take any other sport except Hockey and Baseball and two games against each team is alot.

[bwink23]

It's not his fault that they played in the opposite conferences. In the end, like he said, he has outgrown them all. Plus, I believe Ginobili has been the third best SG in the 2000's, behind Kobe and AI, and Kobe faced him several times and got the best of him.


Oh Kobe is better than all those guys...people act like Kobe is matched and guarding top tier 2-guards every game, and that is far from the case...many times he's not guarding them at all.

[lilgodfather1]

Kobe's closest rival is Shaq lol. He never has had a rivalry. Kobe and LeBron see eachother twice a year, never met in the playoffs, same with Wade, same with all of the other SG's. He never did have a rival simply because he played in the weak West for his entire career.

[bwink23]

Two games is pretty much take any other sport except Hockey and Baseball and two games against each team is alot.


2 games is not alot....like i said, he played against those guys 17% of his career...and their presence on the court did little to nothing that effected his play....the 2-guard competition argument is a very WEAK one.

[longtime lurker]

Oh Kobe is better than all those guys...people act like Kobe is matched and guarding top tier 2-guards every game, and that is far from the case...many times he's not guarding them at all.

WTF are you talking about?

[bwink23]

It's not his fault that they played in the opposite conferences. In the end, like he said, he has outgrown them all. Plus, I believe Ginobili has been the third best SG in the 2000's, behind Kobe and AI, and Kobe faced him several times and got the best of him.


And yet Kobe didn't see a rivalry there despite being on the Spurs?? :confusedshrug:

Apparently he doesn't see it the same way you do.

[pegasus]

And yet Kobe didn't see a rivalry there despite being on the Spurs?? :confusedshrug:

Apparently he doesn't see it the same way you do.
I didn't say it was really a rivalry. He is/was a great SG, but Kobe is/was much better.

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

And yet Kobe didn't see a rivalry there despite being on the Spurs?? :confusedshrug:

Apparently he doesn't see it the same way you do.

The problem with Manu/Spurs being a rivalry is that Kobe completely owned them... and Duncan was the man on that team anyway.

[bwink23]

I didn't say it was really a rivalry. He is/was a great SG, but Kobe is/was much better.

Manu isn't even close to Kobe Bryant, which is why he probably didn't see anything there.

[SilkkTheShocker]

I mean he has a point, who was his rival? Everyone that he got compared with either fell off or just wasn't on his level. As much as ESPN tries to pump up the Kobe/Lebron thing, they never really had any animosity (sp?) towards each other. And like Kobe mentioned, he was already a 7 year vet by the time Wade came in the league.

[get these NETS]

lot of the hunger and desire for pro athletes come from them dedicating themselves to improving their living conditions


one of the knocks against athletes that aren't from these backgrounds is that they don't have the motivation and focus to live up to their potentials

people said grant hill and david robinson lacked those motivational tools


kobe is from an affluent background and is more driven, hungrier and has more focus than any of the guys who came up the hard way.
kobe is just an incredibly driven guy..flaws and all ,selfishness...ballhogging..

dude is just a competitor...he goes after it...

[JellyBean]

Kobe is the man. The dude is too cool. :cheers:

[bwink23]

The problem with Manu/Spurs being a rivalry is that Kobe completely owned them... and Duncan was the man on that team anyway.

Kobe in 29 games that featured Manu, including games where Manu hardly played and games where he wasn't in his prime, against the Spurs:


26.2ppg on 23.6 FG's, 29.4% from 3, 4.1 assists, 6.3 rebs, 42% from the Field..

Compared to how he CAN play, i don't see those numbers as "completely owning" them, that's just my take....:rolleyes:



I forgot this....the Spurs were 19-10 in those games.

[Dizzle-2k7]

elementary school :roll: :roll: :roll:


:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

kobe with the nas-like subliminal shot

[SilkkTheShocker]

T-Mac should'v been that guy. Sad to think about it really.

Not really, Tmac was always a loser.

[I.R.Beast]

Do me a favor and name all this competition he had in the WEST....including the guys he played against in the playoffs.
Kobe was far and away the best SG in the west..... Michael Finley was really good, and he faced really good defensive guards such as doug christy and bruce bowen, etc.

[SilkkTheShocker]

Kobe was far and away the best SG in the west..... Michael Finley was really good, and he faced really good defensive guards such as doug christy and bruce bowen, etc.

Finley is so underrated sometimes. People forget about that great game in 01 to upset the the Jazz in the 1st round.

[I.R.Beast]

Finley is so underrated sometimes. People forget about that great game in 01 to upset the the Jazz in the 1st round.
Mike Finley was a great player....no if ands or buts about it.

[bwink23]

Mike Finley was a great player....no if ands or buts about it.


Yes...these guys were so great, Kobe didn't feel the need to mention them....:lol

GOOD, yes....GReAT, give me a break.

[SilkkTheShocker]

Mike Finley was a great player....no if ands or buts about it.

For sure. He gets slept on a lot. Not saying he is anywhere near Kobe's level, but the man could ball.

[White Mamba]

What!!!??? Wade is only 4 years younger. Wade was also in high school in 1996-97, not elementary school. :lol

THEY ARE NOT RIVALS - no playoff history.

even if they meet this year its not the same - kobe is 16th season in. and wade&lebron together.

[Fudge]

T-Mac should'v been that guy. Sad to think about it really.
:(

[La Frescobaldi]

I mean he has a point, who was his rival? Everyone that he got compared with either fell off or just wasn't on his level. As much as ESPN tries to pump up the Kobe/Lebron thing, they never really had any animosity (sp?) towards each other. And like Kobe mentioned, he was already a 7 year vet by the time Wade came in the league.

yeah.

And when you talk about KB8... who was unmatched for speed & sheer skillful moves... lightning court decisions....the beautiful grace of the young Kobe... combined with just legendary, blistering competitive drive...... what are we talking about?

One of the all-time, the all-time greats, that's what we are talking about.

Nobody in his era has been able to stand up to the force of Kobe Bryant & that will be a legacy matched only by a very very few of the elite players.

Of all the players today I respect Bryant the most and no small factor of that is his unmatched knowledge of the NBA first to last.

Kobe is Chameleon - he will change in a twinkling from MJ drive to Pearl spins, from Walt Frazier smooth to the brutality of Oscar... Kobe's ability to understand how & when to use that single hard dribble of Jerry West... the way he can run transition game to the perfection of Stockton.... he reminds me not only of those guys but I can see literally hundreds of players within his skillset. Bernard King post moves just executed to perfection.... The way he boxes out, the serious pounding he can dish out under the boards can bring memories of pure '70s genius like Elvin Hayes and Spencer Haywood.

And Kobe's awareness of his physical body changing, and his ability to transform his game from out that Kobe8 galactic athleticism to the Old Master Will School Your World Kobe24 is nothing short of what Wilt Chamberlain did in his career.
Which I grew up watching Wilt as a Sixer & Laker and that is truly the highest accolade I can give due to the fact. #13 is still the greatest I've ever seen.

Oh yeah Bryant is the whole package, unmatched since His Airness.

Long may he reign!!

[PickernRoller]

Kobe's closest rival is Shaq lol. He never has had a rivalry. Kobe and LeBron see eachother twice a year, never met in the playoffs, same with Wade, same with all of the other SG's. He never did have a rival simply because he played in the weak West for his entire career.

Weak west? West dominates in the last 10+ years in championships and they are "weak" west? Lol gtfo

West > East after Jordan retired.

[NoGunzJustSkillz]

T-Mac should'v been that guy. Sad to think about it really.
if the orlando magic were in the western conference during t-mac's peak, they would have probably have had a rivalry.

it's sorta funny because while kobe hasn't really had a rival, shaq had a few. yao/duncan/hakeem/big show/sabonis...

manu/kobe was fun for a while...

[RaininTwos]

AI pretty much lit up the lakers for over a decade but apparently Kobe had no rivals. GTFO

[bwink23]

AI pretty much lit up the lakers for over a decade but apparently Kobe had no rivals. GTFO


Meeting 2 times a years to me is not a big rivalry....:facepalm

[B]

Weak west? West dominates in the last 10+ years in championships and they are "weak" west? Lol gtfo

West > East after Jordan retired.Thank you. I was hoping somebody else picked that up

[RazorBaLade]

Kobe's closest rival is Shaq lol. He never has had a rivalry. Kobe and LeBron see eachother twice a year, never met in the playoffs, same with Wade, same with all of the other SG's. He never did have a rival simply because he played in the weak West for his entire career.

the weak west.... WAT

And ya, kobes outlived em all. I don't know how to find it but there was an article that summed up his career really well. if he doesnt kill you, he outlives you. I can't even say shaq was his rival, if they met in the finals then hell yea.... But it just didn't happen.

[Lebron23]

AI pretty much lit up the lakers for over a decade but apparently Kobe had no rivals. GTFO


This

[B]

AI pretty much lit up the lakers for over a decade but apparently Kobe had no rivals. GTFO
Dumb. AI lit everyone up for about a decade. it doesn't make him a rival. A rival is somebody you have to go through to get the title, then you have to do it again then again and again. When AI did meet Kobe the one time it mattered the 76ers were steamrolled

[RazorBaLade]

AI pretty much lit up the lakers for over a decade but apparently Kobe had no rivals. GTFO

The point is that he came and went. Kobe in 2001 was trading blows with him...... Yes.... Kobe in 06 was trading blows with him........ Kobe in 09? Kobe in 2012?

We're talking about career defining rivalries, not 4 pretty close games where AI played well. Just beating a guy doesn't really make you a rival its gotta be something more than that. Nash is really the closest one TBH

[B]

Nash is a good one... Manu?

[rmt]

The problem with Manu/Spurs being a rivalry is that Kobe completely owned them... and Duncan was the man on that team anyway.

Spurs swept Lakers in 99 and beat them in 03. Don't see how that qualifies as "completely owned."

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

Spurs swept Lakers in 99 and beat them in 03. Don't see how that qualifies as "completely owned."

I was referring to over the long term, the entirety. Not just a couple seasons.

[The_Yearning]

Lmao... this dude is just too cold-blooded!!!

Elementary school :roll: :roll:

He basically called Wade stupid by saying that... he knows that Wade is only 4 years younger than him... he murked D. Wade's intellect and career...

Wade would be lucky to have over 20,000 career points when it is all said and done :roll:

This dude Kobe. :oldlol:

[RaininTwos]

The point is that he came and went. Kobe in 2001 was trading blows with him...... Yes.... Kobe in 06 was trading blows with him........ Kobe in 09? Kobe in 2012?

We're talking about career defining rivalries, not 4 pretty close games where AI played well. Just beating a guy doesn't really make you a rival its gotta be something more than that. Nash is really the closest one TBH
:wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

I thought that in order to be someone's rival, you had to be on their level. AI was on and above Kobe's level from 96-06 and a top 20 player for two more years. I dont understand what you are even talking about here. This is silly. Rivals aren't going to play each other to the very end, that isnt a requirement, but they played against each other for 14 freaking seasons. I dont understand.

[Mr. I'm So Rad]

Passing was Kobe's biggest rival

[RaininTwos]

[QUOTE=B

[RazorBaLade]

:wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

I thought that in order to be someone's rival, you had to be on their level. AI was on and above Kobe's level from 96-06 and a top 20 player for two more years. I dont understand what you are even talking about here. This is silly. Rivals aren't going to play each other to the very end, that isnt a requirement, but they played against each other for 14 freaking seasons. I dont understand.

how many times did they meet in the playoffs? once?twice?

[RaininTwos]

how many times did they meet in the playoffs? once?twice?
twice.

[RaininTwos]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=bryanko01&p2=iversal01

[hawke812]

twice.

Oh yeah that makes them rivals than:facepalm

[RaininTwos]

Oh yeah that makes them rivals than:facepalm
:oldlol:

so rivals equals meeting in the playoffs? GTFO.

[RazorBaLade]

twice.

I see. I don't want to say thats a big deal because magic bird only met 3 times...

I think what it comes down to for me is that kobe goes down as a top 10 guy and iverson goes down as a top 30 or whatever guy. The gap is too large... It was close for a few years, sure I agree.. But same with tmac and vince and all the others. But they fizzled while kobe went strong, and they are now separated by 20+ all time spots. I can't call it a rivalry with that gap... I mean bird and magic are neck and neck in top 5..... Jordans rivals ended up in the top 15 or something and only because he kept beating them.

[WeGetRing2012]

[QUOTE=B

[hawke812]

:oldlol:

so rivals equals meeting in the playoffs? GTFO.

...and you don't even know what a rivalry is:facepalm

[longhornfan1234]

:roll:
It's not his fault that they played in the opposite conferences. In the end, like he said, he has outgrown them all. Plus, I believe Ginobili has been the third best SG in the 2000's, behind Kobe and AI, and Kobe faced him several times and got the best of him.

Lol, wtf?

Wade >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> AI and Manu.

[Joshumitsu]

I can see Kobe's thinking here.

While Ray Allen, Vince, AI, and McGrady were all great, Kobe didn't meet them enough times, especially in the playoffs. And when they did meet up, he was considered *THE* favorite.

However, I think he's forgetting a guy named Tim Duncan. Considering that they both share the majority of rings since 1999, I'd consider him Kobe's rival more than I would T-Mac, Dirk, or Wade.



On a side note, I feel the Heat stars might experience the same thing. No rival capable of counterbalancing them. There's no Batman/Superman/Luke Skywalker dynamic to their Joker/Lex Luther/Darth Vader image.

While OKC and CHI are likely to compete with them for the next decade, OKC and CHI are closer to each other than to the Heat. They're like an early 2000's Blazers or Kings rather than the Lakers. They might win a few rings but the Heat will always be considered the favorites.

[La Frescobaldi]

I can see Kobe's thinking here.

While Ray Allen, Vince, AI, and McGrady were all great, Kobe didn't meet them enough times, especially in the playoffs. And when they did meet up, he was considered *THE* favorite.

However, I think he's forgetting a guy named Tim Duncan. Considering that they both share the majority of rings since 1999, I'd consider him Kobe's rival more than I would T-Mac, Dirk, or Wade.



On a side note, I feel the Heat stars might experience the same thing. No rival capable of counterbalancing them. There's no Batman/Superman/Luke Skywalker dynamic to their Joker/Lex Luther/Darth Vader image.

While OKC and CHI are likely to compete with them for the next decade, OKC and CHI are closer to each other than to the Heat. They're like an early 2000's Blazers or Kings rather than the Lakers. They might win a few rings but the Heat will always be considered the favorites.

He already talked about Duncan and why would anybody even think that?

Was Jordan's rival Ewing, or Shaq? no

Was Bird's rival Kareem or Lanier? no

makes no sense to even bring it up

[Da_Realist]

"He's played very well," Wade said of Bryant's performances since undergoing concussion testing and then donning the mask, with 31 and 38 points in victories over the Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings.

"So it makes him focus in a little more. And he enjoys adding a little something extra to his resume."

Subliminal shot at Kobe's "legacy" obsession :pimp:

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/03/03/2420075/wade-says-focus-is-on-lakers-not.html

[Pointguard]

Wasn't cool to say because Manu won more rings during their tenure together, Iverson was arguably a better player in nearly half of the years played together, and Ray Allen is a HOF and a class act that outplayed him in a finals. Yeah, Kobe was better but show some respect. He wasn't beyond being a rival to people. He's not Jordan, there are guys that out did Kobe in certain ways. He wasn't dominant like that.

He was indeed a GOAT player (I have him at 8) but he was not a standout without comparison player. If Billups, RIP, Kidd, AI, Pierce, Ray Allen, Ginobli, Wade had played Kobe in a finals, the FMVP is up for grabs. It wouldn't surprise anyone if one of those guys played better than Kobe. And everybody knows why I'm saying that.

With that said he's great because he was a bit more thirsty than most others. He was/is? more dedicated than most. He was consistently in the hunt to win it all and went at it 100. So props to him.

[Pointguard]

lot of the hunger and desire for pro athletes come from them dedicating themselves to improving their living conditions

one of the knocks against athletes that aren't from these backgrounds is that they don't have the motivation and focus to live up to their potentials

people said grant hill and david robinson lacked those motivational tools

kobe is from an affluent background and is more driven, hungrier and has more focus than any of the guys who came up the hard way.
kobe is just an incredibly driven guy..flaws and all ,selfishness...ballhogging..

dude is just a competitor...he goes after it...

Hard to argue that one.

He was fortunate to be in a very good situation, tho. Kobe was a guy that could get sour and it could take from his play. He never had to carry teams for years and years. KG, is the only guy I would say that nothing interferred with his play (MJ and Magic too). But Kobe was definitely one of the best competitors in the sport.

[Kobe 4 The Win]

Kobe didn't have any long term Bird vs Magic style rivals. Jordan didn't either. There aren't too many people at that level when it comes to winning championships, and piling up accolades over a career.

[RazorBaLade]

Hard to argue that one.

He was fortunate to be in a very good situation, tho. Kobe was a guy that could get sour and it could take from his play. He never had to carry teams for years and years. KG, is the only guy I would say that nothing interferred with his play (MJ and Magic too). But Kobe was definitely one of the best competitors in the sport.

Thats because his sights were set on winning from day one. It's no surprise that magic only wanted to join the Lakers and would stay in college if he couldn't, and Jordan let phil have his way with him because he believed he'd win and bought into less of a selfish playstyle. These situations are not luck, they choose them.

You can't really try and be a KG, pierce type of player and expect to be in the top 10 or 15. You need good teams around you, kobe tried the 35 ppg with kwame brown but he just didn't want to continue it... Its silly to think that KG was not able to take a lesser role until 08.. He just didn't care as much about winning unless it was going to be his way. Nash can easily request himself a trade and try to win a championship, it doesn't make him "unlucky" that he has chosen not to.

[bdreason]

I know they don't play the same position, but I would say Duncan was his rival. They shared titles throughout the 00's, and almost always had to go through one another.

[Asukal]

Kobe won't outright say it but the only rival in his mind was always Michael Jordan. The problem is, Michael was too old when Kobe hit his prime. :oldlol:

[AlphaWolf24]

Kobe won't outright say it but the only rival in his mind was always Michael Jordan. The problem is, Michael was too old when Kobe hit his prime. :oldlol:


Kobe dropped 30 on MJ when Kobe was still a teenager...then Kobe merked him with 42 points in 1 half...

MJ's winning mentality is Kobe's Rival....

[Eric Cartman]

Kobe's biggest rivals = Smush Parker & Kwame Brown.

[The_Yearning]

Kobe was already winning championships when Wade was still in elementary :roll:

[Asukal]

Kobe dropped 30 on MJ when Kobe was still a teenager...then Kobe merked him with 42 points in 1 half...

MJ's winning mentality is Kobe's Rival....

:roll: :roll: :roll: You a funny guy!!! :applause: :applause: :applause:

[AlphaWolf24]

:roll: :roll: :roll: You a funny guy!!! :applause: :applause: :applause:


wasn't funny to MJ...MJ was nearly crying on the bench after Kobe went for 42 in 1 1/2 quarters..

[Asukal]

wasn't funny to MJ...MJ was nearly crying on the bench after Kobe went for 42 in 1 1/2 quarters..

Dunno if MJ was crying or not but Kobe was crying last season when the mavs sweep his ass hahahahaha! :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

[PickernRoller]

wasn't funny to MJ...MJ was nearly crying on the bench after Kobe went for 42 in 1 1/2 quarters..

Taking the dedication too far here. Kobe was great that day but MJ was way past his time at that game.

Now if we talk about that Bulls vs. Lakers game back in 1998 - now that was a fun fun game to watch.

[Asukal]

Kobe cried too when Arenas dropped 60 on him and again when The Dragon dropped 38 on him just recently. :roll: :roll: :roll:

Poor Kobe, Vanessa no longer at his side to cry on. :oldlol:

[PickernRoller]

Kobe cried too when Arenas dropped 60 on him and again when The Dragon dropped 38 on him just recently. :roll: :roll: :roll:

Poor Kobe, Vanessa no longer at his side to cry on. :oldlol:

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4083/5055032357_69d1d1be72_z.jpg

[Asukal]

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4083/5055032357_69d1d1be72_z.jpg

Alpha isn't?

:roll: :roll: :roll:

[Phong]

And now, the current crop of NBA stars are joining their potential rivals because they don't want to be challenged. :facepalm

[PickernRoller]

And now, the current crop of NBA stars are joining their potential rivals because they don't want to be challenged. :facepalm

Travesty at its finest. Lost some respect to LBJ for that. Lost more when they didn't win the Finals. Downhill from that point......doesn't matter what he's doing now.........bs move and everyone knows it. At any rate, the league changes from time to time so we'll see what this brings.....

[magnax1]

I thought it was pretty clear during the 01 finals he saw Iverson as his rival. It's been a while since I've seen it though.

[Pointguard]

Thats because his sights were set on winning from day one. It's no surprise that magic only wanted to join the Lakers and would stay in college if he couldn't, and Jordan let phil have his way with him because he believed he'd win and bought into less of a selfish playstyle. These situations are not luck, they choose them.

You can't really try and be a KG, pierce type of player and expect to be in the top 10 or 15. You need good teams around you, kobe tried the 35 ppg with kwame brown but he just didn't want to continue it... Its silly to think that KG was not able to take a lesser role until 08.. He just didn't care as much about winning unless it was going to be his way. Nash can easily request himself a trade and try to win a championship, it doesn't make him "unlucky" that he has chosen not to.

We were talking about guys who approached the game in a pure competitive way. KG never made an excuse to pout or play less than himself - regardless of situation. That's what we were addressing. This is something a bit different.

No matter how you look at it there is an element of luck involved. Chris Paul thought he was going to the Laker's - that didn't happen. KG was trying to get to Laker land in '07. So it's silly to think that players are GM's. I don't think the Laker's win as much without Phil Jackson. And Phil didn't have to stay and subject himself to Kobe and Shaq who were problematic. It was luck that Phil stayed. Some people are loyal, some are grateful, some are ring chasers. People make the world go round.

In general young men don't force power moves on men who have power. People in general didn't like Lebron excercising that power. So it can fall back on you in a negative way. Duncan never faltered or demanded things like Kobe did and his career was equal or even more impressive. But it was luck that got him in SA.

[Rojogaqu11]

There have been a lot of perimeter players that have been his rivals, compared, or battle in one way or another..

Eddie Jones
Penny Hardaway
Jerry Stackhouse
Latrell Spreewell
Reggie Miller
Jalen Rose
Ron Artest
Doug Christie
Allen Iverson
Gary Payton
Michael Finley
Jason Kidd
Michael Jordan (old)
Manu Ginobili
Ray Allen
Vince Carter
Stephon Marbury
Shawn Marion
Tracy McGrady
Corey Maggette
Chauncey Billups
Rip Hamilton
Bruce Bowen
Steve Francis
Cuttino Mobley
Ruben Patterson
Paul Pierce
Andre Iguodala
Dwayne Wade
Lebron James
Michael Redd
Shane Battier
Steve Nash
Raja Bell
Gilbert Arenas
Joe Johnson
Carmelo Anthony
Brandon Roy
Chris Paul
Kevin Durant
Derrick Rose
and of course Jeremy Lin stole the torch and mamba powers :cheers:

[bdreason]

But it was luck that got him in SA.


http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh236/bdreason/images.jpg

This is what got Duncan to San Antonio.

[White Mamba]

AI pretty much lit up the lakers for over a decade but apparently Kobe had no rivals. GTFO

You mean AI took up 42 shots and made 10 to score 30?:oldlol:

Kobe owned him on defense @phily in the finals, shut him down he keep shoot and shoot bricks.

18 41 .439
10 29 .345
12 30 .400
12 30 .400
14 32 .438

so overral he shoot 66-162 :facepalm

[bwink23]

I know they don't play the same position, but I would say Duncan was his rival. They shared titles throughout the 00's, and almost always had to go through one another.


Even though Kobe clearly says Duncan was NOT his rival....:facepalm

LOL at some of you people putting words in then man's mouth.