Was Kobe ever referred to as

[toooo]

"The greatest player on the planet"
"The best player in the league"
Etc.

Obviously ESPN, TNT, NBATV, are all Lebron riders and call him that. I never heard Kobe called that.

Just as an FYI, I do not agree about him being the best player on the planet, Durant is playing out of this world right now. Not a Kobe VS Lebron thread, jsut genuinely curious if Kobe was ever considered "the greatest on the planet" by ESPN/NBA critics.

[TheMarkMadsen]

inb4 2 pages full of quotes from legends

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2009-09-24/sporting-news-nba-athlete-decade-kobe-bryant-sg-lakers

http://www.nba.com/alldecade/vote13/

does player of the decade count?

[navy]

Yes before Lebron he was

[moe94]

Were you not watching from 05-09? lol

[IncarceratedBob]

no never

[toooo]

Were you not watching from 05-09? lol

Games yes, but not sportscenter/after games/halftime.

[AnaheimLakers24]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CsaL_BDAeqA

[imnew09]

"Well the NBA is in great hands, but if I had to pick the single greatest player on the planet, I take Kobe Bryant, without hesitation." - Michael Jordan

"Kobe, in my opinion, is the best player in the NBA" - Stephon Marbury
Stephon Marbury on Kobe: "He's the only person on 'dis earth that can do 'dat. He guards people, like shuts 'em down. Then, to do 'dat on 'da offensive end. It's like 'Damn, I can't score on him AND he about to bust my ass.

"Kobe the best in the game right now man. Who better then Kobe?" - Amare Stoudemire

"Kobe is still the best player in the game." - Phil Jackson

"He's the best player alive".- Marc Stein

Lamar Odom said, "It's like God put Kobe here for us to watch him play basketball."

Kobe is the top player in the league." - Jason Richardson

"The MVP should be, when I look at it, I think it should be the best player in the league. Kobe is the best player in the league." - Chauncey Billups

TNT's Charles Barkley on who he believes are the best athletes in the world: "Kobe is the best basketball player in the world."

"If you want to find a player to build around, he's probably it. He's got great size for a guard, he's pretty impossible to defend, and he is hard to score against when he hunkers down on defense." - Nate McMillan

"I'm not saying that he's the most valuable player, but he's certainly the best player. And it's not even close. He is utterly dominant." - Mike D'Antoni

"Kobe is the best basketball player in the world." - Charles Barkley

"It was bitter that Kobe Bryant got injured. His presence alone would have been enough to win the tournament. That's the level I see him on. To me he is the best player in the world right now. That guy doesn't know fear at all. He doesn't care. He would have won it for the Americans single-handedly." - Dirk Nowitzki

"Kobe Bryant is the most talented player in the game today; he could do anything." - Alonzo Mourning

He's the best offensive player in the league, hands down," Bulls guard Ben Gordon


"Nobody can guard Kobe one-on-one. Nobody." - Del Harris

"I see a lot of myself in him. No doubt about it.' - Michael Jordan

Clyde Drexler was asked who the game's top player is today: "I love Yao (Ming), and I love Tracy (McGrady), but Kobe Bryant is by far the best."

"He looked wonderful," said James, who added nine assists and eight rebounds. "You didn't see him go down the middle and dunk? He looked great. I loved having him back. You always want to compete against the very best. That's my favorite player in the game."

"Of course not," James said. "They can never get back to that without Shaq and Phil (Jackson). They still have a quality team. They have the best player in basketball."

Horace Grant kept referring to Bryant as "No. 23," the number Jordan wore. It wasn't a mistake. "I knew what I was saying," Grant said.

"He's the best player in our game today, in my opinion" - Lebron James

"It's hard to guard somebody when he's feeling it. For 10 straight, he was feeling it." It?s always a big challenge battling against the best. - Vince Carter

"At the end of the day Kobe will go down as the greatest player to have ever played the game.""His mentality, his approach -- he tries to seek and destroy. There is really nothing he can't do on the basketball court. The main thing is his will. He is not satisfied with just beating you. He wants to put the dagger in you. I think that is a lost art to a certain degree in this league." - Mark Jackson

"He has no weaknesses." - Al Harrington

[imnew09]

the list goes on... that was only portion of it.

[moe94]

Games yes, but not sportscenter/after games/halftime.

You mean the media and general public, right? They were heavy on Kobe being the best.

[NumberSix]

No, he was more often referred to as "will the defendant please rise".

[Jacks3]

He was certainly the consensus best player from 06-08 among coaches/players/analysts/fans.

[sammichoffate]

Alvin Gentry after his 2010 Suns lost in the WCF after 6 games:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liKW_fyV-UQ
Charles after that series:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KKJmSYaC8E

Just a few

[Le Shaqtus]

mods.

[Deuce Bigalow]

:biggums:

[ImKobe]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv37ykpYk84

0:25

"Who's the best player in the game?"
Lebron: "Kobe Bryant"
"Even better than you?"
*nods* "I'll have to say right now"


Here's interview with various NBA players, asked who the best player in the NBA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt-f49jyMmo


Kobe was widely regarded as the best player in the game from 06-09. 09 Playoffs run was one of the best by any wing player, Jordan Esque. Only player since MJ to average 30+ ppg 7+ apg in a finals series, only player other than MJ & Jerry West to average 33+ ppg 8+ apg in the first 4 Finals games. Kobe was historic during that time.

But funny thing is, I don't think it was even his peak, I consider his peak to be 01-03 when we talking both ends of the court & how great of a team player Kobe really was. He averaged 30 7 6 with 2.2 spg for an entire season for crying out loud & dropped 42 points in one half on MJ at 24 years old, but 06-09 Kobe was a joy to watch because you finally saw him blossom on his own & once the Lakers got a few decent players around him, he won the MVP & went to 3 straight Finals. How could he not have been the best during that time?

[Milbuck]

[QUOTE=imnew09]"Well the NBA is in great hands, but if I had to pick the single greatest player on the planet, I take Kobe Bryant, without hesitation." - Michael Jordan

"Kobe, in my opinion, is the best player in the NBA" - Stephon Marbury
Stephon Marbury on Kobe: "He's the only person on 'dis earth that can do 'dat. He guards people, like shuts 'em down. Then, to do 'dat on 'da offensive end. It's like 'Damn, I can't score on him AND he about to bust my ass.

"Kobe the best in the game right now man. Who better then Kobe?" - Amare Stoudemire

"Kobe is still the best player in the game." - Phil Jackson

"He's the best player alive".- Marc Stein

Lamar Odom said, "It's like God put Kobe here for us to watch him play basketball."

Kobe is the top player in the league." - Jason Richardson

"The MVP should be, when I look at it, I think it should be the best player in the league. Kobe is the best player in the league." - Chauncey Billups

TNT's Charles Barkley on who he believes are the best athletes in the world: "Kobe is the best basketball player in the world."

"If you want to find a player to build around, he's probably it. He's got great size for a guard, he's pretty impossible to defend, and he is hard to score against when he hunkers down on defense." - Nate McMillan

"I'm not saying that he's the most valuable player, but he's certainly the best player. And it's not even close. He is utterly dominant." - Mike D'Antoni

"Kobe is the best basketball player in the world." - Charles Barkley

"It was bitter that Kobe Bryant got injured. His presence alone would have been enough to win the tournament. That's the level I see him on. To me he is the best player in the world right now. That guy doesn't know fear at all. He doesn't care. He would have won it for the Americans single-handedly." - Dirk Nowitzki

"Kobe Bryant is the most talented player in the game today; he could do anything." - Alonzo Mourning

He's the best offensive player in the league, hands down," Bulls guard Ben Gordon


"Nobody can guard Kobe one-on-one. Nobody." - Del Harris

"I see a lot of myself in him. No doubt about it.' - Michael Jordan

Clyde Drexler was asked who the game's top player is today: "I love Yao (Ming), and I love Tracy (McGrady), but Kobe Bryant is by far the best."

"He looked wonderful," said James, who added nine assists and eight rebounds. "You didn't see him go down the middle and dunk? He looked great. I loved having him back. You always want to compete against the very best. That's my favorite player in the game."

"Of course not," James said. "They can never get back to that without Shaq and Phil (Jackson). They still have a quality team. They have the best player in basketball."

Horace Grant kept referring to Bryant as "No. 23," the number Jordan wore. It wasn't a mistake. "I knew what I was saying," Grant said.

"He's the best player in our game today, in my opinion" - Lebron James

"It's hard to guard somebody when he's feeling it. For 10 straight, he was feeling it." It?s always a big challenge battling against the best. - Vince Carter

"At the end of the day Kobe will go down as the greatest player to have ever played the game.""His mentality, his approach -- he tries to seek and destroy. There is really nothing he can't do on the basketball court. The main thing is his will. He is not satisfied with just beating you. He wants to put the dagger in you. I think that is a lost art to a certain degree in this league." - Mark Jackson

"He has no weaknesses." - Al Harrington

[Artillery]

Were you not watching from 05-09? lol

1 MVP win kinda points to the conclusion that he was never considered the best in the league for an extended period of time.

[Artillery]

But funny thing is, I don't think it was even his peak, I consider his peak to be 01-03

Funny you say. Back then, during the annual general manager surveys, more GMs picked TMac to start a franchise with over Kobe.

[Milbuck]

1 MVP win kinda points to the conclusion that he was never considered the best in the league for an extended period of time.
Which is bullshit considering he had mounds of trash for teammates + Lamar Odom conveniently during his prime, or peak rather.

[moe94]

1 MVP win kinda points to the conclusion that he was never considered the best in the league for an extended period of time.
Nash was as dominant in the league has both Kobe and Shaq combined.

[sammichoffate]

Which is bullshit considering he had mounds of trash for teammates + Lamar Odom conveniently during his prime, or peak rather.Those were his "Jordan years" unfortunately

[HOoopCityJones]

Nash was as dominant in the league has both Kobe and Shaq combined.

No truer words have been spoken.

[Milbuck]

Those were his "Jordan years" unfortunately
Yep. While I don't think Kobe was ever the type of player to rack up the MVPs like Kareem, MJ, or Lebron, I still think his MVP award total is one of the most misleading numbers out there. If his peak wasn't almost totally wasted, he would probably be sitting at 3 MVPs right now.

[Heavincent]

Games yes, but not sportscenter/after games/halftime.

Yes he was. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KKJmSYaC8E

You must not have bee watching back then. He was frequently referred to as the best player in the world.

[Artillery]

Which is bullshit considering he had mounds of trash for teammates + Lamar Odom conveniently during his prime, or peak rather.

So what? Lebron had nothing in Cleveland. Garnett had trash in Minnesota during his prime. Duncan had Derek Anderson and decrepit Robinson as his 2nd and 3rd options during the early 2000s. They all won 50+ games with those squads.

[Cold soul]

He was certainly the consensus best player from 06-08 among coaches/players/analysts/fans.

I agree with this. I also think Kobe has some years that were debate able, but 06-08 for sure.

[Fawker]

Kobe would still be the best player to have a multi faceted game when he comes back.

[joeyjoejoe]

I don't think he was ever clearcut best player, he may have been the best player for a couple of seasons but its very much debatable. Having said that the media has always hyped kobe

[Vienceslav]

I don't think he was ever clearcut best player, he may have been the best player for a couple of seasons but its very much debatable. Having said that the media has always hyped kobe
What?:roll:

[joeyjoejoe]

Did I stutter

[buddha]

it's funny that 18 year olds actually believe this.

[MMM]

Kobe wasnt the consensus best player in the league in the same fashion that LeBron has been the last 4-5 seasons. Kobe was competing with Shaq, TD, KG and Dirk. With that being said Kobe was consistently elite through 02 to 10, probably top 2-3 at minimum and top player from 06 or 07 to 09.

[MichaelCorleone]

No.

Never.

[PostUpFreak]

No.

Never.

[IMObjective]

:biggums: