in the past: Joining LA is Ring Chasing

[retaxis]

Everyone from Magic to Wilt to Kareem/Shaq and Kobe wanted to join LA because they knew it was easy championships. They knew LA would give them stars to play with and win it the easy way.

[The_Pharcyde]

What can people to respond to this with?

[retaxis]

What can people to respond to this with?
Just shows players wanted the best agents to team them up with all stars in the most flexible teams (because they couldn't do it themselves back then). Thats why say Kobe made sure he went to the Lakers because they had a history of putting together all star team mates and winning. Its just the modern day idea of 'hey i want to win so i need a good team' played the 70s, 80s, 90s way. Doesn't matter how the game is played over time people wanted to win through 'colluding' with other all-stars since the beginning.

[I<3NBA]

did that mean Kobe colluded with the Lakers to keep him out of the Hornets?

:eek:

[Dresta]

This is very true.

[ImKobe]

Kobe was 17 yr old out of HS, he had no say in going to the Lakers. It was Jerry West's decision to get him.

Magic went to LA thanks to the coin flip, he was the unanimous #1 pick.

[plowking]

Kobe was 17 yr old out of HS, he had no say in going to the Lakers. It was Jerry West's decision to get him.

Magic went to LA thanks to the coin flip, he was the unanimous #1 pick.

Magic said he'd only leave college if he was guaranteed to play with the best player in the league at the time; KAJ.

And there have been numerous sources reporting Kobe demanding to play at the Lakers and saying he wouldn't play anywhere else.

[KobesFinger]

What I take from this is that LA has the GOAT front office. Seems about right

[dunksby]

Kareem joined a shitty Lakers team and Magic got drafted?

[ImKobe]

Magic said he'd only leave college if he was guaranteed to play with the best player in the league at the time; KAJ.

And there have been numerous sources reporting Kobe demanding to play at the Lakers and saying he wouldn't play anywhere else.

lol, Kobe was 17 and wasn't really a top recruit...Lakers chose to sign him despite him not being a proven player.

There's a big difference between establishing yourself as the best in the game (Lebron), and being in a winning situation and jumping ships to join up other great players, or being a rookie out of HS/College (Like Kobe & Magic), and being drafted to a good situation.

[NoGunzJustSkillz]

Magic said he'd only leave college if he was guaranteed to play with the best player in the league at the time; KAJ.

And there have been numerous sources reporting Kobe demanding to play at the Lakers and saying he wouldn't play anywhere else.
:roll: a 17 year old kobe coming out of high school strong arming the entire league. seems legit.

yes virginia there is a santa claus.

[riseagainst]

Magic said he'd only leave college if he was guaranteed to play with the best player in the league at the time; KAJ.

And there have been numerous sources reporting Kobe demanding to play at the Lakers and saying he wouldn't play anywhere else.

so you are saying Kobe already owning the league at 17 years old.

:lol

[JohnnySic]

They want to go to LA for the weather, women, Hollywood, and so on. The franchise is just icing on the cake.

In the NBA, the big stars have always controlled their destiny. The whole Heatles collusion thing was nothing new.

[gts]

Gee.. what anew and refreshing topic :rolleyes: OP really thinking out of the box on this one.. amazing it took this long to discuss

[KobesFinger]

They want to go to LA for the weather, women, Hollywood, and so on. The franchise is just icing on the cake.

In the NBA, the big stars have always controlled their destiny. The whole Heatles collusion thing was nothing new.

So why does no-one go to the Clippers?

[NoGunzJustSkillz]

So why does no-one go to the Clippers?
clipps were cheap asf up until they got cp3.

[SexSymbol]

Magic said he'd only leave college if he was guaranteed to play with the best player in the league at the time; KAJ.

And there have been numerous sources reporting Kobe demanding to play at the Lakers and saying he wouldn't play anywhere else.
Numerous sources that were shut down as crazy myths by the same sources.
I don't blame Magic, that's not in any way a bad thing to play for a capable organization

[Overdrive]

Ironicly Shaq left a team that featured an All-Star - budding superstar even, (a championship) proven defender/s and very good shooters for a team with Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel. Nobody knew Kobe would pan out back then.

Shaq wanted (showbiz) dollars and fame.

[retaxis]

Ironicly Shaq left a team that featured an All-Star - budding superstar even, (a championship) proven defender/s and very good shooters for a team with Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel. Nobody knew Kobe would pan out back then.

Shaq wanted (showbiz) dollars and fame.
And he knew other superstars wanted that too. Lakers always gets superstars and it shows in their track record. Lakers not only gets superstars they get the right superstars.. Got a perimeter superstar? we will match you with a front court superstar. Imagine if KD or Lebron was drafted with the Lakers and were able to play with front court superstars like KAJ, Shaq or Wilt and great coaches like Phil.

[Magic 32]

And there have been numerous sources reporting Kobe demanding to play at the Lakers .....

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/1207/end_ip_abbott04_200.jpg

[Magic 32]

Imagine if KD or Lebron was drafted with the Lakers and were able to play with front court superstars like KAJ, Shaq or Wilt and great coaches like Phil.

Imagine Lebron wasting 4 years of his peak with Kwame, Smush and Luke.

Imagine Lebron playing with a fat entitled superstar center, who would never allow you to be the first option and the center of the offense as long as he was on the team. Imagine Lebron being happy with that for more than 8 years.

Imagine Lebron playing in the west, and with only one all-star sidekick.

Nope....no can do.

[Anaximandro1]

-To be fair, Magic and Kobe played on ultra stacked teams.

-Jordan did more with less.

-Duncan -> Manu/Robinson can't play heavy minutes. And Parker took years to develop.


http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C-HgF5Toh9M/VH-PqQ6Dm8I/AAAAAAAADhg/Jaj-vSyk2gM/s1600/4.jpg

[KingLeBronJames]

-To be fair, Magic and Kobe played on ultra stacked teams.

-Jordan did more with less.

-Duncan -> Manu/Robinson can't play heavy minutes. And Parker took years to develop.


http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C-HgF5Toh9M/VH-PqQ6Dm8I/AAAAAAAADhg/Jaj-vSyk2gM/s1600/4.jpg
You call Jordan having Ron Harper, Bill Cartwright, B.J. Armstrong, Toni Kukoc, John Paxson, Steve Kerr, Bison Dele, Trent Tucker less help?