Is Bill Simmons Crazy?

[DMAVS41]

If Kobe wasn't so polarizing with his attitude, rape case, fued with shaq he would be considered a top five player of all time.

His career is under a microscope way more than Duncan's and when you have a legion of haters there will be new and creative perspectives created everyday to slight him.

So ironic that Duncan's team was the team he found easy as cake to bust on his whole career.

I just don't think Kobe ever played well enough or was dominant enough to for sure be ahead of guys like wilt, hakeem, shaq, duncan, magic, and bird...has nothing to do with his rape case.

if mj, russell, and kareem are untouchable...kobe has to pass a lot of the guys above to be top 5. don't think he's done enough yet to warrant that from purely a basketball perspective.

factor in all his on and off court troubles and it's hard to argue him over a guy like Duncan.

[daj0264]

bigs>

[stephanieg]

Man, Kobe is gonna be crazy overrated after he retires, isn't he?

[32MJ32]

Simmons has always been a Kobe hater.

This

It may or may not be true that Duncan is a) better than Kobe and/or b) had a better career (I don't believe the two to be the same thing), but Simmons' opinion on it cannot be taken seriously.

The guy is trying to wear his "Ultimate Celtics Fan" and "Unbiased NBA Analyst" hat at the same time. It's impossible to be both

[TheBigVeto]

Earth.

This. And every other real planet in the universe.
He ain't crazy.

Kobe is better only in Kobetards' minds.

[Jacks3]

If Kobe wasn't so polarizing with his attitude, rape case, fued with shaq he would be considered a top five player of all time.

His career is under a microscope way more than Duncan's and when you have a legion of haters there will be new and creative perspectives created everyday to slight him.

So ironic that Duncan's team was the team he found easy as cake to bust on his whole career.

This X1000. If a guy like West or Wade had the career Bryant has had, they'd be considered top 5 All-Time.

[DMAVS41]

This X1000. If a guy like West or Wade had the career Bryant has had, they'd be considered top 5 All-Time.

But who is this player for sure kicking out?

You have;

MJ
Russell
Wilt
Kareem
Shaq
Magic
Bird
Hakeem
Duncan

You are telling me that people would be definitively ranking Kobe over the likes of Shaq, Bird, Duncan, and Hakeem? I just don't see it.

Kobe is right where he should be based on his career and how good he was.

[stanlove1111]

But the context that you speak of is only your interpretation of the FACTS. How you FEEL about reality does not change it.

Total rubbish. A ref went to jail for throwing it..Thats a fact...

Kobe was not the best player on 5 title teams..Thats a fact..

[WWRWestbrookDo?]

On what planet is Duncan better than Kobe?

I don't think it's crazy. If you ask all the NBA teams who would you rather start a franchise with...I bet you don't get a consensus answer

[stanlove1111]

at this sensationalist hyperbole.

So spouting facts is now sensational hyperbole? Only in the world of a moron.

[chopchop20]

Total rubbish. A ref went to jail for throwing it..Thats a fact...

Kobe was not the best player on 5 title teams..Thats a fact..

Ummmmm... neither was Tim Duncan

[Lebron23]

Ummmmm... neither was Tim Duncan

3 Finals MVP and 2 MVP >> 1 MVP, and 2 Finals MVP.

[chopchop20]

3 Finals MVP and 2 MVP >> 1 MVP, and 2 Finals MVP.

5 Rings >>> 4 Rings

[The-Legend-24]

Kobe damn near three-peated twice with two different teams, Duncan hasn't even done a back2back once, let alone twice like Kobe.

This nigguh's been a role player on his OWN team the past like 4 years, but he's somehow better than a guy that's been an elite player in the league for almost his whole career? Ok.

[bence23]

No they wouldn't..

The two most dominant players ever Shaq and MJ are considered that because they put together a string of years where they dominated and no one could stop them. Repeats and 3peats are a sign of dominance.

Grabbing titles in between dynasties are called scavenger titles.

It's different if it's dynasty on dynasty ala Lakers celtics in the 80s..two titans battling it out, can't fault them.

But the Spurs could never beat prime Shaq when he had a good team nor prime kobe when he had a good team. They had to wait for the cracks in between.

the larry bird celtics never repeated....