Let’s say, I wanted to know which fighter jet had better steering and control between an F-15 and a MIG-23. Whom do I go to for answers? I would go straight to the most logical place for information – to an actual pilot who has flown the fighter jets before. I would certainly trust that source more than I would some third person commentator who has only watched the two planes from the ground.
Along the same vein, suppose I wish to gain an accurate understanding of Kobe Bryant’s basketball ability. Whom should I go to for answers? I would want to ask for the opinions of current or former NBA players and coaches, especially those who have played or coached with or against Kobe Bryant. Those people certainly would know more about Kobe Bryant’s game than a journalist without an NBA pedigree would.
The near consensus among current NBA players is that Kobe Bryant is playing basketball at a level higher than anyone else right now.
Shaquille O’neal said so himself before facing Kobe Bean at US Airways in February. Lebron James (whom certain media writers with no NBA pedigree, including Kelly Dwyer of Yahoo! Sports and John Hollinger of ESPN, argue is already better than Kobe) said “KB24 is the best player in the world,” during an interview before the Christmas game last year on ABC. He then repeated himself before the Lakers and Cavaliers faced off in January.
Kevin Durant quipped, “That’s why [Kobe] is the best in the world” after the Lakers escaped Key Arena with a win. Stephon Marbury has gotten on record echoing the same sentiment. Others that have shown appreciation Kobe’s skill level that I can name right off the top of my head include Amare Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, and Gilbert Arenas.
What about current coaches? Mike D’Antoni of the Phoenix Suns has gone on record saying that everyone knows that Kobe is the best in the game. Avery Johnson and Gregg Popovich shared the same vision.
What about former players and coaches? Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, Fred Carter, Hubie Brown, Bill Walton, Eddie Johnson, and Mark Jackson are among the many who have said publicly that Kobe Bryant is the best in the league today. There is nary a whisper from the same crowd regarding Lebron James being the best today.
And yet, the media landscape is rife with negative portrayals of Kobe Bean Bryant. Even at the heights of his basketball career, there are those who seek to denigrate his success. These are people who seek to have the public hark back to his selfish days and to his past mistakes. Among the same media landscape, there is nary a whisper against Lebron James and Shaquille O’neal.
There is a reason for this.
Lebron James and Shaquille O’neal are very likeable personalities. They make you laugh. We can sympathize with O’neal’s sitting through injuries and being overweight a lot easier, than we can with KB24’s 5AM workouts and 10 day breaks between NBA seasons.
Who doesn’t love Lebron James? Remember his dance off with Shaq during the 2006 All-Star weekend? They are definitely our heroes and icons in the sphere of professional sports. We can sympathize with O’neal’s divorce and Lebron’s two children born out of wedlock much easier, than with Kobe’s seven year marriage and his public affirmation on Stephen A. Smith’s Quite Frankly talk show that it was Jesus Christ who carried his cross and allowed him to redeem himself with his once broken family following the Colorado incident.
Beat writers and fans are human, and have their own, subjective opinions on players. I am not asking anyone to change their personal opinions, just as I do not look for people to challenge mine, that Kobe Bean is a completely transformed person since the Colorado incident, that the once the cocky, arrogant and aloof world conqueror is now the humbled, genuine and appreciative role model that he is.
However, when evaluating something objective such as a player’s achievements and basketball ability, we should not let our emotions get in the way. A MIG-23 does have a smaller turning radius than the F-15, and just because I am an American and strongly believe in the absolute evils of the socialist regime that MIG-23’s have represented, I am not free to deny the fact that, from a purely aeronautical perspective, a MIG-23 has a smaller turning radius than the F-15. I am also free, mind you, to point out that we have a new model, the F-22, which outperforms both. So long as I am not distorting the truth.
Now, back to Kobe Bean Bryant. Primary sources, which are current and former players, coaches, and GM’s, are nearly universal to confirm that he is the best player in the world today. We shouldn’t go to secondary sources – commentators – to assuage any personal riffs we may have with the truth.
28 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Anonymous about 1 year ago
THANK YOU. You hit the nail right on the head. I am not a fan of Kobe the person. At the same time it's frustrating to see that these writers have their own personal agendas when voting for the league MVP. It's pretty sad that this responsibility is entrusted to these individuals who go out of their way to make it a personal mission to discredit the greatest basketball talent of this generation. It's a damn shame. If Kobe doesn't win it this year we should have Congress question these writers. :)
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Wonderful article
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Here's an example of another idiot writer that doesn't know basketball...Read this BS!!!
http://mvn.com/nba-cavaliers/2008/03/05/define-mvp/
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Can anyone tell me why sports writers get to vote for the MVP ??
It makes NO sense WHATSOEVER !!!
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Somebody needed to write this. This is something that just had to be said!
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Mayoclinic 32 about 1 year ago
Somebody needed to write this. This is something that just had to be said!
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Mayoclinic 32 about 1 year ago
Come back tomorrow for part 2 of this series.
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Travis S about 1 year ago
Simply WELL PUT..its just a DISGRACE just cause of the medias perception of bryant, the public eats it all up wit a spoon. I find it even more disgraceful that WE THE PUBLIC can be the most dumbest, incoherent people ever. Since alot of the haters are simply haters..they will continue too hate. No matter what Kobe has accomplished the jackass media/public will just bring up situations from the past.. Even though the poor guy changed himself. They'll keep their mouth shut about how terrible teams like Wade are doing..{ SOOOOO overated beyond belief..wade could'nt shoot a basket ball to save his own mothers life if he tried..} They'll continue to hype up Lebron {SPECIFICALLY for this years MVP AWARD} even though his team wins are obviously lower then the Lakers..Isn't is supposed to be the most VALUABLE to their particular team? Has anyone been payin attention to the lakers record last year? Really people..Hopefully this will eventually all be changed Kobe will be the media's darling and the public will favour him completely..NOPE..That will NEVER HAPPEN..As long as guys like Lebron and Wade continue to be laughing away and playing around on our tv screen even NOT play at the level that even bryant plays at?? The public will still BE TOLD that those guys are the best..Thats ok though guys cause what??? Michael Jordan had one championship ring at kobe's present age..Kobe currently has 3. Meaning what??? Meaning we havent even seen Kobe Bryants best years just yet..Hype Lebron and the others all u want...At the end of the day..Kobe Bryant's own game play will simply FORCE the media/public too give him his respect..Whether they want too or not. {GREAT write Mayoclinic}
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
The problem with so many beat writers (so called haters) is that Kobe Bryant has never really humanized himself to the public. They WANT to see him tear up in earnest, garner a bit of sympathy after a pathetic display on television...but Kobe's just too intense for that. After all that he has been through, I'll take you back to when it began. In the 2004 playoffs, the guy was flying from a court room defending his livelihood to the conference finals. He was putting up 40 pt games against solid teams in the playoffs during Colorado. He hit the game winner and forced overtime in the Finals, then put the team on his back to win game 2 against the Pistons. He doesn't shed tears or cry for sympathy, and that's why beat writers don't get him...he's arguably the strongest personality in today's sports world, maybe even the whole celebrity universe. He doesn't exude the human charm of a Roger Federer, LeBron, Wade, Garnett, Shaq, Brady, etc. so he gets labeled as arrogant, unlikeable, almost like he has a sense of entitlement that he's supposed to win the championship. Others like Garnett have cried in interviews, lived through pathetic tenures in Minnesota so the writers open up to guys like that. Kobe, on the other hand, barely laughs, and with a cold stare speaks of getting back to a championship like it has his name on it. It's this element of personality that the media pays attention to, and almost seems to overlook his rare abilities. He can stop your favorite player on the perimeter, create a turnover, then fancily dunk it or fade away a smooth jumper that makes you almost swear that Jordan was in uniform. The writers are afraid and they have an inferiority complex that Kobe might 'win' after all; that he may get the last laugh, win the day, win many more rings and do so without needing a pint of pathetic attention from the public. They're just plain scared that a guy can persevere through so much, look you in the eye and say "I told you so" when its all over.
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P H about 1 year ago
Why is there so many debates on who is better? I really don't get it because Kobe has clearly been on a level that no one has touched since MJ. All these people thinks LBJ is better then kobe based on stats. He only avgs 2 points more and thats because Kobe takes 2 shots less a game. Why is everyone making a big deal about LBJ's 30pts a game when kobe has shown he can average 35 points at will? LBJ averages more assist because the offense is 100% built around him. Rebounds are obvious because he is bigger and because he is in the forward position. Kobe starts almost every game trying to get his teammates involved then takes over when he needs to. Don't get me wrong, LBJ is definitely second best but kobe is undisputably better. That is why if you ask 10 NBA players, 9 will say Kobe is in a league of his own. If Kobe didn't win the MVP averaging 35 on a 2nd rate team how can LBJ win the MVP on a second rate team..
One last thing.... LBJ taking Cavs to finals last year was not that impressive as Pistions are not that great of a team.. Pistons will be exposed in the playoffs this year.. The variance between west and east is just too great which is made obivious by Spurs sweeping Cavs last year in the finals.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Kobe's not playing at a higher level than Lebron. At best, he's at an equal level.
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jeffrey cazz about 1 year ago
dam right!
today march 6,2008 see the NBA standings take a good look at the records. if we place LA lakers in the east they would be in the no.3 spot. then if we place cleveland in the west were would they be??? strugeling to make it to the playoffs right....?? if the cleveland doesnt make it to playoffs king james would still b a king to the media? i doubt it. media is so easy to pleased if they like you and so hared to pleased if they hate you.
LEBRON JAMES is so lucky to be in the east. while KOBE is doing his best in the west.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
kobe IS playing at a higher level than lebron....what makes you think he's not? OH, it's probably because lebron has "better" stats than kobe, right? you don't think kobe would be having those stats if he played in the east, all the while dominating the ball in a system designed to run solely through you? we all know kobe can trump lebron in terms of stats whenever he wants: that's why he's so great, he can turn it off and on whenever he wants. next please....
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
those dumb@$$ media such as the one you mention will vote for any player in the league for MVP..except for Kobe Bryant...I'am a Kobe fan...and I don't care if he will not win the MVP award...coz no matter what Le Bron, CP3, KG does...Kobe is the true MVP...he is the peoples MVP...many considers him as the closest thing to MJ..but it's for the same reason why these "haters" hate him so much.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Why argue? KOBE BRYANT SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kobe won't surpass Jordan but LeBron has now surpassed Kobe.
MJ > LeBron > insert 2-3 other players here > Kobe
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Lebron proved nothing yet!!! o yeah, he got swept in the finals!!! KOBE's THE BEST IN THE UNIVERSE!!!
KOBE could have been MVP for the last 2 years minus the HATERS!!!
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
MJ>Kobe>insert 7 players> Lebron
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Larry Brown about 1 year ago
I do not know why people wonder who is better. I am just enjoying the game. There have been greats in other sports such as soccer, tennis and gold. But I am just surprised to see how people argue too much in the NBA. I do not see that elsewhere. For example, fans can compare Nicklaus and Woods, but there is no hatred. People like Federer, they still respect Laver or Borg or Sampras.
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Brittney Meadows about 1 year ago
Thank You, can you make sure you share this article with others because I will definatly pass it along myself but this was great to read and I wish more had the same open approach when talking about Kobe.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Fuck Kobe Bryant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
MJ > LeBron > insert all people in the world here including animals, trees and birds > Kobe
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I Like Kobe and I like Lebron, and between the two I'd say Kobe is easily the better player. Kobe can Lockdown anyone in the world, and obviously score when he wants to, he led the League for 2 years in that department. Lebron is playing in the JV league and his numbers are scary good. Lebron will probably go down as the best player to ever pick up a basketball, but right now he doesn't deserve to be the MVP. Sadly though, I think Lebrons going to get the MVP. Which is a travesty b/c his numbers, while great, he's in the LEASTERN conference, therefore those stats are somewhat inflated. The media has a true and pure hatred of Kobe. In the MLB its Barry Bonds, in the NFL it's Terrell Owens, and in the NBA its Kobe.
Think about it. 3 years ago Kobe averaged 35 ppg, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, he was also 1st team all Defense, and led a NBDL team with the likes of Kwame Brown, Smush Parker and Brian Cook to the Playoffs where they were obliterated by a actual NBA team that was led by Steve Nash. Think about that, the guy averaged 35 points, AND was all NBA First team in Defense and he finished 4th place MVP voting! People say he didn't make his team mates better but if you look at his past team mates, Smush Parker, Kwame Brown, Derrick Fisher, even Shaq, they ALL had their best years playing with Players know players tho Kobe, ask any NBA player, Foreign National team, or Coach who they think the number one basketball player in the world is right now and see what they say.
Sadly tho, No. 24, will never get the MVP though, its a popularity contest, and therefore Kobes not invited.
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Mayoclinic 32 about 1 year ago
Anonymous wrote, "Think about it. 3 years ago Kobe averaged 35 ppg, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, he was also 1st team all Defense, and led a NBDL team with the likes of Kwame Brown, Smush Parker and Brian Cook to the Playoffs where they were obliterated by a actual NBA team that was led by Steve Nash."
Now, while this is besides the point of my article, I must point out that despite the deficiencies of the Lakers that year, they took the Suns to 7 games and were one defensive rebound away from eliminating them in 6. That's not being obliterated!
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
kobe > MJ
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Divya Parmar about 1 year ago
EXCELLENT ARTICLE. That is exactly right. Everyone can't see past Kobe's cold personality, so they take shots at his basketball ability.
You summed it up perfectly. This is my pick of the day. Great work.
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kobeallen Zhu about 1 year ago
wonderful!
yeah,KB should get sth back, that he should have won before.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
The media bias against Kobe is absolutely true. I got firsthand info from an ESPN writer himself. This writer posted an article last year on the ESPN website about the 2007 MVP race and I emailed him my comments regarding his article. I am not going to identify the writer since he replied to me with his personal gmail address and may not want to be "outed" since he made some unflattering comments about his fellow writers. Here is the email he sent me:
"You don't have to convince me. I think Kobe should have won the MVP last season and should be the leading candidate this season. You don't just give the award to the best player on the best team, as some people counter. First, Dirk Nowitzki is not the best player and neither is Steve Nash. They are both wonderful, wonderful players, but the 'V' in MVP stands for VALUE. Dirk's team would make the playoffs without him. Nash has a stronger argument since his team typically does not play well when he's not playing. But, bottom line: The Lakers would be in the lottery without Kobe. If what he's doing isn't elevating your team, I don't know what is.
Besides, who do you want to have the ball with the game on the line? It's definitely not Dirk Nowitzki.
Anyway, it's criminal that Kobe has put up these numbers the last few seasons and has put a below-average team on his back and gotten no respect whatsoever. Sports writers can be petty, vindictive people. A lot of people don't like Kobe because of his attitude and demeanor at times. Well, it's not our job to judge you based on how you deal with us. It's our job to judge what we see on the court."
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I wish we had more reporters like you in this world, first of i want to say that kobe bryant is the greatest basketball player ever, not just now, but also in the history of the nba, this guy is driven he's deserved the mvp for many years, he been through a rape scandal had the whole world look down on him and still won 2 straight scoring titles, draged his team into the playoffs as if they weighed a ton and know has motivated them enough to be 1st in the west ( which is said to be the toughest confrence in over 30 years) i meen wat more can i say........kobe is my hero
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