Whether he is the most loved man in LA or the most hated man in Denver, Kobe Bryant has always been Kobe.
He has never shied away from making some noise, on the court and off. But it's going to take a lot more than jumping over an Aston Martin to solidify his newly acquired title as "Best Basketball Player in the World.”
Whether or not he can do this is not the only issue for the always shining star.
Many people in the Rockies wonder if he has completely moved on from the trial that made him more than just another footnote in Colorado history. Many in the City of Angels wonder if he can truly win an NBA Championship on his own.
I just wonder if he has what it takes to step up when it counts: the postseason.
I am not Kobe's biggest supporter, if I support him at all. But I do know a good talent when I see it. No matter my personal feelings toward the All-Star, I can never doubt his strength on the court.
He has the skills and the abilities to win another ring.
The question is how badly Kobe wants it and if he is willing to make the sacrifices that are necessary to become a champion once again.
What is also evident is that the pressure of winning another NBA Championship is getting to him.
He may not be showing it, but he knows that everyone still talks about the era of "The Shaq and Kobe Show Live From LA." But this isn't Shaq's team anymore; this is Kobe's squad.
We all know it hasn't been the same since Shaq departed Los Angeles. But somehow, someway, Kobe persevered.
In order to officially seal his role as "The Greatest in the World," he will have to do what Bird, Isaiah, MJ, and even Tim Duncan have done several times over: win the championship on his own.
Like all the legends (and future legends) named above, Kobe has the supporting cast to get things done.
Following the addition of Pau Gasol and the tough play of Andrew Bynum, the Lakers are on pace to make it happen this summer. But Kobe has to learn to adjust and realize that this time around he doesn't have to do it by himself.
So let's set the stage for today's game against the Spurs, and figure out how important this game is to the Lakers.
The outcome of this game will determine just how much fire will be in the Los Angeles system when it comes playoff time. In this game, not to mention the one against rival Kings to finish off the season, Kobe's Lakers will need to step up...IMMEDIATELY!
If the Lakers can beat the Spurs, they just might have a chance to win the whole darn thing.
But if they let the past postseason bugs get the best of them, it doesn't matter who thinks Kobe is the best player in the world. It doesn't mean a thing without a ring.
Kobe may have three rings already, but I think he would like to show just how good he is without the Diesel in the postseason.
Legendary status comes with a price. Just how much is Kobe Bryant willing to pay to get back to Glory Road?
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2 months ago
Dude don't be such a damn hater. Everything you say he "has to to do" he has done it all season. Get off the guys back and give him some props
2 months ago
What the hell is wrong with you? You start off saying,
"I am not Kobe's biggest supporter, if I support him at all. But I do know a good talent when I see it. No matter my personal feelings towards the All-Star, I can never doubt his talents on the court"
Then proceed to completely contradict yourself??????????? Call me crazy but that might not be the best way to prove a point??????? Kobe could retire tomorrow and still go down as one of the best ever!!!!! Three rings is Three rings!!!!! Regardless of who he plays with!!!!! To insinuate that those rings mean nothing because he played with Shaq, is just plain STUPID!!!!!!!
2 months ago
"But it's going to take a lot more than jumping over an Aston Martin to solidify his newly acquired title as "Best Basketball Player in the World.”"
you're crazy to think people actually believe he's the best player in the world off of some stupid commercial. people know he's the best player by watching him play, not watching a commercial. stop putting words into the public's mouth.
"Many in the City of Angels wonder if he can truly win an NBA Championship on his own."
On his own? Wake me up when a player has won a championship on his own. Jordan certainly didn't. Magic didn't. Bird didn't. Shaq didn't. Duncan didn't. People need to stop putting this impossible expectation on kobe and kobe only in order to bring him down. that's like
"In order to officially seal his role as "The Greatest in the World," he will have to do what Bird, Isaiah, MJ, and even Tim Duncan have done several times over: Win the championship on his own. Like all the legends (and future legends) named above, Kobe has the supporting cast to get things done."
if your first reference to this idea above is ludicrous on its own, this one is ludicrous and senseless. you try again, and this time not only do you impose the same impossible expectation that no one can fulfill, you 1) make an incorrect statement about these greats winning rings on their own and 2) contradict your own incorrect statement by saying they had the supporting cast to get it done. let me repeat myself again: no one wins a ring by himself. a great player and great team wins them.
"Kobe may have three rings already, but I think he would like to show just how good he is without the Diesel in the postseason."
i already proved above that a single person can't win a ring no matter how talented you are (like jordan). but let's continue this a bit: i'd like shaq to show how many rings he would have without kobe. shaq has had the good fortune to play with two talented guards (penny and wade) and one of the best guards in history (kobe), and now shaq has pulled some strings (again) to get himself to a loaded phoenix suns. shaq without a good team is nothing, and this principle applies to everyone, including kobe and jordan. kobe might not have 3 rings without shaq, but shaq certainly wouldn't have 3 of his 4 rings without kobe (and his 4th without wade+refs).
it's sad how you tried to make an insightful article, but failed to even make one logical point.
2 months ago
the question isn't how badly kobe wants it. thats never been the question, kobe wants it more than any player on the planet, the question is if this team can sustain a high level of play and cohesiveness for an entire playoff run
2 months ago
i don't know how this got cut off from my previous comment but the 4th paragraph should end:
that's like saying martin luther king doesn't deserve a nobel peace prize because he himself, singlehandedly, was not able to end racism in america.
2 months ago
wow this is one of the most ignorant articles I've ever read!
You don't understand Kobe at all!
Since when does he feel pressure?
Wow you're an idiot
Plus Kobe and his teammates are going to win the championship not just him
The reason they're so good is because of the pleothera of talent on the team.
God man this is really a very bad article
2 months ago
"The question is how badly Kobe wants it and if he is willing to make the sacrifices that are necessary to become champion once again."
That is NOT THE QUESTION. Those are not in doubt.
The question is whether the Lakers can execute their offensive and defensive plans against the best of teams.
I don't think many people doubt Kobe's desire and his "willingness to sacrifice" has been proven this regular season.
2 months ago
if you're going to write an anti-kobe article, at least make it intelligent- i don't mind those. yours was just horrendous.
2 months ago
Please tell me this article was written in jest. Or that you suffered some recent head trauma. Perhaps you decided logic has no place in credible journalism? Or were you simply trying to embarrass yourself? If so, job well done!
But in all fairness, this article hosts a wealth of valid points. For instance, I once thought (in my naivety) that Kobe Bryant is viewed as a great basketball player because of what he does on the court, but now I realize it's his ability to jump over an Aston Martin that's brought him recognition as 'the greatest basketball player in the world.' And I've got to say, it's pretty pathetic the way Kobe has yet to single-handedly win a championship. MJ didn't let a slouch like Scottie Pippen stand in his way. Duncan dominates despite scrubs like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli hogging the spotlight. What's Kobe's problem? Where's the passion?! I guess he's just too distracted by that surgery-requiring injury he selfishly continues to play through.
Personally, I agree with the author: since Kobe won championships alongside Shaq, those rings mean nothing. And since said author also asserts that winning a championship requires a solid supporting cast, neither do his words.
2 months ago
Uh...thanks. I guess.
2 months ago
His title of "Best Basketball Player in the World" is not newly acquired. For me that title was solidified in the 2005-06 season. Kobe accomplished something that has never and will never be done again. He outscored an entire team by himself after three quarters. Any not just any team. It was the 60 win, eventual Western Conference champs Dallas Mavericks.
2 months ago
kobe deserves to be mvp
2 months ago
"Uh...thanks. I guess."
hahaha do you even get the satire ron?
this article obviously shows ron's living in his own hate-kobe-world where he can make up facts and illogical expectations. hahahaha
2 months ago
funny thing here ,I came to read an article after some stupid ass comment you left on another article about anonymous comments! you only responded to anonymous who you thought agreed with you..... hhhhmmmmmmmmm very interesting!!!!!!!!!!! when are you gonna stop bitching about anonymous and just write an article that can hold its ground???????
2 months ago
I would say the day kobe wins an nba title with out all of his detractors talking about how shaq had something to do with it then there would be no reason for arguing rather he i struly up there with one of the best of them!
2 months ago
I don't think motivation is an issue with Kobe. He wants it BAD. He wants to shove a new shiny trophy up the "Big Cactus'" butt. And I think he has always been tops in conditioning and and on-court desire. And if there's anything he's proven, it's that he's AWESOME under pressure. No doubt that he is a hall-of-famer were he to retire today. That said, the question with Kobe was whether or not he really elevated the play of his teammates. With talent around him now, he can put these doubts to rest with a deep playoff run. I do think the Lakers come up short this year though. Getting through the West is going to be a chore and either presumed winner in the East (Detroit or Boston) match up well against the Lakers. With a cohesive unit that's played together a bit longer, I think next year is his year.
2 months ago
Well put, Daniel. Well put.
2 months ago
you do realize, ron, that daniel's comment isn't even fundamentally agreeing with your "article"? and yet you once again think it's somehow aligned with your opinions of kobe? your reading comprehension and writing skills are highly suspect, not to mention your lack of analytical abilities.
from 2 months ago
LOL
yea dude get a life quit hating
EVERYBODY READ MY ARTICLES THEY'RE GOOD
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