The Black Mamba faces his biggest challenge ever… and he's ready for it!

Everyone in America is talking about Lebron James’s decision to join the Miami Heat and fellow superstar Dwyane Wade and everyone has their opinion on this unprecedented situation: some think Lebron has made the right choice by joining a team that will allow him to fight for NBA titles for several years and build a dynasty; Cleveland fans, who used to worship him like a God, now hate him (and are burning his shirts in rage) for turning his back on a city that has always loved him and a team that was built around him; finally, some fans and experts (actually many) consider that Lebron James has chosen the easiest path to victory by teaming up with two other superstars (Wade and Bosh) and that, even if he does succeed, this move will have hurt his legacy forever, making it impossible for him to reach Jordan-like status (or even Bird, Magic, or any of the all-time greatest). As far as I’m concerned, only time will tell exactly what will happen to Lebron’s legacy. Still, I’m personally more inclined to agree that this move will ultimately put an asterisk next to Lebron’s legacy (even if he wins many rings – which is not a done deal – D-Wade will always have one more and, in people’s minds, there will always be the conviction that Lebron could only win with Wade’s – and Bosh’s – help). However, there’s another implication this move will have: where some people see the beginning of a dynasty for the Miami Heat, I see a golden, once in a lifetime, opportunity for Kobe Bryant (arguably the best basketball player in the world) to take his legacy to a whole new level and establish himself as the best basketball player in history.

   First of all, let me make one thing pretty clear: Kobe Bryant is, beyond any doubt, the current best player in the world. Kobe-Lebron comparisons just make no sense: Kobe has 5 titles, Lebron has none; an aging and injury-plagued Kobe still managed to lead his team to back-to-back NBA titles while a young and healthy Lebron couldn’t even take Cleveland to the Finals in the (much) weaker Eastern Conference. Besides, Kobe’s career includes such highlights as the 81 points against the Raptors and an endless count of buzz-beaters and game-winning shots. I could keep on stating all the reasons why Kobe is currently the undisputed king of the NBA, but there’s just no point; only unrealistic Lebron fans think the contrary.

   By winning his fifth NBA title last season, Kobe is only one ring away from equaling his Airness, Michael Jordan. But this season, he will have his work cut out for him: the second and third best player in the world (at least, according to the general opinion) have joined forces in an attempt to dethrone the LA Lakers and Kobe Bryant. Some would say it’s all over for Kobe: an aging Bryant can’t compete against two young superstars in their prime. In my opinion, though, this is exactly the kind of challenge the Black Mamba loves and he will rise to the occasion. Kobe has always loved a challenge and he must have started salivating when he heard the news of James joining the Heat. And he has every reason to do so! If the Lakers and the Heat meet in the Finals and Kobe manages to lead his team to victory, not only will he have equaled Michael Jordan but he will have done something MJ never did: beating a team with three superstars on their roster, a challenge the likes of which Jordan has never faced. If he succeeds, he will go from being one of the all-time greats (which he already is) to being, in many people’s minds – including my own - , the greatest of them all (or, at least, in the same level as Jordan). Besides, it’s a situation in which Kobe has nothing to lose; if he wins, he’ll achieve basketball immortality; if he happens to lose, it will not hurt his legacy in any way: it will be considered natural by everyone if he loses against three younger superstars. But he knows that this is the chance he has been waiting for his entire basketball career (the chance to prove he has what it takes to be the best) and you can bet that the most cold-blooded finisher in the NBA will be more motivated and determined to win than ever in the 2010/2011 season. Wade and James had better watch out because the Black Mamba will take no prisoners!