Magic, Michael Jordan's Words Prove Kobe Bryant Is Last of a Dying Breed

I'm 34 years old, but when it comes to discussing the different tastes my children and I have in hip-hop music, I feel much, much older, and the disconnect between us can be frustrating at times.

I came of age during a time when artists like Nas, the Notorious B.I.G., and Tupac ruled the airwaves and the public conscience of anyone who truly loved hip-hop.

The message those artists conveyed in their music resonated in a way that today's artists fail to understand, or simply choose to ignore completely.

Lil' Wayne, Drake, and Soulja Boy are three of my children's favorite hip-hop artists, and although they are very bold in their lyrics, it seems there is very little purpose or substance in their music.

For example, on Drake's song "Forever," he calls himself the greatest rapper of all time, yet his premature proclamation suggests he has no idea of what it really takes to claim that throne.

As I argued this point with my oldest son, a realization dawned, and it suddenly became apparent that I had assumed a role my own parents held when they first ruled out hip-hop music as a bunch of noise with no point.

That lesson stuck in my mind, and it brings me a new perspective on the current situation LeBron James finds himself embroiled in, due to his recent free agent decision.

James is stuck between two different eras of opinion in the NBA, and his choice to join Dwyane Wade has helped usher in a new age, which will probably become the league's new standard.

Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan have drawn equal praise and criticism for comments regarding James' choice, and even though opinions vary wildly on the subject, they are neither right or wrong in their assessment.

Magic's and Jordan's words were made from the perspective of a different generation in the NBA, and their point of view may be one of the reasons Kobe Bryant's image has been elevated in the wake of James' choice.

Bryant was recently named the world's most popular athlete by a Harris interactive poll and the Sporting News, and the groundswell of positive public opinion probably comes from an older generation of NBA fans who are reluctant to transition to the future.

Bryant is an intense student of basketball and his game has an old-school feel. It is no secret Kobe grew up idolizing Jordan, and he was also lucky enough to begin his career while Jordan was still playing the game.

The competitive nature which coursed through Jordan's veins also flows through Bryant's, and his drive to be the NBA's best player on the league's best team is legendary.

Both Magic and Jordan said they would have never teamed with each other in pursuit of an NBA title, and it's hard for me to picture Bryant doing the same because he comes from a similar school of thought.

Bryant is a superstar in this generation, but he has never seemed to fit in with other NBA stars of today, who are much friendlier to their rivals on the court, as well as off it.

Bryant has always been known to keep his distance from teammates unless it involves basketball, much in the same way that Jordan did, because it helps establish leadership on a team.

There are not many players left who have the same attitude and demeanor as Bryant, and although he should be celebrated, it doesn't mean that the decision James made is wrong.

Dallas Mavericks' guard Jason Kidd said that Miami's super team is bad for the NBA, but if attendance increases and more attention is given to the game, does that add up to a bad thing?

As my son so deftly pointed out in his defense of Drake, time is steadily moving on and the things we used to accept as sacred in the NBA are ceasing to exist.

Ten years ago it would have been unthinkable for the best players in the league to combine their efforts in the pursuit of a championship, but James' choice is as much a step into the future as it is an ode to the past.

Already, New Orleans Hornets' point guard Chris Paul has expressed his desire to potentially form a super team of his own, and whether we like it or not, it appears this is the direction the NBA is headed.

Bryant may exist as the last beacon for a generation which is coming to a close in the NBA, and even though the older generation will miss the days of the "warrior players," the evolution of the game is inevitable.