Kobe Bryant: 10 Players Poised To Take His Throne
At 32 years of age, Kobe Bryant is still at the top of his game.
His Los Angeles Lakers are well ahead of the competition in the Pacific Division and are in hot pursuit of the San Antonio Spurs for the top seed in the West on the way to rounding out yet another three-peat.
Meanwhile, the 14-year veteran, despite playing just over 33 minutes per game, is still putting up 25.2 points per game–fifth-best in the NBA–along with 5.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists.
Some career twilight, eh?
That being said, Kobe has a ton of wear and tear on his body, having reached the NBA Finals in half of his seasons as a professional, including each of the last three.
Furthermore, No. 24 recently admitted that his knees are practically devoid of cartilage at this point, which means that his time at the top of the basketball world truly is ticking down.
Of course, once Kobe has vacated the summit, there will be plenty of fantastic candidates poised to take his place at the zenith of the NBA.
With that in mind, let's have a look at 10 current players primed to (attempt to) fill Kobe's shoes, both as the best Laker, best shooting guard and best player overall in the NBA.
LeBron James, Miami Heat
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What better person with whom to discuss Kobe's replacement than LeBron James?
The two have been locked in the "Best Player in the NBA" debate for three or four years now.
Some favor LeBron as the best, with two consecutive MVPs to his credit, along with his advantage in youth, health and pure beastliness.
Others still think Kobe, with five rings, an MVP of his own and an offensive arsenal that is unparalleled in the game today, is the best in basketball.
Either way, Kobe won't be around forever, which means that this debate will swing in the King's favor sooner or later.
And with a championship-caliber squad by his side, James has a group that can support and enhance his greatness once he reaches the very top.
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
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Then again, LeBron could have competition for Kobe's throne on his very own team.
Dwyane Wade is, along with Kobe and James, among a handful of transcendent players in the game today, and already has a ring and an NBA Finals MVP award to boot.
That being said, Wade is lacking in two important areas that he'll be able to catch up in–health and age. At 29 years old and with a history of in-season injuries, D-Wade may not have the time nor the physical efficacy to truly ascend into Kobe's position at the top of basketball.
However, Wade still has the potential to take over as the league's best shooting guard once the Black Mamba bites the NBA dust.
Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
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No talk of great players from the 2003 NBA Draft would be complete without at least mentioning Carmelo Anthony.
'Melo has been all over the headlines recently, with protracted trade talks between the Denver Nuggets and the New Jersey Nets finally coming to a halt per the request of owner and Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov on Wednesday...for now.
As great a scorer as Anthony is, though, he isn't nearly the transcendent talent that Kobe is, nor does he really have the star power and play-making ability to pull ahead of his draft classmates.
Even if he ends up in New York with Amar'e Stoudemire and the Knicks.
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
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In fact, 'Melo isn't even the best candidate for Kobe's throne in his own division.
Several games ahead in the standings of Anthony's Nuggets, Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder are on a roll through the Western Conference, with their sights set on a top-three seed.
In just his fourth year, Durant has already thrust himself into the "Best Player" conversation, as he became the youngest player in NBA history to lead the league in scoring, with an average of 30.1 points per game at the tender age of 21.
As of right now, "the Durant-ula" looks poised to pull off the feat again while putting his best foot forward into MVP consideration, scoring 28.4 points, pulling down 6.2 rebounds and dropping 2.9 dimes per contest thus far through the 2010-2011 season.
And, remember, the kid's only 22, so he's got plenty of time to get even better.
Yikes!
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
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But is it possible that Durant could only be the second-best player on his own team?
Sure, if Russell Westbrook has anything to say about it.
Westbrook is one of several perfect exemplars of the new breed of NBA point guard: a big, lightning-quick, hyper-athletic guard who can score and dish with equal ease.
As good as Durant has been for Scott Brooks' squad this season, Westy may very well be the team's MVP, with OKC highs of 8.4 assists and 1.9 steals per game to go along with his 22.4 points and 5.1 rebounds.
Like his more heralded teammate, Westbrook is a late bloomer whose full potential has yet to be actualized, making him something of a dark horse to someday claim Kobe's mantle.
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
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Another player who falls perfectly well into Westbrook's class, if not into the spot at the head of it, is Derrick Rose.
Amidst injuries to Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer, the Bulls lead guard has garnered plenty of MVP consideration for not only keeping Chicago afloat in the East, but also keeping his team among the conference's top three teams.
As far as "Kobe" potential is concerned, Rose, in just his third year, has plenty of room to grow, and has done so in each of his pro seasons.
Rose's numbers are up in just about every category this season–points, assists, rebounds, steals and three-point percentage–as he has fully assumed the duties inherent in the role of franchise player for the Chicago Bulls.
If D-Rose ever has his name mentioned alongside that of Michael Jordan as Kobe Bryant does, then it will be clear that Rose has risen to Kobe's level.
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
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Clearly, the 2008 NBA Draft is shaping up to be one of the all-time best, and we haven't even made mention of perhaps its best player–Kevin Love.
Make no mistake, the Minnesota Timberwolves big man was very good in each of his first two seasons in the NBA, nearly averaging a double-double before his 22nd birthday.
However, this season, with Al Jefferson off to Utah and T'wolves coach Kurt Rambis finally giving him the damn ball, K-Love has elevated his game to an entirely different level.
Though not particularly athletic, Love has showcased his superior skill and savvy on the basketball court thus far through the 2010-2011 season by leading his team in scoring, at 21.2 points per game, and the entire league in rebounding, with a ridiculous 15.7 rebounds per contest.
And that's not even including his fantastic free throw (87.3%) and three-point (44.4%) shooting percentages.
In just his third season in the NBA, Kevin Love may be the most skilled big man this side of Pau Gasol, if not the best overall power forward the game has to offer.
Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers
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Speaking of Pau, he has two Kobe-related roles to possibly fill: those of best Laker and best player overall.
Statistically speaking, Gasol may not be the best fit for the job, though averages of 18.5 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.0 blocks per game ain't too shabby.
Realistically, Pau, at 30 years of age, will be on the tail end of his prime by the time Kobe, willingly or not, relinquishes his claim to the throne.
However, at that point, the Lakers will likely look to Gasol to carry the Lakers from that point on, as Kobe's knees won't be able to bear the burden of expectations in LA quite like they used to.
Shannon Brown, Los Angeles Lakers
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Okay, so maybe Shannon Brown isn't a realistic candidate to be the best player in the NBA, but he could very well fill the void at shooting guard in LA that Kobe will inevitably leave behind.
The 6'4", 210-pound combo guard has the size, skills and athleticism to step in and be a star once Kobe calls it quits at the Staples Center.
Brown's numbers–9.9 points and 2.2 rebounds in just under 19 minutes per game off the bench–may not scream "Kobe filler," but watch this kid play and you'll see that, given the proper opportunity, he can and will be an All-Star in LA.
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
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Now, if you're looking for someone to not just humbly accept Kobe Bryant's crown, but snatch and dunk it in the sickest way possible, you need not look very far from the Black Mamba's current stomping grounds.
In fact, saunter just across the hall and you'll find Blake Griffin.
There are just so many adjectives that can be used to describe Griffin, in just his first full NBA season, and none of them would do this kid justice.
It's not every year that a rookie goes ahead and averages 22.5 points, 12.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists while almost single-handedly reviving one of the most moribund franchises the league has to offer.
Nope, not even LeBron James.
At just 21 years of age, Griffin is still incredibly raw, but has done plenty to suggest that, given another few years, he may be the one left standing atop the mountain that Kobe spent years climbing.
Yes, folks, Blake Griffin is that good.
