Kobe Bryant: 5 Reasons He's Still the Best in the League
Kobe Bryant is getting old. There is no doubt about that.
But recently, there's speculation that Kobe Bryant isn't the greatest in the game anymore.
People are always talking about how Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, or even Derrick Rose are better. I'm here to put a stop to this argument.
I may not be the biggest Kobe supporter (trust me, I am not a fan at all) but I know talent when I see it, and no one on the face of the Earth who is still playing has the skills that he does.
Defense
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There's a reason Kobe's an All-Defensive First Team player year in and year out.
He deserves all the awards he has received. Kobe and Rajon Rondo are the only real on-ball defenders from last year's Defensive First Team.
Lebron James, Gerald Wallace, and Dwight Howard are mostly off-ball defenders, preferring to play the passing lanes, or coming in from the weak side to block shots.
Kobe gets in his opponent's face. He trash talks and gets in their heads too.
Kobe backs up the talk by locking down his man every time down the court.
He never takes a break on the defensive end, which is why he is one of the league's best defenders.
Mid Range Shot
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We've seen it time and time again. Kobe gets the ball at the top of the key, he blows by his defender, and pulls up like there's nothing to it to hit a jumper right in his opponents face.
How many drifters have you seen him make with two guys smothering him on defense, and just stared at the TV yelling "LUCKY!".
Well with Kobe, none of it is really luck.
He has mastered the art of the mid-range jumper to a point where the only person in the history of the game with a prettier shot from that distance is none other than Michael Jordan.
His shot also extends out to the three point line, where he may have his inconsistencies, but when Kobe's hot, nothing can stop him.
Newfound Trust in Teammates
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Something Kobe has worked on in the past few years is his team work.
Gone are the days where he is labeled the world's biggest ball hog.
Ever since Pau Gasol joined the squad three years ago, he has been willing to give up the ball all of a sudden.
Kobe knows his team's tendencies, strengths and weaknesses.
He can find Lamar Odom for an alley, give it to Pau Gasol right on the low block to back down his defender, or dish it to one of the many three point threats on the roster.
It's helping his team win, as evidenced by the team's losing record when Kobe shoots more than 20 shots.
When he passes effectively, the Lakers are close to unbeatable.
Leadership
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Kobe has the swag in his game, and the skill to back it up, to be considered one of the greatest leaders in the game today.
He knows when he needs to take over, and does it like no one else can.
He knows what it takes to win and is always calling out his team's effort, making sure they know that winning is all Kobe cares about.
He's become a positive influence, and his work ethic has rubbed off on Kobe's teammates, none more than Shannon Brown.
Kobe has the confidence and poise to do anything he needs to do to win.
Assassin's Instincts
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The picture to the left is one of the most popular pictures of Kobe Bryant, ever.
It was taken after one of many countless buzzer beaters.
He owns the fourth quarter, and he does what he does best in crunch time.
Kobe is near unstoppable when the game is on the line and he shows up to play in the last few minutes.
Trust me, I know. Just watch the fourth quarter of their last two meetings with the Blazers.
His team trusts him, and everyone knows that Kobe will deliver when it matters the most.
It's in his blood to win, and Kobe can light it up when he wants to to get the win.
