Kobe Bryant: 5 Reasons You Will Miss Him When He's Gone

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has been the subject of praise, ridicule, adoration and scorn, but sometime during the next few seasons the most polarizing player the sport has ever seen will finally hang up his sneakers and call it a career.

Whether you like Bryant or not, there will certainly be a void once he bids adieu to the NBA.

Lakers fans will most likely be more concerned with who will be the standard-carrier for the franchise once Bryant leaves, while Bryant's many critics will be forced to find a new favorite player to despise.

Bryant has definitely impacted the game during his time in the league, and he will missed by fans and critics alike, but the reasons will likely vary depending on how Bryant has touched you individually.

I have compiled a list of the top five reasons Bryant will be missed once he retires, and most of the examples are sure to spark discussion long after Bryant has played his last NBA minute.

I welcome any readers to offer your own reasons as to why you think Bryant may be missed once he does retire, and I alternately suspect that there are a few of you out there who feel like Bryant can't retire quickly enough.

Please enjoy!

5. Guess Who Holds the NBA's Record for Most Made Three Point Baskets in a Game?

Bryant actually shares this record with former NBA journeyman Donyell Marshall, but unlike Marshall three-point shooting was not the biggest part of his game.

Of course, Bryant's 12-18 performance from behind the arc against the Seattle Sonics will be dismissed by some as an extremely lucky shooting performance from the field, but think about it for a second.

There have been plenty of long distance NBA sharp-shooters during Bryant's time in the league, and he has competed against two of the very best of them in Boston's Ray Allen and former Indiana guard Reggie Miller.

Those two great perimeter players have hit more three point shots than any other players in NBA history, but neither was able to equal Bryant's record in a single game.

The record stands as a testament to the diversity of Bryant's skills, and while he will never be remembered as a great three-point shooter, he was still able to leave a lasting mark in that category.

4. Say Goodbye to One of the Most Clutch Players in NBA History

Everyone seems to have their own idea as to what a clutch player is, and most of Kobe's critics go out of their way to prove that Bryant is anything but a clutch player, but in the process they're actually proving his case.

Kobe's detractors use websites like 82games.com, which says that Bryant has missed more game-winning shots than he has made, and when calculated Bryant has only connected on one quarter of his shots in those situations.

Only one quarter?

I'm sure some Kobe fans would make you think Bryant is at least 80 percent under those circumstances, but in truth 25 percent is not that bad when you consider that Bryant has also attempted more game-winning or tying shots than any other player in NBA history.

And unofficially Bryant has also connected on more of those shots than any other player, which may be beside the point.

It takes a special type of player to handle the responsibility of equally garnering the praise or playing the goat under a late game pretense, and Bryant has handled that burden with grace throughout his career.

Offer me all the statistics you like to counter the claim that Bryant is a clutch player. While you are doing research, I will just watch Bryant uphold his reputation on the court.

3. When Was the Last Time You Saw Anyone Score 81 Points in a Game?

I know Kobe's 81-point game against the Toronto Raptors is not an NBA record, but I would be willing to bet that it's the highest scoring single game performance that most people reading this article have ever seen.

And unlike Wilt Chamberlain's 100 point feat, you can relive Kobe's historical night anytime you want on YouTube.

Thanks to ESPN and other media platforms, people were able to witness Bryant's offensive explosion in real time, and regardless of how you feel about it, his 81 points were like a video game brought to life.

Bryant set the new scoring standard with his achievement, and although the NBA has a few pretty impressive offensive players right now, it has become a struggle to even register a 50-point game.

The merits and importance of Bryant's game will be debated for many years to come, but in the end the only performance that is worthy of comparison is one that nobody has ever seen.

2. Kobe May Not Be Jordan, but He's the Next Best Thing

I have come to the conclusion that Bryant's true greatness will not be fully appreciated until after he retires, because how else would you explain the intense rush to devalue everything Bryant has accomplished to this point?

Bryant has scored more points than any other active player, he has more NBA championships than any other star player in this decade, and he will likely retire as the most accomplished player in the history of the NBA's most illustrious franchise.

Throw in Bryant's two Finals' MVP's, his one league MVP and the numerous other accolades earned throughout his career and you have the makings of a legendary player. Or you would if it was anyone but Bryant sporting those numbers.

Be honest. If those statistics were put forth and you didn't know who the numbers belonged to you would immediately think it was a top 5 all-time player.

Maybe Bryant will never reach breach that historical threshold but he certainly deserves a place in the conversation. But more importantly, he has carved out his own NBA legacy.

Bryant has emerged from the shadow of Michael Jordan, and while he may never be a better player than His Airness, he is certainly the best and most accomplished player that has roamed the court since.

1. Who Will You Hate Now?

Kobe's detractors have spent a great deal of energy attempting to deconstruct his legacy, but once Bryant leaves the game, who will be the focus of their venom?

Miami Heat forward LeBron James has done a pretty good job of stoking the public's ire, but before James can rightfully claim Bryant's throne of disdain, the premature king has to earn his crown.

James has supplanted Bryant as the NBA's top player, but that's only half the equation since you also have to consistently win in the postseason to be truly hated.

It's one thing to be the NBA's top player, but to back it up by winning on the game's grandest stage is truly icing on the cake.

Like James Bryant was and is a great player without the rings, but the titles certify his superstar status, and they help elevate Bryant into the court of NBA royalty.

I am familiar with the argument that NBA titles are more a sign of team success than individual, and to a certain extent I agree. It just seems like anytime the the debate is brought up and it includes Bryant, he always owns more championships than his counterpoint in the conversation.