nba la lakers

nba la lakers

He took the metropolis by storm, answered politely phrased sensitive questions magnanimously, and touched the hearts of children.
Kobe Bryant has evolved from a prodigious teen-ager into one of the most accomplished players in the history of the NBA. But what is the All-Star's place in the echelon of the Los Angeles Lakers ? Where does he stand among the all-time greats of the league's most glamorous franchise ?
To be fair, Bryant would be among the very best of the elite list of champions the Hollywood team has produced. Eight Lakers are among the NBA's 50 greatest players of all time. Sixteen players and three coaches are in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Seven players have had their numbers raised to the rafters, never to be used by any other Laker. Would Kobe be the best of them all, the best at his position, or merely the best of his generation ?
The Lakers were the NBA's first dynasty, having won titles in 1949 to 1950 and from 1952 to 1954. They have an NBA-record 28 Finals appearances. Given that long, rich history, where would Bryant rank ? Here is this writer's humble opinion.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Perhaps the greatest NBA player of all time, and definitely its most enduring and outstanding center. Six titles (one with Milwaukee, five with Los Angeles), five MVP awards, 19 NBA All-Star Game appearances. Pat Riley, who coached Abdul-Jabbar for eight seasons, says, "When a man has broken records, won championships, endured tremendous criticism and responsibility, why judge ?
Let's toast him as the greatest player ever." True enough, nobody left the game with more records set or broken.
Magic Johnson. Charisma personified; the man whose megawatt smile drew millions to Laker games throughout his career. His rivalry with Larry Bird riveted the league's fans. A nine-time member of the All-NBA First Team and a 12-time All-Star, Johnson was a member of five champion teams. One of the leaders of the original Dream Team that won an Olympic gold medal, Johnson set the league's all-time assists mark, and still holds several franchise records in assists and steals.
Wilt Chamberlain. The epitome of individual achievement. Although he only won two titles (steering LA to the 1972 championship), Chamberlain adjusted his game to the needs of his team. When you factor in all the Finals Game 7s he lost with the Lakers through no fault of his own, he would have probably finished with four or five titles. Watering down his place on this list is the fact that he played for the Philadelphia Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and even the Harlem Globetrotters and San Diego Conquistadors of the ABA.
Jerry West. Mr. Clutch. The logo. The standard for guard play for generations, and a 10-time All-NBA First Team member and a four-time All-Defensive Team member. West won a title in 1972, but lost several Finals series, as well. What sets West apart from other players on this list is his being the only player to be hailed Finals MVP from a losing team. We're not even going to discuss his achievements as a basketball executive.
George Mikan. Imagine being the standard-bearer for an era when there are no standards, registering record numbers in statistical categories that aren't even being kept. George Mikan's achievements are partially diminished by the fact that he played at a time when there was no television coverage, and he was so far above the rest of the field. Mikan won seven NBL, ABA and NBA championships, was part of the first four NBA All-Star Teams and 1953 All-Star Game MVP. He has been part of every list of all-time NBA teams. More significantly, Mikan was hailed Greatest Player of the First Half-Century in 1950, and has been credited the inventor of the shot block.
Kobe Bryant. Without a doubt, Bryant is the greatest Laker of his generation, and may already be considered at least the third-best Laker guard of all time (definitely behind Magic, but possibly at par with West. He is a five-time member of All-NBA First Team and all-NBA Defensive Team. He already holds some key Laker records, from single-game scoring (81 points) to single-season scoring. He won three titles with Shaquille O'Neal, and only needs to win a title without Shaq to move further up on this list. In terms of global popularity and accomplishments, Bryant is aided by the explosion of mass media that similarly catapulted Magic to international fame. The question now is what he can do next.
There are many other players who would be on this list, some of them, in the opinion of others, could probably supplant some of the names I listed above. Elgin Baylor, for example, bridges the Minneapolis and Los Angeles eras, and was a prolific contemporary of West who was on the All-NBA First Team ten times from 1959 to 1969. James Worthy is among the league's 50 greatest players, and was a vital member of the Showtime era Lakers. Michael Cooper was an All-Star and backcourt complement to Magic, and the only defensive player Larry Bird feared. Shaquille O'Neal brought LA three titles until moving to the Miami Heat. Jim Pollard and Gail Goodrich have also been on the All-NBA First Team. But whereas they are all halted by retirement, Kobe Bryant, should he stay with the Lakers for the rest of his career, may even supplant all the players listed above him.

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