Chris CrockettKobe Bryant Is No GLOAT...The Magic Man Clearly Still Holds That Prestigious Title
June 22nd 2010 13:00
I won't lie, that Game 7 result still stings to say the least, but I've come to the conclusion that the Celtics were in fact beaten by the better team here in this 2009-10 NBA season. It was a great run by the Green but they came up a little short. There's no shame in that at all, especially when considering most people left them for dead prior to the start of the postseason.
In the aftermath of the Lakers victory I have been hearing grumblings of Kobe Bryant---now with his fifth ring---being considered the GLOAT (Greatest Laker Of All Time). I can not disagree any more strongly. Kobe is no GLOAT.
The GLOAT was and remains, the Magic Man, Earvin "Magic" Johnson & here is why... (Oh, and don't argue with me, it's no fun being wrong. Just agree and know what it feels like to be right on this fine Tuesday morning.)
**Magic Johnson was a 6 foot, 9 inch, magician. He revolutionized the position of point guard with his exceptional ball handling skills and court vision. I mean, Magic Johnson is two inches TALLER than Celtics future Hall of Famer, SMALL FORWARD, Paul Pierce. Think of it that way for a second. It's truly amazing what this man did with the basketball at his size. Amazing. There was nobody like Magic Johnson at the point guard position, pre-Magic, during Magic, or post-Magic. Period.
**Kobe Bryant is a 6 foot 6 inch, wingman. Wingmen are a dime a dozen my friends. Yes, he is the second best wingman in the history of the NBA, but think of all the greats at the position who were of the same size and ilk as Kobe. You had Oscar Robertson, Pistol Pete Maravich, Clyde Drexler and the best of all time, Michael Jordan. Today, you have King James. "Oh but he hasn't won anything!!" Yeah, neither had Jordan until his seventh year in the league, people. Relax with that crapola, please. LeBron's time will come.
**Magic never really had what we refer to as a running mate or a bona fide #2 during that great Laker era. Kareem? Still was a fantastic player, but wasn't in his prime any longer. Magic was the man on all of those Lakers teams. Kobe Bryant won his first three NBA Championships as the NUMBER TWO. Shaquille O'Neal was the unanimous NUMBER ONE. Shaq was Finals MVP all three times.
**Magic Johnson's Lakers won championships against basketball greats in their primes. Dr. J (two times), Larry Bird (two times), and Isaiah "kiss me softly" Thomas. These guys were no strangers to winning titles.
**The closest Kobe has come to beating a "great" team was this year, and we all know that the Celtics of '09-10 were not a great team. A very good team? Yes. Great? No. Great two years ago when they beat Bryant's Lakers? Yes. Bryant's other titles have come against Orlando, Indiana, Philly, and New Jersey. A few great individuals on those teams, such as Reggie Miller & Allen Iverson, but no great teams.
**Magic Johnson started at CENTER---as a rookie--- in Game 6 of the NBA Finals (my favorite Magic nugget of all time). A point guard who started at center and poured in 42 goddamn points, ripped down 15 rebounds and had 8 assists. Excuse me??? Ridiculous.
**Kobe Bryant is one of the best ballplayers I've ever had the pleasure of watching in my 34 years on this planet. He is the second best two-guard of all time (Jordan #1). He has five titles, which do not tell the whole story. Dennis Rodman had more titles than Larry Bird. Was he a better basketball player? Titles count but they aren't the "end all" when comparing players. Magic Johnson revolutionized the point guard position and (along with Bird) resuscitated a dead ass NBA product when he hit the scene, which is no small accomplishment in itself.
Magic Johnson, my good friends, is the GLOAT.
Chuck
~TCFB~
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Comment by 5280
He may be the greatest Laker of all time but still not the greatest point guard. For the two main stats that define the position, it is still John Stockton by a country mile and he had a supporting cast of 1 his entire career. A hall of famer 1 but let's not start talking about the considerable basketball skills of Mark - Villagers Chase With Pitchforks - Excuse the Bolts in His Neck - Eaton.
I think the more encompassing and topical acronym to explore here is who is the greatest GLACOAT.
Comment by Chuck H
TCFB
Comment by Chuck H
TCFB
Comment by Chuck H
TCFB
Comment by 5280
A better all around basketball player, definitely. Numbers don't lie however.
John Stockton has 5665 more assists and 1541 more steals. Doc Rivers barely has more steals in his entire career than the difference in steals between Stockton and Johnson.
It may come down to semantics and definitions so I can understand that you view the one guard position differently that an old dude like me. I know that the game has changed significantly because of Magic and Jordan and thusly these roles are not as applicable since they came along. I just don't think that you can redefine a role until that role truly no longer exists. There are still true point guards out there and true centers. Not many and teams do as more and more become an amalgam of greater size with the ability to dribble and shoot.
Most say the game is more exciting and better with more scoring and dunks and highlight films so this is just one old dude's opinion that a part of the game is lost when ever player is interchangeable with another.
So thanks for your indulgence. I need to go get a hip replacement and argue about coupons at the grocery store now.
Comment by Joe Soriano
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Comment by 5280