[For_Never_EverParticipant]

Kobe is in the Legacy stage of his career. If the Lakers get swept how will this affect it ?

[frogmanParticipant]

 Not in the slightest

[NickWayne87Participant]

 his legacy was set in stone TWO TITTLES ago……….

[KayjayParticipant]

Why does everyone get a hard on just to see the best players in the world fail? Kobe and Lebron’s situations are no different. I hate Kobe more than anything, but the guy is clearly gassed. Just like how Melo was taking the full brunt of the offensive load after the Heat made him a high volume shooter, its hard to carry the team and then close out for them too. Kobe needs help, yes his mistakes were bone headed turn overs. But how many times can you say you’ve seen Kobe get his shot blocked? He’s tired, and his legacy is still his legacy. I don’t give a damn if he gets swept for the next three years. Nobody will ever take away what he’s accomplished.

[omphalosParticipant]

I think Kobe was too eager to prove he was healthy in the regular season and he’s paying for it now. All those minutes in a lockout season is madness for a player with that much mileage.

[BrentSuriaga01Participant]

I think anyone should nobody should judge his legacy here. We aren’t basketball pro. The only thing who could judge him is the players on court. Bruce Bowen, Shane Battier, Raja Bell or even Matt Barnes are good examples. By the way,  this whole debate is a piece of crap.

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

 he will go down as a glorified version of Scottie Pippen! (except pippen won 6 rings riding on coat tails, and the time Jordon was gone he was 2nd in votes for mvp, while between Shaq, and Gasol, Kobe actually had a losing record)

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Kobe’s record after Shaq was traded and before Gasol was brought in: 157-141 (52.6%). It may not be a great record, but it certainly was not a losing record. He was also carrying teams that had little to no business winning basketball games, besides of course having the best basketball player in the world playing for them.

Scottie may have come in 3rd in MVP voting in 1993-94, but also remember he was with the same relative team, subtract Michael add Toni Kukoc. Kobe lost every starter on his team besides Devean freaking George. Than, the very next year, he more than likely should have won MVP after averaging 35.4 ppg and carrying his team to the play-offs (and a near upset of #2 ranked Phoenix). He came in 4th in a freaking travesty.

To me, Kobe’s legacy is already built. He has been one of the best players in the league for nearly 12 years, not to mention was an All-Star even before than. Shaq may have been the best player on there three championship teams, but he needed a great deal of Kobe’s help during that time, carrying teams that were not exactly stacked. After Shaq left, Kobe just got even better and I think he is one of the more complete players of All-Time.

The reason people compare Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant is due to them both having very few weaknesses as All-Around players. No shot that Kobe makes surprises me anymore, the degree of difficulty on some of his shots are unparalleled. To me, Kobe’s legacy is set and I find him to be the closest competitor to Michael Jordan based on his league standing and accomplishment as a player.

People disagree with this and look at him playing with Shaq, but he is an incredibly special player who I believe is slept on at the All-Time level. He is nearing 30,000 points and nearing his mid-thirties is still one of the top 5 players in the league in my mind. At the least he is top 10. This longevity is incredibly rare and even if you hate Kobe Bryant, his game is something should be studied and mimiced by countless players to improve. That is the way I see it. Legacy’s tend to be added to in my mind, not detracted from by things later in ones career.

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