[valentine]

 Rank in Order will have the best career when all is said and done. 

A) Lebron James

B) Kobe Bryant

C) Anthony Davis 

D) Kevin Durant

My Pick in order. LBJ, Durant, Davis, Bryant

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TyroberParticipant]

You think they are all going to have better careers than Kobe? Kobe has five rings. FIVE. I’m not sure what argument you want to use, but I think you’re letting that past couple of years take away from Kobe’s Legacy.

[TyroberParticipant]

You think they are all going to have better careers than Kobe? Kobe has five rings. FIVE. I’m not sure what argument you want to use, but I think you’re letting that past couple of years take away from Kobe’s Legacy.

[Rip255]

Thats cool bro. The reason it’s up for debate is that its close. He’s also 10+ years older and I get the feeling those other guys are gonna win a few rings too. Playing in LA helps too… 

[Rip255]

Thats cool bro. The reason it’s up for debate is that its close. He’s also 10+ years older and I get the feeling those other guys are gonna win a few rings too. Playing in LA helps too… 

[goldie92689Participant]

 Easy on the 5 rings, 2 finals mvps. Shaq would have won the first 3 with any top sg in the league. Kobe is arguably NOT a top 10 all time player. Lebron will be if not all ready, durant will be in the same class with kobe possibly better as a much more efficient player. 

[goldie92689Participant]

 Davis has a very long way to go to be in this discussion. He does not belong in this group maybe until he has won a several playoff series. There is a very long list of PFs in the top 50 that he needs to compare to first. 

[goldie92689Participant]

 Davis has a very long way to go to be in this discussion. He does not belong in this group maybe until he has won a several playoff series. There is a very long list of PFs in the top 50 that he needs to compare to first. 

[strobox88Participant]

Because any top SG in the league could put up those numbers in the playoffs…

[strobox88Participant]

Because any top SG in the league could put up those numbers in the playoffs…

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

Is the above his average for one of the three finals series that we are talking about? And in that series, against the overmatched Sixers, Kobe average nearly 45 minutes per game. So yeah his "per game" averages were incredible. But lets not get carried away. Yes, pretty much any good SG could average something close to those kind of numbers during a good five game run if you gave them enough shots and minutes. 

Kobe was a very good SG in the Shaq years. That is it. Shaq was a dominant force and the Lakers could have won with another good SG playing the place of Kobe. This was Shaq in his prime. These were the years where he was a leading scorer AND lead in FG%. One of those years he scored the most points per game AND did it with the most efficient FG% in the league. Incredible. He was unguardable. 

Don’t put those rings on Kobe the kid. 

[llperez]

 no that was for the whole playoffs. He finished that year with a playoff average of 29.5, 7.3 and 6.1 while shooting 47%. And no, you could not have placed any other sg in kobe’s shoes and still won those 3 rings. He was the best sg in the game at that time, played both ends, finished games down the stretch since they couldnt rely on shaq to hit ft’s or create his own shot consistently.

Plus the rings were actually won all 3 of those years in the western conference finals where the lakers played their toughest comp, the blazers in 2000, the spurs in 2001 and the kings in 2002. And kobe actually outscored shaq in the 2001 and 2002 western finals combined. And look at the close out games in those 3 western finals: game 7 vs portland(kobe 25-11-7), game 4 vs spurs in 2001(kobe: 24-2-11), game 7 vs kings in 2002(kobe 30-10-7)

dont put rings on kobe the kid? Hysterical

[llperez]

 no that was for the whole playoffs. He finished that year with a playoff average of 29.5, 7.3 and 6.1 while shooting 47%. And no, you could not have placed any other sg in kobe’s shoes and still won those 3 rings. He was the best sg in the game at that time, played both ends, finished games down the stretch since they couldnt rely on shaq to hit ft’s or create his own shot consistently.

Plus the rings were actually won all 3 of those years in the western conference finals where the lakers played their toughest comp, the blazers in 2000, the spurs in 2001 and the kings in 2002. And kobe actually outscored shaq in the 2001 and 2002 western finals combined. And look at the close out games in those 3 western finals: game 7 vs portland(kobe 25-11-7), game 4 vs spurs in 2001(kobe: 24-2-11), game 7 vs kings in 2002(kobe 30-10-7)

dont put rings on kobe the kid? Hysterical

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

Is the above his average for one of the three finals series that we are talking about? And in that series, against the overmatched Sixers, Kobe average nearly 45 minutes per game. So yeah his "per game" averages were incredible. But lets not get carried away. Yes, pretty much any good SG could average something close to those kind of numbers during a good five game run if you gave them enough shots and minutes. 

Kobe was a very good SG in the Shaq years. That is it. Shaq was a dominant force and the Lakers could have won with another good SG playing the place of Kobe. This was Shaq in his prime. These were the years where he was a leading scorer AND lead in FG%. One of those years he scored the most points per game AND did it with the most efficient FG% in the league. Incredible. He was unguardable. 

Don’t put those rings on Kobe the kid. 

[goldie92689Participant]

 Easy on the 5 rings, 2 finals mvps. Shaq would have won the first 3 with any top sg in the league. Kobe is arguably NOT a top 10 all time player. Lebron will be if not all ready, durant will be in the same class with kobe possibly better as a much more efficient player. 

[FourParticipant]

I doubt anyone here dislikes Kobe more than I do.  And while he was the second best player on his first three championship teams – though it was a close second and a mile between he and whomever was third – he was clearly top dog on the last two.  Five rings, MVP, scoring titles, multiple all NBA first team honors…what hasn’t he done?

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 No he was not a close second to Shaq. And while he was mentally the top dog in the second run, Pau was in his prime. Pau is a lot closer to Kobe than Kobe was to Shaq.  

[FourParticipant]

Not a close second to Shaq?  You know you needed to be watching the Lakers, right?  And man I hate to be put in a position to defend Kobe but come on – for those three title runs his averages were 22.5/6.3/4.9, 28.5/5.9/5.0 and 25.2/5.5/5.5 while being 1st team defense once and 2nd team twice.  And as a Kings fan who watched every second of those series I can tell you that Kobe delivered more crushing blows than Shaq did.  Shaq’s numbers those three years were not human – he was a beast.  But Shaq and Kobe were the two best players in the game at that time and the difference was not a large as you make it.

[FourParticipant]

Not a close second to Shaq?  You know you needed to be watching the Lakers, right?  And man I hate to be put in a position to defend Kobe but come on – for those three title runs his averages were 22.5/6.3/4.9, 28.5/5.9/5.0 and 25.2/5.5/5.5 while being 1st team defense once and 2nd team twice.  And as a Kings fan who watched every second of those series I can tell you that Kobe delivered more crushing blows than Shaq did.  Shaq’s numbers those three years were not human – he was a beast.  But Shaq and Kobe were the two best players in the game at that time and the difference was not a large as you make it.

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 No he was not a close second to Shaq. And while he was mentally the top dog in the second run, Pau was in his prime. Pau is a lot closer to Kobe than Kobe was to Shaq.  

[FourParticipant]

I doubt anyone here dislikes Kobe more than I do.  And while he was the second best player on his first three championship teams – though it was a close second and a mile between he and whomever was third – he was clearly top dog on the last two.  Five rings, MVP, scoring titles, multiple all NBA first team honors…what hasn’t he done?

[FearTheStacheParticipant]

 As much as I like Kobe, I feel like we do have to mention that he got three of his five rings playing next to the most dominant player in the sport at the time.

[FearTheStacheParticipant]

 As much as I like Kobe, I feel like we do have to mention that he got three of his five rings playing next to the most dominant player in the sport at the time.

[HaleParticipant]

There is no doubt LeBron will pass Kobe, if he hasn’t already. Durant appears to be well on his way too but you never know what could happen down the line. Davis has the potential to do it but I think it’s really hard to predict that he will. Kobe has made 16 All Star games, Anthony Davis is 21 years old. Plus he hasn’t actually proven anything to this point as far as winning goes and he needs a lot of work on defense. 

Gun to my head I say LeBron will be first, Durant either becomes 1B or 2A, Kobe becomes 2 or 2B, Davis is last.

 

 

 

 

 

[HaleParticipant]

There is no doubt LeBron will pass Kobe, if he hasn’t already. Durant appears to be well on his way too but you never know what could happen down the line. Davis has the potential to do it but I think it’s really hard to predict that he will. Kobe has made 16 All Star games, Anthony Davis is 21 years old. Plus he hasn’t actually proven anything to this point as far as winning goes and he needs a lot of work on defense. 

Gun to my head I say LeBron will be first, Durant either becomes 1B or 2A, Kobe becomes 2 or 2B, Davis is last.

 

 

 

 

 

[Make’Em Say UGHParticipant]

I grew up a diehard Iverson fan and spent most of Kobe’s prime years hating him bc of that semi-rivalry, but even I have to speak out against this.

KOBE IS A LIVING LEGEND

There’s no way he could be last on that list. For argument sake I’m okay with anybody thinking LBJ will have a greater career although its debatable/arguable at this point but to put any of the others ahead is a slight to what Kobe has already accomplished.

I do agree he has had an advantage playing next to Shaq but that is point better served in a MJ vs Kobe debate rather than upcoming prospects.

And this is in no way to take away from the great talents of Durant & Davis!

 

 

[Make’Em Say UGHParticipant]

I grew up a diehard Iverson fan and spent most of Kobe’s prime years hating him bc of that semi-rivalry, but even I have to speak out against this.

KOBE IS A LIVING LEGEND

There’s no way he could be last on that list. For argument sake I’m okay with anybody thinking LBJ will have a greater career although its debatable/arguable at this point but to put any of the others ahead is a slight to what Kobe has already accomplished.

I do agree he has had an advantage playing next to Shaq but that is point better served in a MJ vs Kobe debate rather than upcoming prospects.

And this is in no way to take away from the great talents of Durant & Davis!

 

 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 If Kobe is faulted for playing with Shaq even though it is a TEAM sport (never understand this argument). Then I don’t see how Lebron gets such an easy pass after teaming up with D Wade and Bosh.  A little bit of a double standard there.  Both Wade and Bosh came up huuuuge in Lebron winning his rings as well as Ray Allen. Its not like he’s done it by himself.

 

Right now Kobe and Lebron have the same amount of rings as the best player on their team.  When its all said and done I think Lebron will be considered the better player between the two but not sure if he ever reaches 5.

 

As for the other 2, I won’t put Durant in with the other 2 until he at least gets one ring. In my opinion that is the minimum requirement to get you in the conversation with those two.

 

 

 

 

[FearTheStacheParticipant]

 I don’t think he is necessarily faulted, just something to consider. I think that winning a championship as the by far best player on the team is much more valuable than simply winning a championship. I understand the DWade & Bosh argument, but Lebron was still the best player on that team, whereas Kobe was not necessarily that guy for 3 of his championships. At the same time, Pippen is still considered lesser as a result of playing with Jordan for all of his championships. I just don’t understand why Kobe shouldn’t receive some of this fair look. Lebron took an untalented Cavs team to the finals, and Kobe always needed an all star or two to take him to the playoffs/past the first round. Kobe is an all-time great. I’m just not sure if he is/will be considered a better player than Lebron.

[WetalkinboutpracticeParticipant]

 Did you ever stop to consider Pippen, an unbelievably great a player in his own right, even at his best is nowhere near the offensive talent that Kobe is. You could take Pippens best production including post season and it’s light years from what Bryant accomplished in his prime (even as a number 2).

Disclaimer: I’m the furthest thing from a Kobe fan/supporter.

[WetalkinboutpracticeParticipant]

 Did you ever stop to consider Pippen, an unbelievably great a player in his own right, even at his best is nowhere near the offensive talent that Kobe is. You could take Pippens best production including post season and it’s light years from what Bryant accomplished in his prime (even as a number 2).

Disclaimer: I’m the furthest thing from a Kobe fan/supporter.

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 I’m confused, on the rings that the WHOLE TEAM gets does it specify the best player?  I don’t believe it does, just because Robert Horry wasn’t the best player on his team does it diminish the fact that he has SEVEN rings and greatly contributed to every one of them? I don’t think so.  The whole "not the best player on his team" argument is created simply to try to compare players across generations, but this isn’t golf or tennis.  This is a team sport.  NOBODY has ever single handidly carried a team to a championship.  Not Lebron, not Mike, not Russell, not Kobe, nobody.  

He took a Cavs team to the finals in a weak East in which he had to beat a run down Pistons team that clearly was past their prime at that point… to top it off he got swept out.  

"Kobe needed an all star or two to take him to the playoffs/past the first round"…. No he just needed players that weren’t Smush Parker and Kwame Brown.  Guess who else needed not only two all stars but two top 10 players in the league? Yep Lebron.  Are you trying to tell me that Kobe’s supporting cast his last two championships was better than Lebrons?  I don’t think anybody would say that.  

Lebron has also had the benefit of playing in the least competitive conference EVER.  The East has been that weak the past few years.  How many tough series has he had in his past 3 trips to the finals? 4? 5 maybe?

I am a big Kobe fan, but I DO believe Lebron will be considered the better player.  But he doesn’t have to win 5 rings to do so.  He will be better in every statistical category probably even points too when it’s all said and done.

I just think the whole "wasn’t the best player on his team" point is such a cop out.  Should he have attempted to Tonya Harding Shaq in an attempt to become the best player on his team?  Such a dumb argument usually derived by Kobe haters.

 

 

 

 

 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 I’m confused, on the rings that the WHOLE TEAM gets does it specify the best player?  I don’t believe it does, just because Robert Horry wasn’t the best player on his team does it diminish the fact that he has SEVEN rings and greatly contributed to every one of them? I don’t think so.  The whole "not the best player on his team" argument is created simply to try to compare players across generations, but this isn’t golf or tennis.  This is a team sport.  NOBODY has ever single handidly carried a team to a championship.  Not Lebron, not Mike, not Russell, not Kobe, nobody.  

He took a Cavs team to the finals in a weak East in which he had to beat a run down Pistons team that clearly was past their prime at that point… to top it off he got swept out.  

"Kobe needed an all star or two to take him to the playoffs/past the first round"…. No he just needed players that weren’t Smush Parker and Kwame Brown.  Guess who else needed not only two all stars but two top 10 players in the league? Yep Lebron.  Are you trying to tell me that Kobe’s supporting cast his last two championships was better than Lebrons?  I don’t think anybody would say that.  

Lebron has also had the benefit of playing in the least competitive conference EVER.  The East has been that weak the past few years.  How many tough series has he had in his past 3 trips to the finals? 4? 5 maybe?

I am a big Kobe fan, but I DO believe Lebron will be considered the better player.  But he doesn’t have to win 5 rings to do so.  He will be better in every statistical category probably even points too when it’s all said and done.

I just think the whole "wasn’t the best player on his team" point is such a cop out.  Should he have attempted to Tonya Harding Shaq in an attempt to become the best player on his team?  Such a dumb argument usually derived by Kobe haters.

 

 

 

 

 

[FearTheStacheParticipant]

 I don’t think he is necessarily faulted, just something to consider. I think that winning a championship as the by far best player on the team is much more valuable than simply winning a championship. I understand the DWade & Bosh argument, but Lebron was still the best player on that team, whereas Kobe was not necessarily that guy for 3 of his championships. At the same time, Pippen is still considered lesser as a result of playing with Jordan for all of his championships. I just don’t understand why Kobe shouldn’t receive some of this fair look. Lebron took an untalented Cavs team to the finals, and Kobe always needed an all star or two to take him to the playoffs/past the first round. Kobe is an all-time great. I’m just not sure if he is/will be considered a better player than Lebron.

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 If Kobe is faulted for playing with Shaq even though it is a TEAM sport (never understand this argument). Then I don’t see how Lebron gets such an easy pass after teaming up with D Wade and Bosh.  A little bit of a double standard there.  Both Wade and Bosh came up huuuuge in Lebron winning his rings as well as Ray Allen. Its not like he’s done it by himself.

 

Right now Kobe and Lebron have the same amount of rings as the best player on their team.  When its all said and done I think Lebron will be considered the better player between the two but not sure if he ever reaches 5.

 

As for the other 2, I won’t put Durant in with the other 2 until he at least gets one ring. In my opinion that is the minimum requirement to get you in the conversation with those two.

 

 

 

 

[WITNESS2014Participant]

My guess is Lebron, Kobe, Durant, Davis. Its so hard to tell now because I think Lebron still needs at least one more ring to pass up kobe and Durant needs to accomplish so much more. Injuries could happen, Davis has a lot of potential but we are talking about Kobe Bryant, you hae to erase the kobe you have seen the last few years and think of a prime Kobe. Durant his just starting to hit his prime so he could pass up any of them.

Best Career as of now: Kobe, Lebron, Durant, Davis
My guess for when its all said and done: Lebron, Kobe, Durant, Davis.

[WITNESS2014Participant]

My guess is Lebron, Kobe, Durant, Davis. Its so hard to tell now because I think Lebron still needs at least one more ring to pass up kobe and Durant needs to accomplish so much more. Injuries could happen, Davis has a lot of potential but we are talking about Kobe Bryant, you hae to erase the kobe you have seen the last few years and think of a prime Kobe. Durant his just starting to hit his prime so he could pass up any of them.

Best Career as of now: Kobe, Lebron, Durant, Davis
My guess for when its all said and done: Lebron, Kobe, Durant, Davis.

[llperez]

Kobe, Lebron, Durant, Davis.

[llperez]

Kobe, Lebron, Durant, Davis.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Good question.  Hard to compare guys at different positions. 

If LeBron can get another ring this year then he will be VERY HARD to pass.  That would give him three titles with four straight Final appearances.  Then 3 straight Finals MVP awards to, most probably.  He would join Shaq and Jordan as the only other guys to do that.  He would also be the first player since Bird/Magic to go to 4 straight Finals, and the ONLY player since Bill Russell to win as many as three straight rings while going to 4 straight Finals. 

Long-term the thing that could put LeBron over the top would be if he ends up with 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists.  The 10k assists will be tough but I think he can do it. 

Kobe is pretty much where he is.  He might pass Kareem for the all-time scoring title but I am not sure how that would get him past a guy like Jordan or even LeBron.  Unless the Lakers put together another super team with LeBron, Kevin Love, Coach John Calipari, to join Kobe and Nash, I don’t see Kobe winning another ring. 

I will go out on a bit of a limb here and vote for KEVIN DURANT.  If LeBron doesn’t win a title next year, then he will be stuck at 2 titles and 2 Finals MVPs.  I think Durant would at least match that, and have a GREAT shot at getting a 3 peat.  If LeBron doesn’t 3 peat, and Durant DOES then I would have to put him slightly ahead in the titles department.  Now, Durant has this year’s MVP trophy in the bag.  That would actually tie Kobe already as far as MVP’s go.  Durant should finish his career with 3 or 4 of these MVP awards.  That would put him way past Kobe, and up their with Bird and LeBron. 

The kicker for Durant is his ability to flat out score.  Pure SHOOTER too.  He is on pace for a ton of scoring titles.  He may not reach 10 (Jordan) but I could see him getting to 7 and tying Wilt for the second most scoring titles in history.  … then if he stays healthy I could see him getting to 35,000 points all time which would be WAY up there — even if he doesn’t break the all-time record.

With another scoring title this season, plus his first MVP award, an NBA championship would put KD on the fast track to the MOUNT RUSHMORE of basketball players.  Kobe is up there and I would put LeBron up there too.  Duncan has been up there for a few years.  So, after those 3 retire I don’t see another MOUNT RUSHMORE caliber guy to challenge Kevin Durant.

Upside for Anthony Davis is a 6’10 Kareem.  Worst case would be he gets injured a ton like Pervis Ellison or somebody (Pervis actually put up a great stat line in one of his few healthy seasons that comes close to AD’s stat line this season).  I wouldn’t be shocked if he gets a couple of MVP awards and a couple of NBA titles.  In the next few years, Anthony Davis might be the only thing getting between Kevin Durant and five or six MVP trophies.  … it will be hard though for Davis to string a bunch of titles together in New Orleans.  Best case scenario for Anthony Davis: he reunites with former Coach John Calipari to join a super team along with LeBron and an ageless Kobe Bryant.  As far as 1st team all-nba goes, Anthony Davis has some tough competition at the forward spot.  LeBron and Durant aren’t going anywhere.  Plus you also have Kevin Love and Blake Griffin in their primes.  He might be stuck on the All NBA third team for the next couple of years, unless Davis reclassifies as a center. 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Good question.  Hard to compare guys at different positions. 

If LeBron can get another ring this year then he will be VERY HARD to pass.  That would give him three titles with four straight Final appearances.  Then 3 straight Finals MVP awards to, most probably.  He would join Shaq and Jordan as the only other guys to do that.  He would also be the first player since Bird/Magic to go to 4 straight Finals, and the ONLY player since Bill Russell to win as many as three straight rings while going to 4 straight Finals. 

Long-term the thing that could put LeBron over the top would be if he ends up with 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists.  The 10k assists will be tough but I think he can do it. 

Kobe is pretty much where he is.  He might pass Kareem for the all-time scoring title but I am not sure how that would get him past a guy like Jordan or even LeBron.  Unless the Lakers put together another super team with LeBron, Kevin Love, Coach John Calipari, to join Kobe and Nash, I don’t see Kobe winning another ring. 

I will go out on a bit of a limb here and vote for KEVIN DURANT.  If LeBron doesn’t win a title next year, then he will be stuck at 2 titles and 2 Finals MVPs.  I think Durant would at least match that, and have a GREAT shot at getting a 3 peat.  If LeBron doesn’t 3 peat, and Durant DOES then I would have to put him slightly ahead in the titles department.  Now, Durant has this year’s MVP trophy in the bag.  That would actually tie Kobe already as far as MVP’s go.  Durant should finish his career with 3 or 4 of these MVP awards.  That would put him way past Kobe, and up their with Bird and LeBron. 

The kicker for Durant is his ability to flat out score.  Pure SHOOTER too.  He is on pace for a ton of scoring titles.  He may not reach 10 (Jordan) but I could see him getting to 7 and tying Wilt for the second most scoring titles in history.  … then if he stays healthy I could see him getting to 35,000 points all time which would be WAY up there — even if he doesn’t break the all-time record.

With another scoring title this season, plus his first MVP award, an NBA championship would put KD on the fast track to the MOUNT RUSHMORE of basketball players.  Kobe is up there and I would put LeBron up there too.  Duncan has been up there for a few years.  So, after those 3 retire I don’t see another MOUNT RUSHMORE caliber guy to challenge Kevin Durant.

Upside for Anthony Davis is a 6’10 Kareem.  Worst case would be he gets injured a ton like Pervis Ellison or somebody (Pervis actually put up a great stat line in one of his few healthy seasons that comes close to AD’s stat line this season).  I wouldn’t be shocked if he gets a couple of MVP awards and a couple of NBA titles.  In the next few years, Anthony Davis might be the only thing getting between Kevin Durant and five or six MVP trophies.  … it will be hard though for Davis to string a bunch of titles together in New Orleans.  Best case scenario for Anthony Davis: he reunites with former Coach John Calipari to join a super team along with LeBron and an ageless Kobe Bryant.  As far as 1st team all-nba goes, Anthony Davis has some tough competition at the forward spot.  LeBron and Durant aren’t going anywhere.  Plus you also have Kevin Love and Blake Griffin in their primes.  He might be stuck on the All NBA third team for the next couple of years, unless Davis reclassifies as a center. 

 

[NickWayne87Participant]

 WITNESS2014 got it right that’s about it……In theory Kevin Durant has a chance to pass KOBE for number 2 on this list but I think LeBron is going to be in his way of accomplishing the things he needs to accomplish to do so.  I see probably 1 ring in Kevin’s future and 2 at THE VERY BEST….It’s alot of factors that make me think this way. The James Harden trade is one of those…..that team was ready to compete and would’ve eventually won a title maybe even this year had it not been broken up.  After that trade in my eyes the team took a step back that it hasn’t fully recovered from yet.  I think Kevin’s window to win a title will be after LeBron slows down a little bit and he’s still in his prime because he’s 4 years younger.  I think that window is gonna be short like a year or two before Kevin starts to slow down himself and wont be able to lead a championship team to a title as there will be someone new, younger in his way that has came up.  Will this Thunder team have fully recovered from the James Harden trade during that small window in time to win the title?  Will Russell Westbrook still be around or will this team just be leftovers by then which in my eyes is in about 2017 through 2019.  Let’s face it, no matter how much he scores he’s gonna have to win some titles to get on and move up this list.

[NickWayne87Participant]

 WITNESS2014 got it right that’s about it……In theory Kevin Durant has a chance to pass KOBE for number 2 on this list but I think LeBron is going to be in his way of accomplishing the things he needs to accomplish to do so.  I see probably 1 ring in Kevin’s future and 2 at THE VERY BEST….It’s alot of factors that make me think this way. The James Harden trade is one of those…..that team was ready to compete and would’ve eventually won a title maybe even this year had it not been broken up.  After that trade in my eyes the team took a step back that it hasn’t fully recovered from yet.  I think Kevin’s window to win a title will be after LeBron slows down a little bit and he’s still in his prime because he’s 4 years younger.  I think that window is gonna be short like a year or two before Kevin starts to slow down himself and wont be able to lead a championship team to a title as there will be someone new, younger in his way that has came up.  Will this Thunder team have fully recovered from the James Harden trade during that small window in time to win the title?  Will Russell Westbrook still be around or will this team just be leftovers by then which in my eyes is in about 2017 through 2019.  Let’s face it, no matter how much he scores he’s gonna have to win some titles to get on and move up this list.

[bball guyParticipant]

love to hear the argument for kobe being 1 when its all said & done

bron>kobe all day every day

 

[bball guyParticipant]

love to hear the argument for kobe being 1 when its all said & done

bron>kobe all day every day

 

[RObin PadillaParticipant]

5 rings enough said!! Don’t even bring that crap about Shaq carried the team.. Please check your stats Kobe was averaging 30 points 7 rebs 6 assists!! Remember we are not talking about a 28-30 year old… We are talking about a young player in his early 20’s playing in the biggest stage winning championships!!

[HaleParticipant]

So he basically did what LeBron has done his entire career (he averages 28 7 and 7 for his CAREER)? Barring injury, LeBron is a lock to pass Kobe. There’s a reason they stopped comparing the two and now compare LeBron to Jordan. Five rings are great, truly great. But he has the same amount as LeBron as the top guy and LeBron still has at least 5 years to go and that is literally all he has on LeBron. LeBron is a 4x MVP and before you say Kobe deserves more, LeBron could easily have two more as well. Not to mention Kobe started his run as a superstar in the weakest era of basketball ever (late 90’s early 2000’s). It’s very likely that LeBron is going to end up with more volume stats than Kobe in every area (points is the only question) while doing it FAR more efficiently and having a greater peak as a player. Will he be a superstar as long as Kobe? I don’t know, Kobe’s durability is truly freakish (1999-2013). But considering it will be close (04-present) and LeBron was better at his peak it’s no contest. I appreicate the greatness of Kobe. He’s a top 10 player ever. But LeBron is going to be top five at minimum. I would love to hear someone actual debate this instead of just furiously negging me for ‘insulting’ Kobe.

 

 

 

 

[HaleParticipant]

Color me shocked. No one has an argument so they neg. Pathetic.

[HaleParticipant]

Color me shocked. No one has an argument so they neg. Pathetic.

[HaleParticipant]

So he basically did what LeBron has done his entire career (he averages 28 7 and 7 for his CAREER)? Barring injury, LeBron is a lock to pass Kobe. There’s a reason they stopped comparing the two and now compare LeBron to Jordan. Five rings are great, truly great. But he has the same amount as LeBron as the top guy and LeBron still has at least 5 years to go and that is literally all he has on LeBron. LeBron is a 4x MVP and before you say Kobe deserves more, LeBron could easily have two more as well. Not to mention Kobe started his run as a superstar in the weakest era of basketball ever (late 90’s early 2000’s). It’s very likely that LeBron is going to end up with more volume stats than Kobe in every area (points is the only question) while doing it FAR more efficiently and having a greater peak as a player. Will he be a superstar as long as Kobe? I don’t know, Kobe’s durability is truly freakish (1999-2013). But considering it will be close (04-present) and LeBron was better at his peak it’s no contest. I appreicate the greatness of Kobe. He’s a top 10 player ever. But LeBron is going to be top five at minimum. I would love to hear someone actual debate this instead of just furiously negging me for ‘insulting’ Kobe.

 

 

 

 

[thricethefunParticipant]

You think Kobe would have still had those stats if it weren’t for opposing teams consistently double teaming Shaq leaving Kobe open looks?

[thricethefunParticipant]

You think Kobe would have still had those stats if it weren’t for opposing teams consistently double teaming Shaq leaving Kobe open looks?

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 Check your facts. That is one series of the three finals and it was in a near sweep of the Sixers where Kobe played huge minutes. It is impressive, but those five games hardly prove anything. If you want to throw out stats, pull up his numbers for the all three runs. They are very good, but not extraordinary. 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 Again, those were averages for the playoffs which last time I checked includes more than one series….. every time.

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 Again, those were averages for the playoffs which last time I checked includes more than one series….. every time.

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 Check your facts. That is one series of the three finals and it was in a near sweep of the Sixers where Kobe played huge minutes. It is impressive, but those five games hardly prove anything. If you want to throw out stats, pull up his numbers for the all three runs. They are very good, but not extraordinary. 

[RObin PadillaParticipant]

5 rings enough said!! Don’t even bring that crap about Shaq carried the team.. Please check your stats Kobe was averaging 30 points 7 rebs 6 assists!! Remember we are not talking about a 28-30 year old… We are talking about a young player in his early 20’s playing in the biggest stage winning championships!!

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I’m not a LeBron fan… I can’t stand him actually. However, there’s no doubt that when his career is all said and done, he will be ahead of Kobe. He doesn’t need to win five rings… His career stats and overall resume will be ridiculous. 

Not only that… I just think he’ll be remembered as a better player than Kobe because he came into the NBA with that special ability and desire to make his teammates better and that will have stayed constant throughout his career. I mean, his teammates love him and he’s always been a team first guy. Kobe is probably one of the most selfish players in NBA history and he’s not always been a great teammate. The Decision Show, joining another superstar in his prime, some weak clutch moments and the loss to the Mavs in the Finals will always look bad, but I still think he’ll be over Kobe when it’s all said and done.

 

 

 

 

 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I’m not a LeBron fan… I can’t stand him actually. However, there’s no doubt that when his career is all said and done, he will be ahead of Kobe. He doesn’t need to win five rings… His career stats and overall resume will be ridiculous. 

Not only that… I just think he’ll be remembered as a better player than Kobe because he came into the NBA with that special ability and desire to make his teammates better and that will have stayed constant throughout his career. I mean, his teammates love him and he’s always been a team first guy. Kobe is probably one of the most selfish players in NBA history and he’s not always been a great teammate. The Decision Show, joining another superstar in his prime, some weak clutch moments and the loss to the Mavs in the Finals will always look bad, but I still think he’ll be over Kobe when it’s all said and done.

 

 

 

 

 

[daggers818Participant]

 Sorry, wouldn’t accept my excel database.

[daggers818Participant]

 Sorry, wouldn’t accept my excel database.

[MadDogParticipant]

 Wow, are the moderators here just massive Kobe fans or something? Literally every single comment which doesn’t hail Kobe as no. 1 has been negged massively.

Anyway, right now its probably LeBron, Kobe, Durant then Davis for me. LeBron up until this season had just carried a period of sustained dominance as the league’s best player that hasn’t been seen since Jordan in terms of just being far and away better than everyone else. He’s already got 4 MVPs and 2 finals MVPs and he’s still firmly in his prime by the end of his career we could be talking 4-5 titles, 6-7 MVP awards and 35,000 points. Kobe’s a legend, a dominant wing scorer in his prime and a pure winner but has never owned the league in the same way LeBron has (eg. When Kobe was in his prime Duncan and KG were still on a par with him). KD may well pass Kobe by the end of his career, but needs to focus on piling up some championships to do so. Already statistics wise I think he can challenge Kobe (28pts 50/40/90 shooting last year andn 32pts 8 rebs 5 asts this year). AD’s only just starting out so its difficult to project where he’ll go but he definitely has the tools to be considered in this group in the future.

[MadDogParticipant]

 Wow, are the moderators here just massive Kobe fans or something? Literally every single comment which doesn’t hail Kobe as no. 1 has been negged massively.

Anyway, right now its probably LeBron, Kobe, Durant then Davis for me. LeBron up until this season had just carried a period of sustained dominance as the league’s best player that hasn’t been seen since Jordan in terms of just being far and away better than everyone else. He’s already got 4 MVPs and 2 finals MVPs and he’s still firmly in his prime by the end of his career we could be talking 4-5 titles, 6-7 MVP awards and 35,000 points. Kobe’s a legend, a dominant wing scorer in his prime and a pure winner but has never owned the league in the same way LeBron has (eg. When Kobe was in his prime Duncan and KG were still on a par with him). KD may well pass Kobe by the end of his career, but needs to focus on piling up some championships to do so. Already statistics wise I think he can challenge Kobe (28pts 50/40/90 shooting last year andn 32pts 8 rebs 5 asts this year). AD’s only just starting out so its difficult to project where he’ll go but he definitely has the tools to be considered in this group in the future.

[KayjayParticipant]

If LeBron James wins four rings to kobe’s five, but has all four Finals MVP’s to go along with those four rings, did he have a better career than Kobe? Think about it for a second. I don’t give a damn about negs, it’s just a bunch of Kobe fans raging angry. Its a valid question though, LeBron has more regular season mvps, and if he wins two more rings it will result in him having a finals mvp. So how does he not eclipse Kobe Bryant with four finals mvp’s?

[KayjayParticipant]

If LeBron James wins four rings to kobe’s five, but has all four Finals MVP’s to go along with those four rings, did he have a better career than Kobe? Think about it for a second. I don’t give a damn about negs, it’s just a bunch of Kobe fans raging angry. Its a valid question though, LeBron has more regular season mvps, and if he wins two more rings it will result in him having a finals mvp. So how does he not eclipse Kobe Bryant with four finals mvp’s?

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