Okay, we all know that Kobe Bryant has something to prove in this league, right?
Okay, as long as were both on the same page, does Bryant match up to the standards of Michael Jordan–dare I say it–the greatest player in NBA history? Kobe Bryant is definitely star quality in the NBA of 2006, but is he getting the same playing standards as Jordan did? Is this fair or unfair to Bryant. I mean, Kobe is one heck of a ball handler, scoring 81 points against the Raptors in LA earlier this week. But, hey. That’s just one game.
On the other hand, consider the teammates Kobe plays around, Lamar Odom, Smush Parker. Are they even his friends? No, to be precise. And that’s exactly the difference between the two. When Jordan played for the championship Chicago Bulls teams of the mid-90’s, is thrived and was pushed by his teammates to win. They had faith in him and they wanted him to win, well not exactly. But, they had more of a friendship with Jordan.
In LA, it’s much more of a different scenario. Kobe Bryant is the Lion, and the LA Lakers are fleas that the Lion will eventually pounce on. He has tension with his teammates, and that contributes to the lack of effort that is displayed by the Lakers. They are not a great team, and they have to realize that before you see Bryant practicing for a 100 point game in a Los Angeles gym. It’s about the team, hey ask Peyton Manning.
Last year, Manning broke the record for touchdown passes in a year. Every time he was asked about the record he got off the subject and talked about the team. He wanted the team to do good enough to go to a super bowl, weather he broke the record or not, and that is what comes in a team leader.
Bryant, on the other hand, lacks that `the team comes first’ mentality. Jordan didn’t either. He was a leader, and in my book that’s the first thing I look for when I measure greatness, especially in the National Basketball Association, where playing a team game is first on anyone’s list.
Bryant, better shape up or else this season will be a forgetful one. The Lakers can be a great team, they’re just to busy leaning on Kobe all the time for the points. Take matters into your own hands, change a play around a little bit to involve other players. I’m not saying that doesn’t happen, but it could happen more. Michael Jordan obviously did not concentrate on himself first because his career high for points in a game was 69, and that was in an overtime game. The Lakers are headed in the wrong direction if Bryant keeps putting up these types of performances. All we see in the newspaper is how KOBE is doing this and KOBE is doing that. Let’s hear a little more about the Lakers and how they are progressing, I think we know that Kobe is having a good season already.
So, let’s get a move on. After all, there’s no “Kobe Bryant” in “Lakers”.