Ehhhh, I don't know if we can say that Kobe was a better defender at his peak. Miami LeBron was a force of nature on the defensive end. He was flying around on the weak side, guarding the best wing player when it mattered and also shutting down PGs like Rose and Parker in the playoffs.
You could argue that Kareem was the best player in the league for all of the 70s. I think that's the only guy who can make a case.
I'd say: 2000 - 2002 Shaq 2003 - 2007 Duncan 2008 - 2011 Kobe 2012 - 2020 LeBron 2021 - 2022 Curry 2023 and going forward Jokic Its hard to for me to say that Kobe was not the best player in the league when he was averaging 35ppg and dragging those terrible rosters to the playoffs, but the Spurs were still the top dog. Duncan wasn't putting up huge regular season numbers anymore but he was pretty dominant in those playoff runs.
1 player made all defense his whole career. 1 didn't. While awards are clearly not the end all be all, I don't agree with your assessment. Being capable of doing it, and actually doing it night in and night out are just two different things.
Thats not what you said in your earlier post though. You said Kobe was a better defender "at his peak". LeBron finished 2nd in DPOY voting in 2013, Kobe's best result was tied for 3rd in 2002 when Ben Wallace won in a landslide. I think LeBron peaked higher on defense.
Say what you want but at this point, durability and length of career is a factor. Lebron at 38 is playing way better than anyone I have ever seen before and that includes Jabbar! Jabbar was winning rings at 38. Lebron has maybe 2 years to go, so we will see. Honestly, it's next year or bust IMHO. You gotta give him props for playing as good as he is right now, even if he has clearly lost a step. His NBA body reminds me of Karl Malone.
and like malone, once the machine finally started breaking down, it was quickly over. i think that's part of why he talked retirement, too. he's not used to these injuries, and they're happening more often. he's not competing at the level he'd like to, individually as much as collectively (how everyone interpreted the comment).
For me it's not hard to figure out the GOAT of basketball. He still remains Kareem Abdul Jabbar (née Lew Alcindor) IMO. But that goes for all of his career - high school, college, NBA. I just don't think you find anyone his equal. He was arguably the greatest high school player of all time. He was INARGUABLY the greatest college player of all time. And his NBA career is unimpeachable (19x All Star, 6 MVP's, 6 championships, 2nd highest scorer now). He created the most unstoppable offensive weapon in the history of the basketball arsenal, the Sky Hook. I'll give Lebron GOAT if he manages to at least equal the Cap's title count. If he can add 2 more titles at his advanced age he gets the crown from me. If not it'll remain with KAJ.
just a function of how far the game progressed in 40 years. cousy was 6'1" 170, not particularly athletic, not amazingly skilled. though i do enjoy his crazy hook shots. which D1 program does bob cousy play for in the year of our lord 2023?
the aaron gordon that played us has shown up for game 4, and miami seems not to know what to do with him. if the versions of kcp and mpj that played us were here, the trophy would have been hoisted in about a half hour.
