They did Their rivalry was amazing to watch at the time The key battles and every game was played to the max by all players
I fully understand your feeling on this though mine is Kobe was the greatest Laker ever and would NEVER have done what Magic did to the organization with his blindsiding of them quitting in the tunnel while season had yet to finish and then a media roadshow dumping on the Lakers during their most important off season ever since Shaq and Kobe were acquired …. because he was butt hurt over something said about how it was to work with him and Jeanie had other people’s opinions she valued too, including her own own, about personnel moves such as firing Luke mid season.
It will be highly improbable for anyone to eclipse Kobe for me. I watched his entire career and got to watch him grow up from the teenage Afrolicious Sprite spokesman with springs for legs to the retiring and revered Wiley Black Mamba making short films on the side. Never be another like him. Bron has done an admirable job as a Laker, and even if he doesn’t win another championship as a Laker, they may retire his number. Luka has a chance to put his name in the Laker record books if he plays long enough, and we as fans are beyond blessed and spoiled to have a list of names like this who have played for our franchise.
We are truly blessed with all the greats that have played for the Lakers On the other hand, it's a privilege for them to play for a storied franchise like the Lakers It goes both ways
Johnson also resurrected Abdul-Jabbar's interest in the game. Thank goodness Dr. Buss vetoed West pick of Moncrief over him.
I think it understated how important the Boston/LAL rivalry was and that it was Magic that turned the tide from being C Bags dominated to setup the Lakers to eclipse them. Magic is so unique no player has been like him or since IMO. Luka has the passing but man Magic was so big and fast in turning offense to defense - some weird amalgam of Luka and Lebron. The glitz, the glamor, what made Hollywood and the Lakers Hollywoods team in showtime was special
Anytime Magic gets on camera its such a great watch. Man was made for entertainment, Great watch. Especially for a laker fan that never got to watch showtime live due to age. But like most of us here we're historians of our franchise that love to soak in stories before our time. Almost feels like laker myth/folklore. Byron's podcast is lightyears better than his coaching. Its basically the only true laker podcast out there.
