That Nique vs Bird showdown in the 4th quarter, i don't say this lightly, be one of those games people will always talk about.
It's pretty awesome to hear that someone with so many years and history watching the Lakers puts Kobe in that high regard above all of the other greats. Not surprising at all, but still awesome to hear.
Thanks c.Lin. Yeah, he’s always been his own man, and still is at 85—something I really admire about him. I still vividly remember us both getting too choked up to even talk much on the phone when I called him that horrible January morning Kobe died. It really affected him like the rest of us. I’m gonna tell him what you said.
I have been a lifelong Lakers fan since they moved to LA. Watched Jerry West as a rookie. Kobe is perhaps the greatest player we have ever had. I put Kareem, Jerry, Magic and Kobe as my top 4. Add Lebron to that list and I will put this 5 man team up against anyone ever.
Oh, I completely agree. I'm a little too young to have watched anyone pre-dating the late 80s, but there's no arguing that Kobe's resume puts him right at the top of the greatest Lakers ever. But for someone who has watched many decades of Lakers call Kobe their "favorite" just speaks to how special this dude really was. I went through much of my young adult years watching and idolizing Kobe. It's hard to comprehend the idea of another Laker coming along in 20-30 years that I have that kind of connection to. Just my thoughts. But to the original topic of this thread, how do you argue against Elgin Baylor?
You cannot argue against Elgin Baylor. But he retired the year we finally won, before that I was a kid and he was not the guy who grabbed my imagination. I am more analytical now, then it was all style over substance. Especially for me as a stupid and impressionable kid. By the time they won a ring, I was 14/15, I was ready to start paying attention. My awareness of Baylor was amazingly low, perhaps if I would have been just a couple of years older, he would have meant more to me personally. In a lot of ways, Jerry was Kobe's equal. He was as competitive as Kobe but he lost too often, it ate at him. Kobe had a lot of success and got the rings to prove it. Kobe ultimately is the most intensely competitive player we have ever had. Magic was just a happy dude, he played with the ultimate joy that was super enticing at the time, but he never had Kobe's level of intensity. Plus, Kobe played through injury and pain like nobody I have ever seen. My wife is a hand and arm therapist, Occupational Therapist by title. I had more than your average insight into many of Kobe's injuries that he played through, he amazed her and me.
I am too. Jerry really took the losses hard, and the frustration of always losing to the C Bags took even more of a heavy toll on him, more than anyone. I’m glad he was as well, and I bet he was one of the happiest people on the planet when we finally beat the C Bags in 85.
I read somewhere that we finally won it in 1972, West felt relieved yet empty that "is that all it is?" in his mind. In 1985, he was such a nervous wreck that he spent the day moving his lawn while his wife gave him updates. My Starting Five Best That Did Not Win It all... Stockton, Maravich, Barkley, Malone and Patrick Ewing
crazy to think how much higher maravich's scoring totals would've been had he played with the 3 pt line the 3 pt shot was instituted in his last season and he went 10-15 from 3
pistol pete could pass with the best of em and shoot it like curry, while also being able to drive and take it inside. people really dont know
Hater. 1st year after the ABA / NBA merger he smoked the league by 5 points for the scoring championship. Check the names starting around 3.44 who are mentioned that were also scorers. And dropped 68 against the Knicks. Watch it long enough for Elgin himself's amazing comment spelled out on the screen. Career cut short from knee injuries and died at 40 playing a pickup game from a heart defect no one knew he had.
thank you. people (aside from you, myself, TIME etc) don't seem to have any idea how good this dude really was. its hard for me to seriously argue he is the best PG of all time due to injuries and a career not as long as others, but had he never gotten hurt i could easily see him being the best PG ever
It really is amazing he played his career with a heart defect that he didn't even realize he had. Could have dropped dead on an NBA court like he did playing pickup at 40. Pete was Magic before Magic. Amazing handles, court vision, passing, feel for the game, and a great shot. His one weakness was on defense, but on offense there was no one better. His career gets overlooked for two reasons: he only played 800+ games due to bad knees, and he played on bad teams in college and the pros. Never had the chance to shine in his prime in the playoffs.
