I interpreted the question as who can turn an anti or neutral crowd into an insert player name here crowd. If it is who can take over a game, it seems a relatively uninteresting question because I could just make a list of people like vintage AI, TMac, DWade, and could name all those on the list and add people like Kyrie Irving and Blake Griffin etc. For me it is the ability to have done it so often, not the potential to do it on every once and now. Like the difference between Vince Carter potential/highlights since the product I hate the Raptors Vince produced for them until he returned to visit the Raptors and slay them. ps my favorite memory about this is talking to a Canadian fan about Vince and watching Vince make a game winning buzzer beater with a reverse alley oop on the Raptors. It just said it all. If I am misunderstanding the question I am sorry once again, but three things take over an arena talent, greatness and star power. I just think Kobe has and to a greater degree had all three. I took the question in a psychological swaying the crowd manner. It is also easier to do if the team playing against you sucks. Hopefully I will never see the day where a Laker game is turned by a Clippers performance etc. Shudder to think.
You are missing the actual question here Real. Any of today's star can easily go on a 10-0 run all by themselves on the road. The actual question was which player can turn a crowd on the road.
None of these guys are so beloved by opposing cities' fans I believe to do so. Lebronze still comes across as a very egocentric guy and hasn't completely washed off the stink of "The Decision" despite his return to Cleveland. Durant has been kind of a crank the last couple seasons. Beard Papas is on a team with Dwight the Diva so he won't get that love yet. I think Steph is the one who could eventually get that kind of love and respect, plus he is the most likely to just bust out in an insane burst of scoring out of all the above, just due to the nature of his freakish heat level and shooting ability. He can rain threes, take it to the hole, and hit from just about anywhere. I just don't think his popularity is there yet. Maybe in a couple years? He's on the way though IMO.
Well then yeah that's different I guess. Harden and LeBron are too hated already for that to happen easily/regularly. Curry, Durant, and Davis are all candidates to make that happen though. Curry especially is extremely well received. He's my favorite player to watch right now outside of the Lakers and it's not even close. Not even a little bit close.
Kobe's charisma and popularity is on a different level from Lebron, Curry, Harden or Durant.... I think even Iverson had a bigger following than those four. Only MJ beats Kobe in terms of star power... and maybe Magic.
Why are we comparing them at face value? The question is "who can turn an away crowd in their favor in the NBA today?" isn't it? I'm not saying "they can do it as well as Kobe", I'm saying they have the ability to do it.
Agreed, Curry is the most likely to of all them. Although yeah, Davis might get there, too. He's unbelievably great as well. Not as rapid fire of course, being a big guy, but still he's really charismatic, very likable, and has an insane amount of talent. I love watching him play and I think he's gaining a lot of momentum as well.
Bryant according to reports should play unless "something crazy happens" thereof... That "crazy" would be 24 actually not playing. The Last Dance begins Wednesday evening.
20th Season and still one of the first if not the first to the gym. Enjoy him folks, we're not likely going to get another player with this combination of killer instinct, competitive fire, someone who plays better when enraged and guy who commits his soul to the Purple & Gold like Kobe again in our lifetimes
Hoping his body can someone hold up for the season. His career coming down to the end like this, he deserves to go out with a nice season.
Kobe took some awful shots early on, but thought in the second quarter starting to get higher quality looks. Coming off some screens, had a nice turn around and a fadeaway. Also couple of sick crossovers. Overall good half from him.
Discussed during gameday but he has to play smarter. He's still playing as if he's prime Kobe, taking the same tough shots. If he keeps doing that, he's going to shoot a bad %. At this stage of his career, its not going to work. He has to know this but he's too stubborn and POOLY COACHED.