If Kobe never wins another champonship, will people still be considered one of the greatest?

Question

(Kobe fans don't get pissed. This is just a hypothetical question I was wondering, not a shot at Kobe or his fans.)

Like would people still consider him to be top 10? I would say he's top 25 already, but if he wins another 2-3 chips, he could crack my 10.

But if he never won another, would people say he was still top 10 and compare him to Jordan, or would people realize him to be what he is, a very great talent that can't win as the focal point of the offense?

Answer 1

I dunno Paq...his TOTAL disappearing act in Game#6 combined with NO rings without the Diesel has me wondering if the media has been comparing Ko to the wrong Classic Bull all along...maybe he's this generation's SCOTTIE PIPPEN....

Answer 2

I think not.  

Of course, there is no doubt that Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players ever to pick up a basketball.  That said, there's no way he makes the All-time Top 10 if he doesn't win a championship as the leader of a team, or at least get back to the finals a few more times.  

The Top 10 is reserved for players who dominated their respective eras, like Jordan, Bird, Magic, Russell, Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, etc.  Kobe's amazing and all, but you can't really say that he dominated his era if he played 2nd fiddle on all his championship teams, and all the teams he led came up short.

If you had to say who dominated the '00s, you'd have to say #1 Shaq, and #2 Tim Duncan.  When you think about it, Kobe hasn't done anything without Shaq on the team that Lebron hasn't done too.

Answer 3

I'd say all around athletic skillz he can easily be top 10 of all time.  Meaning has the full range of offensive weapons.  Good defender, post you up, create his own shot, mid range jumper, 3 point shooter, take over games, incredible scoring performances but to be one of the greatest he won't be with the resume he has right now.  He is missing that special thing that comes along very few and far between.  Bill Russell and MJ have that special Charisma and affectious winning spirit

the pours onto their teamates.  Kobe tried to adopt that this year and it got him an mvp, but his players didn't go to battle for him in the finals like and MJ or Russell team does.  I would also put bird and Magic right there with those guys.

I tell you what.... a Russell or MJ team would never lose by 39 points in an elimination game.

Answer 4

Kobe WILL win another championship...trust.  :)

But even if he didn't, there are many players who did not win championships, (Reggie Miller, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley...) and they are /or will be hall-of-famers.

Kobe is just now turning 30. Anyone who tells you Kobe is not as good as M.J. needs to let him finish his career before making those comparisons. But yes, when his career ends, he will be in the top 5, in my opinion.

Answer 5

It wouldn't be right to consider him any higher than 25-30 if he doesn't win a championship as the main option.

Think about some of the top 10 players all time. They include Jordan, Bird, Magic, Wilt, Kareem, Shaq, and Olajuwon; what have they all done? Led their teams to championships as the best player on that team.

If doesn't win another championship as the dominant figure he's in a different class automatically. He should be compared to players like Karl Malone, Kevin Mchale, David Robinson, George Gervin, Charles Barkley and Allen Iverson (if he never wins one). All great players, but none of them could led their teams to championships, or they haven't won any at all.

So I agree, he probably shouldn't be ranked any high than 25-30 now, but if he leads his team to a title he can start to be mentioned with some of those top 10 all-time greats.