NBA - Can Kobe Bryant reach the same heights of success and respect as Magic Johnson and Jerry West?
Kobe Bryant is undoubtedly the best player in the history of the Los Angeles Lakers, if we talk statistically. With five NBA Championship titles and his position as the leading scorer of all times in the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe has a special place in the
hearts of many Lakers fans.
But the question that arises is that whether or not he can manage to gain the respect and reach the same heights of success as Magic Johnson and Jerry West managed to reach?
Magic Johnson and Jerry West are among the most cherished players in the NBA history. Both the players helped the revival of the sport when NBA was on a decline in terms of viewership. Magic Johnson won 5 NBA titles and multiple awards like MVP, Rookie of
the Year in 1979 and 13 All-Star appearances. Magic Johnson managed to score 17,707 points, 6,559 rebounds and 10,141 assists.
Jerry West was able to win the gold medals for the USA team in the 1959 Pan American Games and the 1960 Olympics. The remarkable player also managed to win the 1972 NBA title. With 25,192 points, 5,366 rebounds and 6,238 assists Jerry is one of the best
that the NBA has come across.
Both players had an illustrious career and now according to analysts Kobe Bryant is on the same road. What remains a question is that whether he will excel his former Laker players or stay behind them?
Though Kobe Bryant doesn’t enjoy the same warm qualities like those of the Jerry West and Magic Johnson but statistically he is one player who can potentially go ahead of them.
If talk about the respect both players managed to gain, then they were loved by fans worldwide. Fans from all teams cherished to see them play and appreciated their determination and desire to play. The respect they gave to others players made their sportsmanship
praiseworthy, no matter a Lakers fan or not they loved Magic and Jerry.
Kobe on the contrary, has established himself being one of the players who is rather hated by anti-Lakers. The only loving fans he seems to have are from the Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe’s competitive nature on court results in him very rarely smiling on court
and talking to the opposing team.
If we talk about career achievements, then both Jerry West and Magic Johnson got a great deal of help from the supporting cast they had. But Kobe was able to develop himself as player who could play in every position at any point of the game.
Jerry West wasn’t able to achieve a lot, despite of the fact that he had teamed up with Wilt Chamberlain. He couldn’t come up with titles. This was due to the dominance of Bill Russell at the time. But still Jerry is remembered for the regular NBA Finals
appearances rather than the losses in the Finals.
Coupled with these are the on court personalities they managed to develop themselves into. It seemed that they brought their soul on court every night. This was one of the reasons for being respected widely in the NBA world.
One the contrary, Kobe’s tough and competitive nature doesn’t allow him to act in such a way. According to the player himself, his superior thinking on court makes him win night in and out.
Kobe Bryant may not only be the best players in the history of Los Angeles Lakers but also the NBA. And with the achievements and statistics that this player has, he is surely among the top three players in the Los Angeles Lakers history. Kobe is still not
done and still has the potential to win two more NBA titles. This would make Kobe the greatest out all time with seven NBA titles.
But if we talk about being widely respected then Kobe may fall behind the likes of Jerry West and Magic Johnson, mainly because of this competitive nature and desire to win each game.
Tags: