Is Kobe Bryant the Greatest Laker of All Time?

After defeating arch-rival Boston in 7 games and winning his fifth title the debate has begun. Is Kobe Bryant the greatest Laker of all time?


Yes, he is.


I want to start off by dismissing any argument favoring Kobe Bryant over Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant is not as good or better than MJ, and probably never will be. Even if he wins a sixth, he cannot touch Jordan's Finals numbers. In the Finals, His Airness was 6-0, averaged 33-6 -6 and won 6 Finals MVPs. If he wins a few more titles then I suppose it's going to be open for discussion. Still, I cannot imagine the consensus greatest ever not being Michael Jordan in the foreseeable future. While he may not be MJ, Kobe is now officially the best player Hollywood (or Minneapolis) has ever had.

When discussing the Greatest Laker of All Time, it all comes down to four players Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. As good as of a  player as Jerry West may have been, he was 1-8 in the Finals, never beat the Celtics, never won an MVP, and the only Finals MVP he won was a losing effort in the 1969 Finals, so he is eliminated. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did win an MVP and Finals MVP as a Laker, but his best years were with Milwaukee. His numbers during the last 4 of the 5 title's L.A. won in the 1980's were not even close to his Milwaukee days. As great as his career was as a whole, the tail end of it was in L.A. So it basically comes down to two players Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson.

As far as skill goes, offensively it is almost a draw. Magic Johnson is the greatest passer ever, Bryant is the most complete scorer ever. Johnson had a much better FG% shooting 52% from the field, Bryant shot 45%, but being a point guard Johnson didn't take as many shots as Bryant. Kobe is one of the best non-point guard passers in the game but he can't find the open man like Magic could. Johnson gets the slight edge offensively because of his better FG% and offensive balance. However the edge goes to Bryant in overall skill because of the other side of the floor, defense. Kobe Bryant is one of the best perimeter defenders of all time. He is a staple on the all defensive team (10 selections, 8 1st, 2 2nd). Magic, despite leading the league in steals twice, has never made an all-defensive team.


When talking about the greatest Laker, their success against the Boston Celtics has to be taken into consideration. In their first two meetings with the Celtics in the Finals, Bryant and Magic went 1-1. Magic is 2-1 overall, but that can't be held against Bryant, he hasn't had the opportunity to play them 3 times due to Garnett's injury in 2009. Kobe's Lakers however have accomplished something that Magic Lakers or any other team in the history of the league has been able to do, beat the Celtics in a Finals Game 7. Many will hold Bryant's Game 7 performance against him shooting 6-24. But he still managed to score 23 points and grab 15 rebounds, both totals are higher than any Celtic. Magic has had a few historical screw ups against Boston in the 1984 Finals, giving him the nickname "Tragic" Johnson. At least Kobe managed to win even in his worst form. Overall titles including those that are not at the expense of Boston, they both have 5. Magic won five titles over a span of 12 seasons, winning back-to-back once. Bryant has won five over a span of 14 seasons with a 3-peat under his belt and a back-to-back that could become a 3-peat next season.


Bryant critics always use the Shaq argument, even now. "He never would have won 3 without Shaq". Well, Shaq wouldn't have won without Kobe either, and neither would have won 3 without Derek Fisher, Rick Fox and Robert Horry (Game 4 WC FINALS!). I don't hear any slight against Magic for having Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy. Kobe did something Magic never did, won multiple championships with two entirely different teams. Magic Johnson did win his 5 in less time than Bryant, but he's always been on teams with enough talent to win a Gold Medal in the Olympics. Kobe and Shaq were the only Hall of Famers on the 2000-2002 Lakers, the rest were role players. The Lakers today feature Kobe Bryant, 1 perinnial all-star, and no Hall of Famers. Pau Gasol has an outside shot at the Hall of Fame if he continues to win rings, but would never have a chance if it wasn't for Bryant. Magic Johnson had at one point and time 3 other Hall of Famers on his team, Jabbar, Worthy and Bob Mcadoo. Not to mention Defensive Player of the Year Michael Cooper and Byron Scott who was considered to be one of the better players to never play in an all-star game. So if you wan't to use the Shaq argument, just remember you are favoring Bryant.


Considering the above, you have to give Kobe Bryant the slight edge in the G.L.O.A.T debate. If he wins a sixth, it won't even be close.


Where does Kobe rank among the all-time greats? My top 25 basketball players of all-time list is coming out later in the week. For now, mess around with the ESPN List Ranker. Then you can compare your list to mine. I'm sure Ramos and I will have some discrepancies in our lists that will spark a heated debate. Stay tuned!