Yeah do a Series because the way the Media Treated this Man and Overlooked him, Kobe Bryant had one of the Greatest Runs in the History of the NBA. Kobe Bryant had the Biggest Numbers over a 3 Year Playoff Span. 2008-2010 Kobe Beat 10 50+Win Teams and Nearly 3-Peated with 1 All-Star on his Team.
@@beards-N-boonies I’d say 2006-2012 was his peak but 2009 was his best and most balanced. Still had the speed and athleticism to do hard dunks and crafty layups while also the footwork, defence and great shooting ability.
I literally started watching basketball, football, soccer, and baseball in the 2007-2008 season. I was 10-11 years old. I vividly remember Paul Pierce being extremely clutch, LeBron being the most physically gifted athlete, while Kobe ascended into being the best player in terms of tangibles and intangibles. The best player on the best team. Kobe from 08 to 10 was the best player in the league. LeBron was like Jordan in his 1st 6 to 7 years putting up transcendental numbers while actually passing the eye test, so it’s hard to comprehend why Kobe was better at that time but it was officially Kobe’s time.
@@melvinhhcp3615 after a career of being robbed (01 & 06) Kobe deserved 09 too. He’s got 11 top 5 finishes with 1 win. That’s insane. S. Nash won 2/3 top 5 MVP finishes. Ridiculous.
@@TeezyfolKKz Kobe should've won 06 for sure, but 01 correctly went to A.I. However, I do think Kobe was the MVP of the entire 2001 postseason. Shaq obviously dominated the 76ers post players, but he outweighed all of them by 70lbs. So go figure.
2009 kobe was peak kobe for me. Had the maturity and still got the athleticism against top guns plus the leadership. Orlando saved lebron from getting humiliated by kobe. Lebron’s legacy would be a lot weaker had he faced kobe in 2009 finals.
Exactly wish lechoke cud have made it 2 the finals but he did bring up a fact I 4got the magic was num1 in defense dat yr which is crazy 2 me lebron shud have steamrolled dat magic team drive 2 the hoop n get fouled by Dwight how hard is dat lol oh yea lebron ain't good at hitting his free throws especially when they matter
Sadly sum ppl either 4get or dnt care and pass him up 2 guys that have accomplished way less than him it's criminal how underrated he is nowadays I see it all the time. Glad there is video proof of his greatness wish I could've went 2 a game and saw him play in person back in the day
I still remember Michael Jordan naming Kobe Bryant as his successor at the 1998 NBA All-Star Game. During the 2003 All-Star Game, Jordan named Kobe as one of the young star players he would entrust to the next generation of the NBA.
I wish that Colorado situation never happened. Who knows what really went down but it was clear the NBA tried to ignore him after that and elevate LeBron James. It was still amazing seeing him travel from the courtroom in Colorado to Staples Center the same day and win those games while he dropped 40 on them.
@@Serching4JerryGarciaIt's innocent until proven guilty in this country for a reason, all we know for sure is he cheated on his wife and if people want to hate him for that or the way he carried himself or the way he played basketball that's fair imo. Not for something people have no idea what actually happened.
@@Serching4JerryGarciaagree 100%. Colorado ruined Kobe’s image, and the NBA needed a new guy to push. Nobody in the league could compare with Kob, so they had to choose somebody. The LITERAL “Chosen 1,” LeBron. Ever since the beginning, they overrate everything LeBron does. Bron is an all-time great, on my Mt. Rushmore at 4th, but the way they disrespect Kobe to elevate him is disgusting.
I remember when a major Nike brand-face named a future major Nike brand-face as the person you should also buy the sports apparel of. Man that was so cool. I love getting all my opinions from brand-faces or propaganda from people supporting brand-faces, it saves me from having to have an original thought.
Kobe was absolutely phenomenal from 2008-2010. In 2009, Kobe was determined to win the championship. I don't think I've ever seen a player more focused than Kobe was in 2009. He saved so many games which would have been late game collapses during the regular season and playoffs. People want to discredit that chip because the Lakers faced Orlando in the Finals, but will ignore the fact that Orlando was the best defensive team all year and they beat the EC favorites, Cavs to get there.
@@billybadass3056from 2006 to 2010 Kobe won back to back scoring titles, MVP, Olympic Gold Medal, back to back championships with Finals MVP for both, and he made both All NBA and All Defense 1st teams in that five year span. Kobe was also the last player to lead the league in scoring with a All Defense 1st team selection and the last MVP who played all 82 games.
He's disrespected by nephews who look at basketball through the lens of a spreadsheet and either never watched him play or only saw him post Achilles tear. Fortunately this is mostly relegated to Reddit and most people know how great he was.
@@CrazyxEnigma. Yea it’s weird the way people talk about him on Reddit of all places lol. The greatest Laker of all time over Magic, and Mf’s on there throw a fit by just comparing Kobe to MJ, Magic, and god forbid Bron at times 😂
And a winning record against the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs. Don’t let the “2000s belong to Duncan” crowd make you forget how Kobe always torched the shit out of them.
@@Serching4JerryGarcia Career win shares (same amount of games played) Tim-206 Kobe-172 That’s 2 seasons worth of difference Seasons with double digit win shares Tim-12 Kobe-1 Peak win shares Duncan-17.8 Kobe-14.9 Duncan had 2 seasons that was better than Kobe’s best season Both 110 offensive rating for their careers. But Tim’s best was 116 and Kobe’s best was 110 Defensive rating 96 for Duncan 105 for Kobe. Duncan had 10 seasons defensive rating under 100, Kobe had 1 season. Box plus/minus Duncan-5.5 Kobe-3.9 Duncan had 4 seasons better to Kobe’s best season.
@@judahmourneth3211Stop it your just bringing up advanced stats that all are dependent on team success to them you could score 75PTs and get 10 steals and 10 blocks and if your team loses you get 0 win share and a - in the plus minus
2010 against Phoenix Suns for me. Everyone always talks about Kobe losing in the first round to them but never his revenge he got that year in route to his 5th ring.
Kobe Bryant from 2008 through 2010 was my favorite version of him to watch. He was the leader of the team, the best player in the league, without a doubt at that time, and he finally had the knowledge and wisdom to equal his skill level. He trusted his teammates at this point and you could just tell he had figured it out. I think if that roster would’ve came together two years earlier, Kobe easily retires with six rings.
One of the reasons why Kobe had "down year" stats in 2008-2009 was because Kobe had a long year the year prior. Kobe played in the 2008 Finals and then played in the 2008 Olympics. Just like the 1992 year of Michael Jordan except for the fact that the Lakers did not win the championship in 2008. Phil felt that Kobe's legs were a little tired when Kobe reported for training camp in 2008 and according to Phil, Michael's legs were the same way when he reported to training camp in 1992. That's why Phil managed Kobe's minutes during the regular season as you will notice that Kobe averaged 36.1 MPG in 2008-2009 which is almost 3 minutes down to his average of 38.9 MPG during the 2007-2008 season. The following year Kobe's minutes per game went back up to 38.8 MPG in 2009-2010 after an offseason with no Team USA commitment in 2009.
I don’t always agree with your content and your takes, and that’s ok. But I have to tip my hat to you for always putting out premium, statistically based content. Appreciate you staying consistent 👏🏽👊🏽
What makes it iconic, is that he lost to the Celtics the year before, came back hungry, grabbed 1 vs magic, and got his revenge, grabbing another chip vs boston
At the end of the day the NBA is entertainment and in the history of the NBA the two most entertaining players to watch were 1. Jordan 2. Kobe followed only by Magic and Bird. Lebron doesn’t even crack the top 25 because his game is so boring to watch. There are players like Allen Iverson and even Curry that are more exciting to watch. Watching Lebron is like watching the WNBA with a few dunks added, it’s all layups and 3’s and no defense, no post game, and poor foul shooting. At least Curry has handles and his 3’s aren’t bricks.
winning 65 games when your 2nd best player is Pau Gasol is insane. the lakers now with LeBron and AD plus all the resigningd and new additions they made this summer are projected to win 47 (tho i personally believe they will win 56 games). and this team has two top 10 players and perfect role players around them.
In context, the 04 Lakers were missing 2 players (Malone & Grant) due to injury. That was their entire depth at Power Forward. This means missing rebounds, interior defense, and points. Plus Payton was getting washed that entire postseason. Nobody ever mentions this. There's a reason why Kobe was over extending himself in the 04 Finals.
@@jjohnson4013 Good point. He would've helped also. Devean George or Luke Walton had no business starting in The Finals, neither did Slava Medvendenko.
Shaq was already beginning his decline too. No longer averaging 29 or 30 ppg but now 21 ppg. Kobe was the only one still in his prime and he was busy chasing Rip Hamilton around.
@@Serching4JerryGarcia Facts. He had to chase Rip around baseline screens, then go guard Chauncey when he started cooking Payton, then go back to guarding Rip when he got hot again, plus try to put up 25ppg because other players were missing.
I can’t thank you enough for the videos you make. I know a lot of time goes into them not just in the editing and stuff but the research you do. It’s refreshing to find honest people that are actually telling the truth about what’s going on or what has gone on in the world of basketball. I used to love ESPN for 15 years. I would either always have it on the TV or I’d listen to ESPN radio but we live in a time now where journalist can be bought and ESPN now has no problem with just flat out lying about people career in favor to make LeBron look better . I’m not saying, LeBron isn’t great, he is he’s a legend, and I think he should be in anyone’s top 10 list, but the way they’re trying to throw Kobe away like he was Jason Kidd, like a nice player he might’ve heard about is really disgusting. Kobe is the best lake ever and I’m tired of people saying he’s not because out of his five championship. He had Shaquille O’Neal for three of them but those people Magic Johnson is the greatest Laker but they don’t say anything about having Kareem on his team for all of his championships and those same people say Kareem was better than Shaquille O’Neal.
2005 - 2010 Kobe > ANY version of Lebron FACT. Was way more skilled. If you gave 2005 and 2006 Kobe HALF the talent Lebron has had throughout his career, Kobe wins one or two more rings. Thanks for highlight the most SKILLED player ever and a top TWO player ALL TIME with MJ. Kobe is the ONLY player in NBA history to score 600+ points for 3 straight playoff runs. Even MJ never did that. Kobe BEAT more 50+ win teams from 2009 - 2010 than Magic did in his ENTIRE career. He beat more 50+ Wins teams in the playoffs than Lebron has PLAYED in his playoff career. He was 2 games away from pulling off ANOTHER THREE PEAT WITH FREAKING PAU Gasol! That's INSANE. Lebron, or KD, or even Curry, could NEVER, EVER do that in a million years. Those Laker TEAMS were just okay. Nothing special. They had nobody other than Kobe who could create his own shot consistently and very little floor spacing without sacrificing defense. Can you imagine Kobe with a KLAY THOMPSON for spacing????? Cmon! Kobe played won rings on teams, 2009 and 2010 that ONLY MJ could win with and MAYBE Hakeem. 2009 and 2010 proved to me that Kobe is DEFINITELY in the conversation for GREATEST PLAYER EVER. Only MJ could play the 2010 finals needing to get his knee drained before every quarter, playing with two broken fingers in his shooting hand, playing on partially torn knee ligaments and bone spurs in his ankle. Lebron left the Finals due to cramping; Kobe put up 15 Rebounds in Game 7 of 2010, the MOST BY ANY GUARD IN A FINALS GAME IN NBA HISTORY. Fact. Kobe is top 5 dead or alive and ANY list that doesn't have Kobe top 5 SCREAMS basketball illiteracy and low IQ analysis. "Thinking Basketball" btw, is the most overrated hoops channel on RU-vid. They called Kobe's defense overrated (with no proof) while FAILING to explain how an "overrated" defender ended up 4th in DPOY and 1st Team ALL NBA Defense in his 30s (2009), while carrying a very pedestrian team to the Finals (I still believe that Pau is overrated, nothing more than a less athletic, not-quite-as-good version of prime Lamarcus Aldridge). Him and MJ are the two best players EVER. Period.
Kobe is criminally underrated because Abigail Disney HATES his guts and, behind the scenes, pulled all sorts of funny business to derogate Kobe behind close doors, even going as far influencing how he was covered by ESPN - OWNED by Disney. The SAME Abigail Disney that wrote the most despicable post-humous tweet in recent history, basically saying everybody should remember he was a rapist on the day he died. She was, rightly, pilloried by Laker and non-Laker fans alike and forced into an apology (and I think she deleted the tweet, although it's the internet so you can always find it). Kobe is top 2 all time. Anybody who puts Lebron ahead of Kobe does not have a high IQ.
Kobe is criminally underrated because Abigail Disney HATES his guts and, behind the scenes, pulled all sorts of funny business to derogate Kobe behind close doors, even going as far influencing how he was covered by ESPN - OWNED by Disney. The SAME Abigail Disney that wrote the most despicable post-humous tweet in recent history, basically saying everybody should remember he was a rapist on the day he died. She was, rightly, pilloried by Laker and non-Laker fans alike and forced into an apology (and I think she deleted the tweet, although it's the internet so you can always find it). Kobe is top 2 all time. Anybody who puts Lebron ahead of Kobe does not have a high IQ.
He was injured all season. Thats why it was down. Man still gave his entire heart and soul. Mfers dont understand why Kobe is the Goat. He was always injured and played harder than anyone on the court and in the training room.
Kobe forced himself into the GOAT debate after that 2008-2010 run won back to back in 3 straight years with no top 75 teammate,beat 10 50+ Win teams including a team in the Finals that had 3 top 75 players in '10 Celtics neither MJ or LeBron can definitively say they endured that kinda competition from start to finish they say MJ had tough conference opponents but weak Finals opponents and they say Bron had weak conference opponents but tough Finals opponents Kobe had both tough conference opponents and Finals opponents in that 3 year stretch ALONE
Mj Kobe Kareem Magic Bird Russell Chamberlain Olajuwon Duncan Shaq LeBron, in 11 seasons in Cleveland, won one championship, lost four finals, and got swept twice while going 7-19 overall 😬
@@Adaptation49.42 Your list has the same names as mine. I order them differently though... MJ. Wilt. Kareem. Kobe. Bird. West. Duncan. Hakeem. Russell. Magic.
It is a myth he has a nearly identical career fg% as Tim Duncan and nobody calls him an inefficient chucker. Kobe was always above league average efficiency for his time period on great volume. People give him flak because he wasn't hyper efficient like Durant, LeBron and Curry not taking into account context.
@@judahmourneth3211 go look at what Shaq did with the ball when he finally played a C strong enough for him. Folks truly forget some of those hot potato shots KB & GP took that series; simply due an out of shape Shaq not being able to move around Wallace
Shaq ran himself out if town. Being out of shape The older of the 2 but couldn't check his ego So the choice was obvious move the older on the downside of his career. Keep Kobe as he was still growing
FACT: The "selfish" Kobe averaged more APG than Bill Russell, Kareem, James Worthy, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, etc. It's apples to oranges, context matters, and assists aren't the only measure of unselfishness, but the statement "Kobe doesn't pass" is factually untrue. It's amusing when other offensive focal points and primary scorers like Durant or Kareem NEVER get criticized for being selfish, but Kobe does. I'm not saying that any of those players are or were selfish; I'm just pointing out that Kobe is unjustifiably held to a different standard.
Please explain yourself. Throw any and all takes that you got, they're going to be complete dogshit. Kobe was fantastic in the playoffs, nothing else needs to be said. While the "King" was busy losing to the Orlando Magic in 2009 and Boston Celtics in 2010 as the "MVP" (decided by the media) as the 1st seed in the east, both years. Kobe beat both of those teams in the NBA Finals.
@@mirrorportal1587 Not sure how this turned into a Lebron vs Kobe argument? Lol. After Shaq was traded in 2004, the Lakers (with Kobe as the man) didn’t have one meaningful playoff run in 2005, 2006 and 2007. It wasn’t until they traded for Gasol in Feb 2008, did they become a true contender as they went 22-6 after that and made the Finals. Lebron never had any complimentary players in his first Cleveland stint like Prime Shaq or Gasol. Lebron took a mediocre Cavs team to the finals in 2007, where Kobe never did that without Shaq or Gasol.
@@chrisolivo6591you ever stop to think that's because mediocre teams didn't win games in the west? It's a bit easier to beat a .500 team than a 50+ win team, but you know... Narratives
Crazy how in 06 being the 6th seed getting bounce in the playoffs first round was 🚮 , now the calling Jokic the best player in the league ! Lmao I just don’t get it !
The video is titled '2009 Kobe WAS BETTER Than You Remember' and here you come, talking about 2000-2002 finals Shaq . . . "Crazy stuff." Shaq carried Kobe? Shaq went to the finals with Penny Hardaway, Horace Grant and Nick Anderson and got swept by Hakeem the Dream who carried a bunch of utility mid's and grandpa Clyde the Glide. Kobe won two finals with an even worse cast than both Shaq and Hakeem. That's crazy stuff.
@@mistwiir4011i agree shaq put those numbers in those finals becuase the east was weak and had no true center they were all past there prime while kobe had to graud three hall of famers Miller AI and Kidd also kobe score more points then Shaq in the 4thq in those three peat led the Lakers in asst and steal crazy stuff
It doesn't matter how many points he scored in the finals.The most important stat is winning and Kobe has more Finals wins than Lebron despite having played in a tougher Conference.
Kobe was the most overrated hucker in NBA history. Hated watching him shoot the Lakers out of games. 44% career FG % for a SG. Terribly overrated player.
@@desiarnes4731 he’s Kobe like you guys say. He was up 3-1 with that squad. He wasn’t good in the 08 finals. It took Kobe up to 09 to actually trust, use and utilize his teammates. You guys act like Kobe was this perfect player on the court. And it’s funny because after 2010, he went back to his old selfish ways
@@judahmourneth3211 nope. Lakers management dropped the ball again. Jerry Buss’ son who was taking over had beef with Phil Jackson and that’s why he didn’t come back after the 2011 season. They followed that up with a bunch of failed trades and acquisitions and Kobe found himself right back where he was in the 2005-2007 years but now older. Kobe didn’t get to enjoy the long term stability that some other greats like Tim Duncan experienced. Especially since he refused to be a mercenary gun for hire like LeBron.
@@Serching4JerryGarcia always excuses, he’s Kobe Bryant. This is the same guy that his fans say wasn’t carried by shaq, is better and greater than shaq all time. 2013 you had nash, pau, metta and Dwight and was fighting for a playoff spot all year. That’s why a Phil was needed because Kobe was not a good leader and not good at elevating teammates. He did that in 2009 Like i stated with Phil as the Coach
@@Serching4JerryGarcia there’s a reason why Dwight left his ass after 2013. He’s wasn’t the best leader at elevating and trusting teammates to do their job within the system.
