Is there a current NBA Player that can be as big as MJ, Kobe and Lebron?

[Swagnificent]

I think Bron is a step below MJ/Kobe level. does Bron really have obsessive fans overseas like the other two? Maybe I’m selling it short.

To me Bron and Shaq are similar in this way. Both win with physicality and that isn't as appealing to global audiences that grew up on soccer where skill is paramount. Its why Jordan and Kobe are more popular globally. Kobe plays basketball like the great soccer players play soccer.

In soccer the great players are called genuises because of their trascendant skill. Kobe was a genius when it came to basketball with his unmatched skill. That is why he's arguably the most famous basketball player of all-time.

 

[Swagnificent]

So now nikkas gonna pretend Kobe isn’t just as big of an icon as MJ, maybe even bigger

the people have spoken Kobe is the people’s champ worldwide

When you take into account his popularity in Asia, Kobe is the most popular basketball player on all-time. Jordan has him beat in America and Europe. Africa is up for grabs. But in Asia its Kobe by a mile. And considering Asia has way more people than America and Europe, its pretty easy to come to the conclusion Kobe is the most popular basketball player of all-time.

 

[Bboystyle]

AI is an anomaly but that’s why he’s loved like that

he changed the game on a different level/plain

Yup. AI is like the michael vick of NBA. Came in and changed the game but never succeeded as much as the all time greats.

 

[Swagnificent]

I’m on dust because I’m stating the obvious? The worldwide rabid love for Kobe was in plain sight the whole time bro.

All death has done is put the spotlight on the love people already had for Kobe. The media ignored it while he was alive but he was deified in life. No American athlete of his generation was as respected by his athletic peers nor beloved by the world.

Kobe's reach was unmatched.

 

[Anerdyblackguy]

Zion is already known outside of basketball.

 

[Swagnificent]

Exactly. People just stay in denial when it comes to Kobe

Which is ridiculous cause the globe stopped with news of his death. You had world leaders commenting on it. Tributes happened all over the globe. The only other time I ever saw anything like that was when Michael Jackson passed. And Mike was undeniably the biggest star in the history of music.

 

[FTBS]

Celebrity is much different in 2020 than it's maybe ever has been.

I don't think anybody expects another MJ or Kobe, just like no one expects another Michael or Prince.

Somebody can be the first to India, however.

This is so important. There is no more mystique or mystery. Celebs are posting their daily lives on social media. People have so many more options for entertainment. You can see random cats doing dunks that guys won't even attempt in the dunk contest whenever you want. So many of the things that made Mike or Magic or Dr. J before him either don't exist or have drastically changed.

The key to any player reaching that level is gonna be the combination of drama, location, interaction with others, story...there has to be some hook beyond just being great. Bron didn't reach the level he's at now until he went to Miami. If Kobe goes to college, and doesn't go to LA, and doesn't have the teammate/coach drama he's not looked at in the same way either.

 

[dora_da_destroyer]

Celebrity is much different in 2020 than it's maybe ever has been.
.

this!

celebrity can't be as formulaically manufactured as it once was - commercials, big market team, sports media push, etc. the actual people anoint who stars are. a lot has to do with how big of an audience they can build outside the sport. i wouldn't be surprised if the next larger than life NBA player is no where near the player Bron, MJ and Kobe are/were and is more so a good player who also happens to be the person who successfully crosses over to pop culture

 

[cobra]

No

today all incoming top players have too much hype
Bron is the only one who was capable of living up to it

remember that MJ didn’t have this much hype coming into the league either

 

[cobra]

So now nikkas gonna pretend Kobe isn’t just as big of an icon as MJ, maybe even bigger

the people have spoken Kobe is the people’s champ worldwide

Basketball is not a global sport so this point is moot. Average person in Cameroon, Bangladesh or even China is not watching the nba like that
MJ and Bron are bigger in the US

 

[Cyber]

Basketball is not a global sport so this point is moot. Average person in Cameroon, Bangladesh or even China is not watching the nba like that
MJ and Bron are bigger in the US

 

[cobra]

China has 1.5 billion people, the average person In China does not give a shyt about basketball

even if we believe the NBA’s outrageous claims that 500 million Chinese have watched the nba at some point over the last year, that still means a billion people don’t care

 

[Cyber]

China has 1.5 billion people, the average person In China does not give a shyt about basketball

even if we believe the NBA’s outrageous claims that 500 million Chinese have watched the nba at some point over the last year, that still means a billion people don’t care

Asia in mourning for Kobe Bryant's helicopter crash death - CNN

You're trolling but I still had to post this

 

[puggle]

It's gotta be Zion, he makes rebounds look exciting. Him jumping higher than Dwight the other night made me go

 

[Swagnificent]

Basketball is not a global sport so this point is moot. Average person in Cameroon, Bangladesh or even China is not watching the nba like that
MJ and Bron are bigger in the US

MJ is bigger in the US. LeBron is not. Kobe has always been more popular. Look at who the NBA players idolize. Its Kobe way more than Bron.

The media definitely promotes LeBron more than Kobe (which is why you think he's bigger). But among the people its Kobe. His style of play is just more exciting.