Kobe tells TJ Simers he ain't retiring a bum like MJ on the Wizards

[boskey]

I really don't understand how people can hate Kobe. He's a dude who has worked hard to perfect his craft despite his limitations. Its crazy that he's even in the same sphere as guys like Jordan (all-time) and LeBron (at age 34). Those two were physical freaks way ahead of their contemporaries. Kobe on the other hand was not a physical freak, he was able to dominate because of his work ethic and mind.

Its sad that people are unwilling to recognize what a special player he is. Once in a lifetime without a doubt.

This is not the first time I've heard this bullsh!t. Give him props for his work ethic but acting like he has no physical tools is just a stupid lie. His father played professional basketball, now he plays professional basketball. He's 6 foot 6. He won the dunk contest. What are you talking about...

 

[iPod Raheem 2.0]

Kobe gives a good interview.

 

[Tony D'Amato]

I hate this hoe n1gga, but I do respect.his passion for the.gm. It would be easy to go the Arod route and.just collect money, but losing kills him and I like how hard he takes losing. If the entire league was like that, games would be a lot more fun.

 

[malbaker86]

As A Spurs fan, I hate Kobe as the basketball player but I respect him and he's always honest and insightful when he wants to be. One of the best to ever do it

 

[FTBS]

I really don't understand how people can hate Kobe. He's a dude who has worked hard to perfect his craft despite his limitations. Its crazy that he's even in the same sphere as guys like Jordan (all-time) and LeBron (at age 34). Those two were physical freaks way ahead of their contemporaries. Kobe on the other hand was not a physical freak, he was able to dominate because of his work ethic and mind.

Its sad that people are unwilling to recognize what a special player he is. Once in a lifetime without a doubt.

Yeah this is a myth that needs to stop. Kobe's work ethic separated him from the likes of T-Mac and Vince but he was every bit the athlete that they were. He just as good of athlete as Mike was. He's not the freak that Bron is but at his peak he was only a notch below. It's not like he ever lacked in athleticism. Even now, how many 34 year olds are better athletes than him? His mind, work, ethic, and great athleticism all combined to make him into the all-time great that he is.

 

[malbaker86]

Yeah this is a myth that needs to stop. Kobe's work ethic separated him from the likes of T-Mac and Vince but he was every bit the athlete that they were. He just as good of athlete as Mike was. He's not the freak that Bron is but at his peak he was only a notch below. It's not like he ever lacked in athleticism. Even now, how many 34 year olds are better athletes than him? His mind, work, ethic, and great athleticism all combined to make him into the all-time great that he is.

Nah, imo he was always clearly below a notch in MJ in the athleticism department but not TOO much that it would make much of a difference

 

[FTBS]

Nah, imo he was always clearly below a notch in MJ in the athleticism department but not TOO much that it would make much of a difference

It's debatable. What's not debatable is that Kobe at his peak was a helluva athlete.

 

[malbaker86]

It's debatable. What's not debatable is that Kobe at his peak was a helluva athlete.

Yep that's true and what's crazy is that he never really showed it off either which i think is more impressive. Every now and then, he'd do something athletic that made you go i forgot how athletic this nikka was

 

[FaTaL]

Nah, imo he was always clearly below a notch in MJ in the athleticism department but not TOO much that it would make much of a difference

physically there similar, skill wise i think kobe is a better ball handler then mj

 

[GreatestLaker]

Nah, imo he was always clearly below a notch in MJ in the athleticism department but not TOO much that it would make much of a difference

Yeah, I agree. Jordan jumped higher and was a little more explosive.

 

[Swagnificent]

When did you start watching basketball? Kobe was extremely athletic in his younger days.

97. Kobe was athletic no doubt. But was he ever a level above his peers athletically? No. Guys like T-Mac and Vince were more athletic. Only dudes who were ever just more athletic than everyone else in the league were Shaq, MJ, and LeBron.

Kobe dominated cause he had superior skills NOT because he had superior genes. Shaq/MJ/LeBron benefited largely from the fact no one else had their natural gifts. Kobe had natural gift, no doubt. But those gifts alone didn't make him an all-time great. It was his work ethic.

 

[Swagnificent]

Kobe wasn't as strong, but he was just as fast Lebron.

no way. Young Bron was the fastest dude in the league at 6'8" 260.

Prime Kobe was definitely quicker than Bron and had one of the fastest first steps in NBA history. But I still think Bron was faster baseline to baseline.

 

[MoneyTron]

Sounds like he's ready to go. Been saying that since the beginning of the season. This is the real Kobe. Finally sounds like he's come to terms with his retirement and legacy. Him actually having a good chat with Simers is proof. This wouldn't have happened 5 years ago.

2014 gonna be a sad year for us Laker fans. Not that 2013 isn't, but this is for other reasons.

 

[mastermind]

Yeah this is a myth that needs to stop. Kobe's work ethic separated him from the likes of T-Mac and Vince but he was every bit the athlete that they were. He just as good of athlete as Mike was. He's not the freak that Bron is but at his peak he was only a notch below. It's not like he ever lacked in athleticism. Even now, how many 34 year olds are better athletes than him? His mind, work, ethic, and great athleticism all combined to make him into the all-time great that he is.

absolutely not true.

but Kobe was fundamentally a better and smarter bball player than those two, as well as a better determination, which is often overlooked when we talk about great bball players.

Vince was on MJ's level athletically and is an intelligent player, but he never had that fire.

TMac was a 6'8.5" 2 guard with point guard handles and and had a great length, but he never had the intelligence or the desire.


Kobe is going to be a guy people appreciate 10-15 years from now. In fact if he entered the league 5 years later than he did, I think he would have been appreciated more.

That was a great interview too, altho smh at the misleading title.

 

[Fury616]

97. Kobe was athletic no doubt. But was he ever a level above his peers athletically? No. Guys like T-Mac and Vince were more athletic. Only dudes who were ever just more athletic than everyone else in the league were Shaq, MJ, and LeBron.

Kobe dominated cause he had superior skills NOT because he had superior genes. Shaq/MJ/LeBron benefited largely from the fact no one else had their natural gifts. Kobe had natural gift, no doubt. But those gifts alone didn't make him an all-time great. It was his work ethic.

I'd add Iverson to that list...at one point wasn't he a better football player than basketball player?