Magic Johnson: 'Kobe Bryant belongs in the GOAT conversation'
Q. If Kobe Bryant were still alive today, would the GOAT conversation be more of a three-man race instead of the current two-man conversation between Michael Jordan and LeBron James? Magic Johnson: Yeah, because we know Kobe belongs in that conversation even today. Kareem, Kobe and they all wore the purple and gold. So I think about what Kobe meant to the game of basketball worldwide, and to me offensively he’s the second-best dude in terms of at that shooting guard, small forward positions behind Michael Jordan. When you think about scoring-wise nobody could stop Kobe just like nobody could stop Michael Jordan.
Source: YouTube
Source: YouTube
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Kobe in January 2006:
43.4 PPG
5.6 RPG
1.8 SPG
over a 13 game span. pic.x.com/xyy71r2ky9 – 10:17 AM
Kobe in January 2006:
43.4 PPG
5.6 RPG
1.8 SPG
over a 13 game span. pic.x.com/xyy71r2ky9 – 10:17 AM
![https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GVl5hdMXYAAdryr.jpg](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GVl5hdMXYAAdryr.jpg)
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Players who were All-Stars in every season of a decade:
60s — Russell, Chamberlain
70s — Hayes
80s — Kareem, Moses
90s —
00s — Garnett, Kobe, Duncan
10s — Durant, LeBron pic.x.com/tjcrd1wmfl – 7:13 PM
Players who were All-Stars in every season of a decade:
60s — Russell, Chamberlain
70s — Hayes
80s — Kareem, Moses
90s —
00s — Garnett, Kobe, Duncan
10s — Durant, LeBron pic.x.com/tjcrd1wmfl – 7:13 PM
![https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GVdf8iiXQAAt_tT.jpg](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GVdf8iiXQAAt_tT.jpg)
![https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GVdgGjdXoAA7JJT.jpg](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GVdgGjdXoAA7JJT.jpg)
![https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GVdgIIjWUAAOVUR.jpg](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GVdgIIjWUAAOVUR.jpg)
![https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GVdgLGNWUAAOx3C.jpg](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GVdgLGNWUAAOx3C.jpg)
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🔙👀Anthony Edwards believes that Michael Jordan was the only player with real skill back in the day.
🗣️ “So that’s why when they saw Kobe [Bryant], they were like, ‘Oh, my God.’ But now everybody has skill.” pic.x.com/nysnlzsyay – 2:59 PM
🔙👀Anthony Edwards believes that Michael Jordan was the only player with real skill back in the day.
🗣️ “So that’s why when they saw Kobe [Bryant], they were like, ‘Oh, my God.’ But now everybody has skill.” pic.x.com/nysnlzsyay – 2:59 PM
![https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GVcmyiNXEAAw8Aj.jpg](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GVcmyiNXEAAw8Aj.jpg)
More on this storyline
Magic Johnson believes much of the debate centers around Michael Jordan and LeBron James, but even now, Kobe belongs in that conversation. Bryant’s impact on basketball was profound, both on and off the court, and his legacy resonates worldwide still. “Offensively, Kobe stands out as one of the greatest. At the shooting guard position, or even as a small forward, he ranks just behind Michael Jordan,” Johnson said. “Regarding scoring, Kobe was virtually unstoppable, much like [Michael] Jordan. His skill set, determination, and ability to perform under pressure made him one of the most clutch players in NBA history. Kobe would be a top choice alongside Jordan if you needed one player to take the final shot with the game on the line. Both had the uncanny ability to either sink the shot, draw the foul, and calmly knock down the free throws to seal the victory. We witnessed Kobe do this countless times.” -via Nitecast Media / August 22, 2024
The card dates back to the the 2003/04 season, in which Bryant, fresh off a three-peat, led the Lakers back to the NBA Finals where they lost to the Detroit Pistons -via Hypebeast / August 19, 2024
A rare Kobe Bryant Upper Deck trading card sold on Saturday, May 17 at Goldin auction for a whopping $1.6m USD. The collectible card was signed by the late Los Angeles Laker and included a game-worn Logoman patch from his jersey. -via Hypebeast / August 19, 2024