I'd Rank Magic over Kobe ...

[RupertPupkin]

And gladly take him on my team over him if both were rookies ...

All this talk about Bryant lately, and some people even have the nads to say he's better than Michael, :lol:^^. Well I got news for you knuckleheads, he's not even the best guard from that Laker organziation. (the old timers can pipe in with West also, but Im not taking it there.) Magic was the epitemy of a true winner, (5 Titles , 3 Finals MVps ) All time leader in assists per game in the playoffs and the regular season. Maybe he didn't have the jumper or the dunks that Kobe brings to the table, but Magic had an uncanny knack and will to win. He made everybody around him better and although he was also blessed with great teams around him from the get go like Kobe, he showed as a 20 year rookie what it takes to be a legend, in what many call the greatest finals performance ever when Magic stepped in and UP for an injured Kareem and lead his team to a victory in the biggest stage to the tune of 42-15-7 while being guarded by Mosses Malone. And this from a point guard, but not just any point guard, some say the greatest point guard ever, period. At 6-9 Magic could do anything you wanted him for. He was like a coach on the court and always prepared to leave it all on the line.

You young guys rant and rave about Kobe, and he's good, good enough for me to rank as the #2 guard in Lakers History.

 

[oldirtyku]

I agree with most that you post but Magic was not the best defender in the world.

If Kobe wins 2 more championships I would be open to saying he is greatest Laker of all time.

 

[RupertPupkin]

He wasn't the greatest defender true, but what he brought to the offense can't be overlooked, at 6-9 playing point it created nightmarish matchups for other teams everynight .. He could post up any guard/forward in the game and he was career .520 shooter and .850 from the line (Kobe is .840 btw). But I agree with you, if Kobe wins two more , I would be "open" for that discussion aswell.

 

[jordan17]

Look at it this way...who would u draft first?

magic is better than kobe...:drink:

 

[oldirtyku]

He wasn't the greatest defender true, but what he brought to the offense can't be overlooked, at 6-9 playing point it created nightmarish matchups for other teams everynight .. He could post up any guard/forward in the game and he was career .520 shooter and .850 from the line (Kobe is .840 btw). But I agree with you, if Kobe wins two more , I would be "open" for that discussion aswell.

Everything you say is true but Magic did play with 2 hall of famers. Kobe played with 1 future HOF'er for the first 1/2 of this career.

If he can get 3 rings (2 more) with this current team that has no future hall of famers I think he will have passed Magic. just imo.

 

[WorldNumberOne]

my 8 greatest players of all time


jordan
magic
larry
russell
wilt
kobe
oscar
west

players 9 and 10 could be any combo of

hakeem
shaq
duncan
karl malone
dr j
kareem
tiny archibald ( i know he's not top 10 , but he's my personal favorite )

 

[Hucklebuck]

How many titles did Magic win without Kareem?

 

[jordan17]

How many titles did Magic win without Kareem?

how many titles did Kareem win without Magic?...

 

[silver7]

Kobe #3 Laker

Not close IMO!
Magic & Kareem.

Top 10
MJ
Russell
Magic
Wilt
Larry
Oscar
Kareem
Kobe
West
Hakeem

Next 3
Malone
Duncan
Pettit

 

[steaktartar]

how many titles did Kareem win without Magic?...

he won one more than magic
66-16, Finished 1st in NBA Midwest Division (Game Results)
NBA Season Summary
1970-71 NBA Champions

 

[DrunkenHorseplayer]

Magic stepped in and UP for an injured Kareem and lead his team to a victory in the biggest stage to the tune of 42-15-7 while being guarded by Mosses Malone.

A superb performance, no doubt, but he wasn't guarded by Moses Malone but rather by Darryl Dawkins. Malone's first year with the Sixers was in '82-'83 and the Lakers didn't do so well against Moses.

 

[KeithRichard]

I remember that playoff series.He was awesome for a rookie.Always considered him the best overall guard in my lifetime.

 

[guitarjosh]

I agree with most that you post but Magic was not the best defender in the world.

If Kobe wins 2 more championships I would be open to saying he is greatest Laker of all time.

Magic did lead the league in steals a couple of times, though.

 

[HacheMan]

I can simply say that there is no way I can rank either one of those players, Magice & Kobe, as one better than the other.

Just impossible and too tough a call.......

 

[par88]

I'd say Kobe is a better pure shooter but Magic was a better team player. Almost every night Chick Hearn would be saying "another triple double for Magic!". Magic used to make some incredible no-look passes and always had a lot of assists.

 

[cutacrossshorty]

Everything you say is true but Magic did play with 2 hall of famers. Kobe played with 1 future HOF'er for the first 1/2 of this career.

If he can get 3 rings (2 more) with this current team that has no future hall of famers I think he will have passed Magic. just imo.

I think this logic is missing one element. The teams that Magic played against (early 80's Sixers, mid 80's Celtics, late 80's Pistons), would all mop the floor with the Laker teams Kobe Bryant played on (let alone against). I think the fact that Magic's teams played against much better talent cancels out the argument that Magic played WITH better talent than Kobe.

 

[oldirtyku]

I think this logic is missing one element. The teams that Magic played against (early 80's Sixers, mid 80's Celtics, late 80's Pistons), would all mop the floor with the Laker teams Kobe Bryant played on (let alone against). I think the fact that Magic's teams played against much better talent cancels out the argument that Magic played WITH better talent than Kobe.

Even if it cancles out it still holds true as he would have 6 rings.