Oh god, don't get me started on Kobe... he's had a wonderful career, but right now, he is not as good as people put him out to be... Kobe is going back to playing iso ball, while shooting abysmally. Most Kobe fans state he's the best player in the league, he's the next MJ, etc. but he's not...
Joe Johnson has a fine career, but he is doing TERRIBLE this year, and people state Deron Williams and Joe Johnson are the "best backcourt in the NBA," while they are both doing horrible right now. Joe Johnson is shooting at 0.427%, and most of his stats are pale in comparison to his previous years.
Let me just get this out of the way.. Kobe Isn't the best player in the NBA right now, but he is still a true scorer. Let's compare his career stats to his current stats.
Career FG%: 45.3%
Current FG%:47.1%
Career 3p%: 33.8%
Current 3p%:37.4%
Career FT%: 83.8%
Current FT%:86.1%
Career MPG: 36.6
Current MPG:38.6
Career PPG: 25.5
Current PPG:29.7
Career RPG:5.3
Current RPG: 5.4
Career APG:4.7
Current APG:5.0
Career T/O: 3.0
Current T/O: 3.8
His stats at the moment are actually peaking, although he is taking more shots than ever before. And by the way, all Kobe does play is Iso ball, all true scorers play this type of game. I think Kobe still has that competitive nature in him and will never stop until he gets tired of winning (don't know when that's going to be). Kobe Bryant is not the next Michael Jordan, but he is probably the closest thing we have seen to Jordan. I think a lot of critics are looking at Kobe today [17 years into the league] instead of his overall career. The man still holds the record for 12 3-pointers in a game, 9/9 3-pointers in a game, outscoring an ENTIRE team in 3 quarters [62-61], scoring 81 points in a game [Second best scoring effort in NBA history], countless of game winners, unbelievable comebacks, clutch moments, won countless awards and has done this all with the daunting task of being better then the best whose ever done it. [MJ=Greatest of all time] I can't remember another player who has embraced the challenge as much as Kobe has.
What makes Kobe so amazing is he this far through hard work, dedication. He doesn't have the height and length of Kevin Durant, nor the size of LeBron, doesn't have the hands of MJ, wasn't ever really included to be in the discussion of one of the all time greats, and wasn't drafted #1, but #13.
IMO, what makes someone an all time great isn't only the championships and awards because if this were to be the case, Robert Horry has 7 rings, MJ has 6, does this mean Horry had a better career than MJ? It's the adversity and perseverance of overcoming to have everything once in your career [Shaq, Payton, Malone, Phil Jackson], then losing it all, and sitting at home one summer in your bedroom watching Shaq win a championship without you while you're struggling to make the playoffs, accused of being a ballhog, and watching the league prepare for a new era [LeBron, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo], and to say to yourself "i'm not done yet" and rebuild and work harder than the season before. That to me my friend, is GREATNESS.
Reading these comments speak about Kobe being overrated, and not in the conversation of being compared of MJ is a complete outrage. Kobe has overcome it all, and deserves to be in your top 2.
As for
Joe Johnson, the guy is playing with Deron Williams in the backcourt, so of course his numbers will be slightly lower.. As Deron Williams is still a prime performer. When he was playing with the Atlanta Hawks, Jeff Teague played backcourt with Joe Johnson.. So i'll let you decide this one.. Jeff Teague? or Deron Williams?
