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Kobe Bryant to retire after this season
- Thread starter DrFunk
- Start date
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Jack The Nipper
Banned
As far as position and still id go top 3. Dribbling skill is over Jordan. Mental toughness, drive will always go to Jordan. In the end Jordan is a much smarter player and this helps him retain skill.
23 year old Jordan is probably still scoring goat though
ryutaro's mama
Member
Even though it came at expense of my team, the Lakers, getting beat in the process, I was so happy for Dirk getting one.
Dude is so filthy when jumper is right.
The fact that chip came at the super team Heat's expense was super delicious, tho.
Yeah, and he didn't do much in his last year. He never played starting minutes and wasn't much of a factor for that Lakers team at all. He didn't really have much business playing that year other than add to his scoring total.
ryutaro's mama
Member
This had to be the worst bait post I have ever seen.
And I have been on GAF a long while.
Setzer
Member
As a Lakers fan since the early 80's, I never thought there would be a player I'd enjoy watching more than Magic Johnson, that was until Kobe Bryant came along. I'm sad he's leaving but thankful for the 20 seasons I got to watch him play. I will miss his passion for the game, that killer instinct and determination to win. Thanks, Kobe!
I'm gonna need a more legit source
Not enjoying seeing him this season but this was the way he was always destined to go out. Few players have ever wanted it as much as him. His progression from rookie to when he finally tore the Achilles was so fun to watch. It's hard for me to think of another player who improved as much as Kobe did in that time period. When he could play though he really made it seem like anything was possible, which is why we stayed to th bitter end of every loss and got to watch some epic comebacks along the way.
It still bothers me that he wasted the peak of his prime with Kwame and Smush though.
It still bothers me that he wasted the peak of his prime with Kwame and Smush though.
how does that not go to duncan
Duncan won.
ryutaro's mama
Member
Annnnnd you took the bait...
hydragonwarrior
Member
They could put him in the mascot costume.
ryutaro's mama
Member
Brother, stahp. If him and Shaq had stopped all that fuckery, I legit believe they run off 6 or 7.
Maybe the 5pur5 never happen...siiiiigh.
WesternHeretic
Member
You mean top 3 overall of top 3 SG? Cause if we just talking about SG my #2 is Kobe but overall he's 7 to 9.
1. Jordan
2. Kareem
3. Magic/Russell
4. Magic/Russell
5. Bird/WIlt
6. Bird/Wilt
Then I have a toss up with Duncan, Kobe and Oscar
Better shape how? If you have been watching the NBA for the past 2 years, no one was signing with the Lakers regardless of them having cap space or not. Last season the Lakers had all the cap space in the world even with Kobe's contract, yet we still missed out on LMA, Deandre Jordan, Greg Monroe, etc. The year before that, Lakers had enough cap space even with Kobe's contract to max Melo and sign another big player to a good contract, and guess what? Didn't happen.
Kobe didn't do anything to hamstring the Lakers. Jim and Jeanie Buss did that to themselves by giving guys like that bum Nick Young a multi year deal, not trading or waiving Lin after he was acquired by the Rockets for their pick, hiring absolutely the WORST coaches like Mike Brown, Mike Dantoni over Phil Jackson (at completely the wrong time, he would do wonders offensively with the current squad funny enough), and of course, the worst of them all, Byron Scott which the sole purpose of THAT hiring was just to shut Magic Johnson up and quit complaining to the current Buss family.
To blame the owner's faults at Kobe is foolish and completely ignorant of the Lakers situation for the past half a decade. AND EVEN WITH ALL THAT BULLSHIT that has transpired for the Lakers organization, they still have a really nice young core moving forward with Russell Clarkson and Randle, as well as possibly keeping their top 3 pick if they continue to suck enough to do so. Which with Byron Scott coaching, is very possible. And then possibly adding Ben Simmons? I would say Kobe's current bad shooting has actually helped the Lakers future more than not.
bender
What time is it?
The stars aligned in 2011. It's easy to be a fan of Dirk and it doesn't hurt that I'm half German and grew up just outside of Fort Worth. I still get a little choked up thinking about that championship year.
I wonder what is next for Kobe? I don't see him coaching but I can't imagine him being away from the game. TV analyst perhaps?
I'm more curious how much longer they'll play. Tim's aged really well and has a coaching staff to take care of his minutes. I *think* he could also use the money. Dirk's aged pretty well too with the exception of average defense becoming abysmal.
ryutaro's mama
Member
Better go man.
If Warriors remain strong, TD could gone after this year. I think Dirk has a couple years left.
Shaq was never destined to handle success well.
This fantasy requires Shaq to have continued working.
He pretty much stopped after the 2nd championship and coasted on his talent until it was too late.
Going back to my point though, it would have been cool to have seen what prime Kobe could have done with an actual NBA team instead of the trash he had with him.
I have no idea how the Lakers will get out of this hole this time. When Shaq made the decision to become a Laker, you still had to be in a big market to be an international superstar. Also the big franchises could still outspend everyone. These days most franchises are on equal footing as far as trying to stay under the luxury tax and avoid the repeat offender penalty. With social media you can be a star from anywhere, look at Kevin Durant and OKC.
2 of their next 3 1st round picks could end up in the hands of the 76ers and Magic.
2 of their next 3 1st round picks could end up in the hands of the 76ers and Magic.
i dont want that day to ever come
dirk is the best personality in basketball..you just know the dude is legit.
ryutaro's mama
Member
I think he stays away for a minute, ala Jeter. I don't see coaching out there for him. I could, however, see him joining a front office somewhere, not named the Lakers.
This franchise isn't the one he was excited to play for. I doubt he wants to work with/for them going forward.
Maybe he joins Phil in NY one day.
ryutaro's mama
Member
dirk has a special place in my heart for giving us this
My favorite part of that moment is Lebron wanting no part of that final shot attempt. LOL
Exactly.
Shaq after 2002/2003 just pretty much quit trying. While he was obviously still Shaq for the most part, he got fat, more demanding off the court and just wanted KG type of contract (which for those here that don't know, KG's huge contract with the Wolves at the time was...like...wow). Shaq was 32 and was slowing down.
There was gonna be no future championship after, that duo was pretty much done due to Shaq getting lazy.
And yeah, it would have been great seeing 2006 Kobe with a 2nd best player being better than freaking Luke Walton.
(yes I'm aware Odom but he was very inconsistent at the time).Jordan didn't tear his Achilles.
Jeez these posts.
Kobe's 2nd to last game before he broke his Achilles:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=CWn7EcoargU
sf2fanatic
Member
Better shape how? If you have been watching the NBA for the past 2 years, no one was signing with the Lakers regardless of them having cap space or not. Last season the Lakers had all the cap space in the world even with Kobe's contract, yet we still missed out on LMA, Deandre Jordan, Greg Monroe, etc. The year before that, Lakers had enough cap space even with Kobe's contract to max Melo and sign another big player to a good contract, and guess what? Didn't happen.
Kobe didn't do anything to hamstring the Lakers. Jim and Jeanie Buss did that to themselves by giving guys like that bum Nick Young a multi year deal, not trading or waiving Lin after he was acquired by the Rockets for their pick, hiring absolutely the WORST coaches like Mike Brown, Mike Dantoni over Phil Jackson (at completely the wrong time, he would do wonders offensively with the current squad funny enough), and of course, the worst of them all, Byron Scott which the sole purpose of THAT hiring was just to shut Magic Johnson up and quit complaining to the current Buss family.
To blame the owner's faults at Kobe is foolish and completely ignorant of the Lakers situation for the past half a decade. AND EVEN WITH ALL THAT BULLSHIT that has transpired for the Lakers organization, they still have a really nice young core moving forward with Russell Clarkson and Randle, as well as possibly keeping their top 3 pick if they continue to suck enough to do so. Which with Byron Scott coaching, is very possible. And then possibly adding Ben Simmons? I would say Kobe's current bad shooting has actually helped the Lakers future more than not.
The front office definitely deserves most of the blame, but you don't think other FA saw what Kobe had become? Why would they sign to play with Kobe taking up another max contract? If Kobe was taking what TD or Dirk was taking and you could talk to 2 top FA about playing with each other, plus a Kobe that's ready to step back and take a lesser role, I believe you end up with Carmelo+Bosh or something close to that.
ryutaro's mama
Member
And played hundreds less games and thousands less minutes in his career, took 2 between the 3 Peats and another 2 years after leaving the Bulls but yeah, just post a lazy drive by Jordan post.
:|
As of last week, Kobe had the worst field goal percentage in the league (based on number of attempts). I knew he would retire because of that.
His first year in the league was when I started to watch basketball.
Iverson is gone and now Kobe are going to be gone too. I don't think anyone from the '96 draft is left in the league. As a Knicks fan at least we still have Fisher...that's something I guess.
What happened to NBA-GAF?
His first year in the league was when I started to watch basketball.
Iverson is gone and now Kobe are going to be gone too. I don't think anyone from the '96 draft is left in the league. As a Knicks fan at least we still have Fisher...that's something I guess.
What happened to NBA-GAF?
darkside31337
Tomodachi wa Mahou
I'll be sad when he retires. He should be the one getting the retirement tour Kobe is going to get.
ryutaro's mama
Member
And Phil!
What? That was literally not the reason why they didn't sign with the Lakers. They didn't sign because the fact of the matter is that the Lakers are not a playoff team. We had fucking nobody but an old injured Kobe. No chance to win any titles or even appear in the playoffs. Especially with an chaotic front office with Jeanie Buss trying to get rid of his own brother Jim canned out as owner and a completely clueless coaching staff that is WAY behind the times in statistical analysis.
Again, blaming Kobe for that is foolish.
bender
What time is it?
dirk has a special place in my heart for giving us this
This is what sticks in my head:
That and him hopping the scorers table to go have a private moment to collect himself.
fake edit: I guess you could add all those animated head shots that NBA GAF would post every time someone would hit a three. haha
I remember watching interviews with Kobe after his Achilles tear. It was really sad and I felt bad for him. I'm far from his biggest fan but I have all the respect in the world for his game.
PrimaNocta
Member
A Legend. Always respected his hustle and grind.
ryutaro's mama
Member
LMA said Kobe was the best part of the Laker pitch but no, it was all because of Kobe that no one signed.
CapitalismSucks DonkeyBalls
Banned
I couldn't imagine looking at my name badge for work and then writing a poem to it when I retire in 30 years as a state employee.
grosvenor_92
Member
End of an era GG Kobe
ryutaro's mama
Member
Did you dream of working for the state at 6 and were you one of the best state employees ever to do it?
Phil Jackson wasn't in the '96 NBA Draft lol.
Was that ever in question even before this announcement?
I'm just worried that moron Byron will run Kobe into the ground before he can even finish the season by playing him 35+ minutes a game or some shit instead of developing the young core.
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