Saturday, January 29th, 2011 at 7:51 pm  |  73 responses

Kobe Bryant: Moving On Up

After passing Olajuwon, Bryant is now eighth all-time in points scored.

Eighteen months ago, we declared Kobe Bryant the 12th greatest player of all-time. While we’re currently reassessing that number (you’ll know what we’re talking about in the not-too-distant future), Bryant’s busy climbing the career scoring list. As of Friday night, he’s now recorded the eight most points all-time. ESPN LA has a full write-up:

Bryant’s breakaway dunk with 3:29 remaining in the first quarter gave him 13 points for the game, passing Olajuwon’s 26,946 career points for eighth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

Bryant finished the game with 38 points on 13-of-27 shooting, but the Kings won 100-95 despite coming into the game with a 4-16 road record.

“It’s obviously a huge honor,” Bryant, a 15-year veteran, said after Friday’s loss. “I’ve been playing for a while and these milestones mean a lot.”

…

Bryant is one of just three guards in the all-time top 10 along with Michael Jordan (third; 32,292) and Oscar Robertson (10th; 26,710).

“Typically big men have been known to kind of dominate the ball and the bigs that are on that list are obviously the all-time greats,” Bryant said. “I guess there’s a couple little guys that are feisty.”

…

The next players in Bryant’s path are Elvin Hayes at No. 7 (27,313), Moses Malone at No. 6 (27,409) and former teammate Shaquille O’Neal at No. 5.

Now in his 15th season and clearly no longer a pup, enjoy KB24 while you still can.

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  • JTaylor21

    29 shots and O assists, damn that has to be some kind of record. The legend of the supreme chucker continues.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Royal

    Since when has O been a number?

  • http://sdfklf.com Jukai

    You know, I consider six players legendary: Jordan, Kareem and Wilt, Magic, Bird and Russell. Olajuwon and Kobe are both a step outside and I don’t really KNOW which one of them are better. Also add Duncan and the Big O on that “almost legendary but are missing something” list.

  • http://sdfklf.com Jukai

    If Kobe gets another ring or makes 30k in scoring, he’d probably make it into that legendary list.

  • JTaylor21

    Jukai, I know you’re a big Larry Legend fan but what makes him “legendary” and Hakeem not? I know Bird has him beat in the rings and award category but I think that Hakeem gets the better of him in the all-around ability and level of dominance area. Also if you were starting a franchise from scratch and you had to pick between Bird and Hakeem, who would you take?

  • JTaylor21

    Also what is TD “missing”? He’s accomplished and won damn near everything, if Kobe gets into that list then guys like TD, Hakeem, Big O and others have to also.

  • 2KInsider

    @Jukai- I agree with your 6 legends. What do you think Shaq needs to accomplish still to be a legend? I think him playing on 6 different teams hurts his status.

  • http://sdfklf.com Jukai

    JTaylor: Bird was a better scorer and (much better) passer, Hakeem was a better (much better) defender and rebounder. As terms of who is a “better” player, I’d have trouble figuring out who. I said I’d take Bird over Duncan without a doubt, but Bird and Hakeem, not sure who I’d build my franchise around. Hakeem had some maturity issues when he first entered the league, had some odd outbursts and fights, while Bird just jumped in at his peak. Of course, Bird also had a much shorter career.
    I may say Hakeem is a “better” player.
    But in terms of greatness, which is when I look at career too, it’s not close. Bird has more rings, more great playoff moments, he’s clutcher and people raved about his leadership, he could contour himself around his team in any matter to win. His rings came against far steeper competition, and he dominated just as many great small forwards as Hakeem did centers (although I agree with yer assumption that Pippen would have made his life hell, one of his famous game winners did come over BOTH Jordan and Pippen, haha).
    So yeah, in my mind, Bird is greater than Hakeem.
    Duncan is different, it’s odd. Yeah, Duncan has four rings, but I just don’t hold him in as high esteem. Maybe I should.

  • Niyasofresh

    Oh no but he’s too old what is like 32 damn that’s grandpa’s age how is he able to stay play at such an epic level Oh wait he’s Kobe freaking Bryant. Not only did he not immediately started playing 40+ minutes straight out of highschool into the league like LeBron, Like T-Mac, or K.G. he made up a lot of ground quick for those years he rode the bench on a team full of Hall of Famers so passing Hakeem is pretty epic for him if he makes it in the top 5 I’ll crap my pants.

  • http://counterkicks.com Quinned

    let’s see Kobe get two quadruple doubles

  • http://slamonline.com The Ambassador

    Kobe Bryant is a living Legend. He has accomplished most of the things that Jukai’s legendary players have done except when two or more MVP’S. He was a good defender and he can still score at will when the Laker bigs are getting handled by guys are smaller than them.

  • flipnoyce

    I’m just wondering why do people compare players with different positions.There’s a reason why POSITIONS are important in the league or any league. People need to really learn how NOT to make comparison with different position! I’m sure a lot of peeps in here are hoop head but just doesn’t know or understand the importance of position. How can anyone make a comparison between a Guard and a Center. It’s so dumb!!! Can KOBE cover HAKEEM?, can HAKEEM cover KOBE? IF KOBE play HAKEEM one on one GOAL tending allowed you best believe Kobe don’t stand a chance!!!

  • 2KInsider

    I think we will continue to see the game be less dominated by any player as time goes on. Jordan was not able to win 8 in a row like Russell or 11 in 13 for that matter. We may not see anyone win 6 in 8 years like Jordan. The way players treat free agency and the way the writers define “MVP” will make it almost almost impossible for a legend to form again.
    There is also that mystery element about players before the 90′s. Legends are built off hear-say stories that have no tangible evidence. Now, every thought and action of these players are being recorded and stored. There is nothing left to the imagination when we think about LeBron.

  • http://sdfklf.com Jukai

    flipnoyce: If you’re a hoop head, you know there is more to comparing basketball players to “who can cover who.”

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    Do people actually rank Kobe ahead of Shaq? Just wondering.

  • http://slamonline.com tealish

    @Teddy – Yes.

  • http://slamonline.com tealish

    Shaq at #4 all time was the worst thing I had ever seen SLAM do. The absolute worst.

  • flipnoyce

    @Jukai:Enlighten me with this knowledge you speak of,FYI I didn’t make that comparison(comment 6:32am)look it up! If you didn’t understand my statement then let me clear it up for you! If you want to compare players they must play the same position. If Kobe were a Center, would you think he’ll be better than Hakeem, or if Hakeem was a shooting guard DO YOU THINK he’ll be better than KOBE! LEBRON is the only LEGIT comparison to position 1 to 4, because he play all of those position. All the other stuff being compared are all tangibles, you can’t have it all!!! Would Kobe be a better point guard than Chris Paul? Is Kobe a better PF than DIRK? My statement is not who can cover who, Why would a Center try to cover a guard and vice versa? Yes, it happens for a split second but not the whole game! Read it again, How can anyone make a comparison between a GUARD and a CENTER????

  • http://www.slamoline.com Max

    @ Flipnoyce
    What about Magic from 1-5?

  • Anthony

    Jukai, for me Tim Duncan is the most underrated great player in the history of the NBA, simple as that. In 2003, we beat the reigning champs (Kobe+Shaq+Phil Jackson btw), we beat the last finalist, but the only thing people could talk about was how boring the Finals was, f*ck that.
    Look who was on that team, TP in his 2nd year, Manu was a rookie, Malik Rose, Stephen Jackson, old D-Rob, Bruce Bowen, Steve Kerr, Danny Ferry, Speedy Claxton, 40y Kevin Willis, 38y Steve Smith, you took Duncan out of the lineup and we would barely had the 8th seed. Talent wise, none of them are on the level of a 3rd All-NBA Team.
    Same thing is 2005, we beat the reigning champs and he was facing freaking Wallace and Wallace.
    Please show him some respect.

  • NOT

    don’t know…difficult to compare 2 players…dream was unique…most talented bigman ever…for me kobe is a MJ wannabe since day 1…

  • Gman

    Kobe has done some great things. Great Job!

  • Mike

    kobes a great player- but he s had alot of help. 5 rings is a bit misleading, like saying worthy is better than hakeem- cos he has 4 rings, or that pippen is better than magic cos he has 1 more ring. kobe has 5, but he was nt the man on the first 3, and he had an all star team for his last 2. i think thats what it takes to win it these days, 3 all stars- but kobe s greatness would have gotten his team to the playoffs in the 3 years he had no help, he didnt, unlike mj or pip, who dragged their teams to the playoffs when they played for the bulls, without each other. still the best player of his generation – no doubt- but i think its equal, with shaq and td.

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