Friday, December 7th, 2012 at 10:25 am  |  155 responses

Jerry West Considers Kobe Bryant the Greatest Laker Ever


It’s a never-ending debate: who is the greatest Los Angeles Laker of all time? The choices are plentiful — Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and a few others could all make the claim — but according to Jerry West, the title goes to the Black Mamba. Per USA Today: “West, the former Lakers general manager who brought Bryant to Laker Land as a rookie in 1996 by way of the trade with the Charlotte Hornets for Vlade Divac, would consider Bryant the best Laker of all time even if he quit tomorrow. His sentiment echoed that of Magic Johnson, the five-time champion who reiterated his stance on ESPN on Wednesday night that Bryant was the best of all the Lakers. West, who is now a consultant for the Golden State Warriors, said he viewed Abdul-Jabbar and Chamberlain differently because they didn’t play their entire careers with the Lakers but he clearly sees Bryant above Johnson and himself on the Lakers’ long list of greats. ‘What he has accomplished with this team, I don’t think there’s any question in my mind at this point in time – because of him being with this team for his whole career – that he has been the greatest Laker player,’ West – who earned 14 All-Star berths, one championship, one MVP and made nine Finals appearances – said. ‘I do think he’s the greatest Laker player we’ve ever seen.’ As for the scoring record and whether Bryant will pursue it, West doesn’t see him chasing the mark unless he’s still playing at the highest level. ‘The one thing he’s been able to avoid are really serious injuries,’ West said. ‘That is a factor in anyone’s success…(But) he’s not going to go out there and play – like a lot of guys do – past their prime, trying to chase a record. I don’t think that’s who he is, at the end of the day. I just think that he’s just one of those guys who loves to compete, loves to win, understands that he’s been doing it for so long, at a high level, and now the team hasn’t played as well as (they were expected to). Does that wear on him? I’m sure. And then having you guys ask him the question, ‘How long will you play?’ I think he’ll play as long as he feels like he can play like he is right now, and then he will move away from it.’”

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  • http://twitter.com/stepfdelaghetto Stepfan Raiford

    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar gets no respect.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    so this could get out of hand.
    .
    but Magic is the best Laker. If you disagree, it’s because you are a Kobe fan. Not a Lakers fan. — This Jerry West guy? Since his title as greatest Laker was taken by Magic, is now proclaiming the guy HE DISCOVERED greatest Laker. — These uber competitive greats are perpetually uber competitive. In a round-about-way, West wins.
    .
    ok, go.

  • shockexchange

    Kareem is the greatest Laker. He may not be the “most popular,” but definitely the greatest.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    Could make more solid arguments against Kobe than you could against Magic in my opinion. So I’d still go with Magic.

  • Entity91

    Just stop…..for real. Kobe is the greatest Laker. It is truly not a real discussion.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    I also think him trading for Kobe on draft night strongly influences his opinion. Magic, being as humble as he is about himself, won’t call himself the greatest Laker. But he is the greatest in my opinion. Kareem doesn’t get as much love in my opinion. Kobe is, at best, 3rd for me behind Magic and Kareem.

  • elmaar

    GTFOH

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    Magic is too selfless, at least publicly, definitely. He knows he’s the greatest Laker. Look at what he accomplished in his 12* years (13 if you count ’96) compared to what Kobe has in his 17.
    .
    The Kareem thing, I can’t call Kareem a better Laker then Kobe. Mainly because his best years were in Milwuakee, along with 5 of his MVPs.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    i’m going to regret this, but by what Logic?

  • roscoe

    what about Eldin Campbell?

  • ashemsmashem

    So even if shaq, magic & west believe kobe is the gloat….people is refuse to believe it or consider it. Kobe will never fully be appeciated. As a laker fan I make no bones kobe is MY goat.

  • ashemsmashem

    You never have anything positive to say about kobe anyway

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    because factually speaking, Kobe isn’t greater than Magic.

    .

    9 Finals in 12 years. vs 7 Finals in 17 years.
    .
    5 Rings vs 5 Rings
    .
    3 MVPs in 12 years vs 1 MVP in 17 years
    .
    3 Finals MVPs vs 2 Finals MVPs
    .
    Unless someone really wants to try and say Kobe played in a more competitive era? lol

  • shockexchange

    He was the most unstoppable low post presence in the game. He led L.A. to five rings. People forget, that the last ring he won in ’88, dude was already 40 yrs old. And don’t give me (i) Showtime and (ii) he couldn’t do it without Magic. Showtime may have gotten them through the regular season, but that sky hook, and crunch time low post presence won chips. Jabbar had already won multiple MVPs and a chip in Milwaukee before even coming to L.A. He would have won chips wherever he played – Milwaukee, L.A., NY, Orlando, New Orleans, Virginia, etc.

  • Da-Meat-Hook

    Kareem and Wilt may lose nods because some of their most dominant years were spent on the Bucks and Sixers respectively. Kinda like how KG has had a better career than McHale, but McHale will go down as the greater Celtics power forward of all time.

    I’d take Magic over Kobe. 5 rings as consistently the best player on a team filled with elite talent. Revolutionized the Point forward/guard position. One of the best, if not THE BEST floor general the league has ever seen. And this is coming from a Larry Legend fan!

  • ashemsmashem

    So there is no way jerry west being genuine in his answer? They asked him his opinion on the mattter, and considering jerry west is a life long laker, just like magic & kobe. Magic & kobe by far the most popular amongst lakers fans, its a difference of generations. But in no way is west wrong, maybe your indenial…..and I bet your not a lakers fan?

  • don

    Kobe..kobe…kobe…kobe……………

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    holy revisionist history.
    - yeah he won a title at 40, while puttin up 13 points and 4 rebounds in the finals. Try and say things that make sense.
    .
    - and you can’t call someone the greatest Laker ever for what they did in Milwuakee. Again, try and say things that make sense.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    You must be new. I’ve been here for 4 years. Had plenty of positive things to say about Kobe throughout those 4 years.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    West is wrong. There is no logical argument for Kobe over Magic.

  • shockexchange

    The Shock Exchange introduced the “Milwaukee angle” to trump any musing about “he couldn’t do it without Magic.” I see it worked. This has got to be the most “non-vitriolic” response you have ever had to a comment by the Shock Exchange … which prolly means you agree with him. LOL.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    That’s fair. Barkley made a similar argument against Wilt last night.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    When did Shaq say Kobe was the best? He put Kareem #1 last night.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    ahh i didn’t watch last night, baby girl is having a huge effect on how much i get to watch. who woulda thunk it?

  • don

    Kobe…is the greatest laker,he play guard,kareem and wilt are centers they’re giants

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    In fact, he put Jerry and Magic ahead of Kobe too.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    i never said he couldn’t do it without Magic.

    .

    But if you really want me to pursue that angle i can? and i will probably make you look ridiculous for insinuating Kareem was some other worldly force…

    .

    ok, just for sh*ts (and for everyone else, i have KAJ as the 3rd greatest player ever, so don’t overreact, this is purely for arguments sake).

    .

    In Kareem’s five years without Oscar Robertson or Magic Johnson…..how did his teams do?

    .

    I’ll tell you, they missed the playoffs altogether, twice. And won 2 playoff series’ total.

    .
    that’s not good.

  • ashemsmashem

    And kobe virtually owns every lakers record, already has 5 championships , has played more games as a laker than any other player. For yiu to think kobe isn’t, that’s fine its YOUR opinion, but i can tell you as a life long lakers fan kobe deserves just as much praise . He has brought us a lot & still going strong. Maybe kobe didn’t smile enough in his career, I’m not sure. But he means just as much to the city & fans as magic does . Its a matter of opinion, but in way is he”wrong”

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    meaning as much is totally different then who is better. you are getting your emotions mixed up with performance. in terms of what actually happened on the court (not in your heart), Magic is the greatest Laker ever. The debate is for 2nd, i personally would pick Kobe. Some people still think it’s West (which i think is outrageous), some people think it’s Kareem (which i think is misguided).

  • roscoe

    but what about eldin campbell?

  • shockexchange

    You’re right, that’s not good. They were a power in Milwaukee, when the Big O was past his prime. They had a sense of urgency because Oscar only has so much left in the tank. When the Big O retired, the “team” was not at the same level. And while we’re speaking facts – THE SKY IS BLUE – but that also has nothing to do with the conversation. And yes, Kareem was an “otherworldly force.” Of the modern era (excludes Wilt, Russell), Kareem is number two behind Jordan.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    ok? i don’t disagree with any of that. just made it very clear that Kareem, like Magic, never won without another all-time great. ofcourse there are circumstances involved, but to say QUOTE “The Shock Exchange introduced the “Milwaukee angle” to trump any musing about “he couldn’t do it without Magic.”" is blatantly wrong, given the facts. So you can’t “introduce the Milwuakee angle” in any type of argument for why he’s the greatest Laker. Because, as “i” like to say, there is no proof in the pudding, as some other person made up, but i’ll pull a shock exchange and take credit for it.

  • ashemsmashem

    Its not emotions its a matter of opinion…. kobe is a better, scorer, was a better defender, had better ballhandling skills( don’t confuse assit with handles, magic couldn’t dribble around the defense he was a supreme passer) & better footwork….not to mention he is still playing. Magic had a kareem, worthy, baylor, nixon, green, rambis, those 80s teams where stacked. Kobe has had personnel changes around him, coaching changes…has played at a higher level for a longer period of time the lakers team that won back to back has 3 members left from that team …kobe has been relavent through 2 generations.

  • https://twitter.com/Wayne__o BuenoWayno1

    To say Kobe is the greatest laker is pure fandom. For all his greatness Kobe has only won one league MVP and being the “sidekick” on a dominate early 2000′s laker teams has to be taken into account. kobe in my opinion is the third best laker behind magic and Kareem. i think people are becoming prisoners of the moment and not taking history into a account.

  • Ben Ireland

    @disqus_rOeXXBD2qs:disqus as well…
    Kareem was incredible, and an essential part of Magic’s titles… You could argue that he was the best player out of him, Magic, Jerry West, and Kobe… But the greatest Laker? No chance… He played elsewhere and was better there than he was for the Lakers. How can you be the greatest player in the history of the franchise, if you had your best years in Milwuakee… He was still awesome, but not quite as good.
    As for Magic v Kobe, that’s a toss-up. Kobe has been amazing, and he’s my favourite player in the league besides maybe DRose… But Magic SAVED the league. He brought everyone back into basketball, and he was a genius on the court, and a genius off of it. People hated Magic, but everybody wanted to see him play. Nobody means more to their franchise, so I’m giving the nod to Magic here.

  • http://www.facebook.com/blong33 Brad Long

    Yall are sleeping on Smush Parker…

  • shockexchange

    No Kareem … no chips. Shock Exchange out.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    you know nothing at all about Basketball if you think dribbling moves and ability to handle the ball are the same thing. Magic was a better ball handler. Plain and Simple. The assist to turnover ratio is not even kind of close. Kobe averaged 1 less turnover a game, despite playing SG and shooting the ball an unprecedented amount of times per minute. It’s pretty hard to turn the ball over when you are primarily shooting. While Magic was the most prolific assist guy (per game) of all-time.
    .
    Kobe has been on just as talented teams as Magic was.
    .
    and the whole “kobe is a much better defender thing” is total bullsh*t. Kobe is the most overrated defender of all-time. Despite playing in a worse offensive era (for teams) Kobe’s defensive rating is WORSE than Magic’s. (offensive rating is not close, Magic is by far a better offensive player statistically, but if you wanna attribute that to era, fine – as long as you do the same for defense and start calling Magic the better defender).
    .
    What it sounds like is, you are a young Lakers fan (younger then 25 for sure) never actually saw Magic. You are a Kobe fan first. He’s what you’ve seen, he appeals to your emotions.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    No Magic, No Oscar, no chips. Same stupid ass comment that means nothing.

  • shockexchange

    Showtime was for the “chicks,” that Sky Hook was for the “chips.” Shock Exchange out.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    Shaq has said Kobe was the best. He’s said Magic was the best. He’s said it was Kareem. He called Brook Lopez the best Center in the NBA while criticizing Dwight’s ability to score (Dwight scores more than Brook) and while saying Dwight needs to average 15 rebounds (which is 9 more than Brook averaged last season). Shaq’s opinion should never be considered important.

  • John

    West is a bitter player and person. Magic by far is the greatest Laker. Hell, he is the greatest player. I never liked Jerry west as a player or as a person.

  • ashemsmashem

    No I’m a lakers fan……if magic & west, both of whom have more bball knowledge than anyone on this board…what makes your assumptions more important than theirs? If I’m not mistaken west & magic played their whol. Careers as lakers, I’ll take their opinion over yours

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    “without those 13 points and 4 rebounds they were nothing, NOTHING!!!”
    .
    Shock Exchange out, until a few minutes from now, when he wants to say something else rooted in his imagination.

  • http://www.facebook.com/evan.boland Evan Boland

    “If you disagree, it’s because you are a kobe fan” Again, you’re a joke, man.

  • http://www.facebook.com/evan.boland Evan Boland

    Umm, not even close. Kobe and Magic.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    good for you.

    .

    That means, you don’t see Kobe as a leader (Magic said that, 2 days ago).

    .

    You don’t understand how LeBron ever won a ring (Magic said he wouldn’t last season…..if you want a link to the video, i can provide it).

    .

    You believe the Knicks were title contenders with Jeremy Lin, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Carmelo Anthony (Magic said that too).

    .

    And I’ve already explained where Jerry West’s opinion on this comes from. He’s been in Kobe’s corner since day one, no surprise he hasn’t left.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    reasoning “i’m a joke” ?? — provide a logical argument why Kobe is greater than Magic was. Haven’t seen one yet. Won’t see one. Because there isn’t.

  • Dymez

    There’s this thing that goes around all sports during situations like these. It’s called “Prisoner-of-the-moment Syndrome.” It happens to a lot of people — Jerry West is no exception.

  • jumpman3224

    Arguments for Kobe –

    Lakers all-time leader in Games, Minutes, Field Goals, 3 Pointers, Free Throws, Points and Steals. Top 5 in Assists and Boards. Has 5 titles with LA, equal to any Laker great.

    Kobe has made 14 All-NBA teams to Magic’s 10. Kobe made the All-Defensive team 12 times (most ever for a perimeter player, 2nd most all-time). Magic did not make one in his entire career.

    I don’t really know who the top Purple and Gold player is (I lean towards Kobe personally). But, those are the logical arguments you can make as I see it.

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