The Los Angeles Lakers have a long and storied history. They are one of the most successful and well-known franchises in the world, and that is no accident.
The Lakers franchise, which has no equal, owes much of its glory to the players who proudly wore the purple and gold jersey. Among these legends, the late Kobe Bryant stands out as a figure of unparalleled importance; his impact on the history and success of the franchise is undeniable.
Bryant is arguably the greatest Lakers player of all time, having spent 20 years with the franchise and brought them five titles. Bryant is not only one of the greatest Lakers players of all time, he is also one of the greatest of all time.
Many people in the basketball world certainly think so, especially five-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
During a recent appearance on NH Experience TV, Nick Hamilton asked Johnson if Bryant were still alive, would he be considered in the GOAT conversation alongside Michael Jordan and LeBron James? Johnson didn’t hesitate to answer the question.
“Yeah, because we know Kobe has a place in that conversation even today. Kareem, Kobe and them all wore the purple and gold,” said Johnson“So I think about what Kobe meant to basketball around the world. To me, offensively, he’s the second-best player behind Michael Jordan at shooting guard and power forward. In terms of scoring, nobody could stop Kobe, just like nobody could stop Michael Jordan.”
Bryant’s legacy is matched only by the greatest basketball players we have ever seen and will ever see in the sport. The numbers and accomplishments speak for themselves regarding Bryant’s place in the GOAT conversation. The Lakers great is a five-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, 2008 NBA MVP, 18-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA First Team, nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team, and a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
Not only do the accolades support him, but at the peak of his powers, no one was arguably better than Bryant. His ability to score baskets at will and at a high pace was unrivaled.
On top of that, his drive and competitive spirit to do anything to gain an advantage over his opponent was almost insane. In 20 Hall of Fame seasons, Bryant averaged 25.0 points per game, 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists, while shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 33 percent from three-point range in 1,346 games.
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