Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2018 7:36 am Post subject: Kevin Durant: Kobe and Jordan are a head above everybody else that’s ever played the game
Quote:
Durant especially, a player likely to crack the mythical 30,000 points mark, has plenty to gain in all-time discussions should the Warriors win, so history has often been a topic of conversation for Durant. The reigning Finals MVP spoke with Vince Carter about history and historic players and was asked which players he would have loved to have played in the Finals, and while choosing Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan as his answer isn’t all that surprising, another tidbit he added to his answer may shock some.
“It’s a tie between MJ and Kob,” Durant said. “Two guys that I think are a head above everybody else that’s ever played the game. Just their will to win is something that’s contagious, and it makes you a better player as an opponent as well.”
A glaring omission from that short list is of course, Durant’s Finals opponent this year LeBron James. This is the third time Durant and James have faced off in the Finals, each earning 4-1 series wins over the other. Durant and Bryant have locked horns in the playoffs before as well, with Bryant’s Lakers sweeping Durant’s Thunder in 2010, and Durant responding by beating the Lakers 4-1 in 2012.
Media (and some fans) keep trying to make it a two-man race between MJ and LeBron, but the players universally put Kobe there as well.
Vince Carter (June 6th, 2018):
[on LeBron eclipsing MJ]
"He wants to be the greatest. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, those are the people we throw around. He wants to be there. So I think now he's striving for that and he's asserting himself more offensively."
"It's tough to do. I've heard a lot of players say he's in his own lane. Michael Jordan is Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant is Kobe Bryant. LeBron James is a special player. And he's a player that we have not seen before, because he can do a lot of things. I think at the end of the day LeBron can do a lot of things very well. Michael Jordan was probably the greatest to put on a pair of basketball shoes. Kobe Bryant was probably right there with him. And LeBron is on the way. And it's tough. Right now he's still playing the game. So let's talk about this when he's done and see what he's accomplished."
Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2018 9:48 am Post subject: Re: Kevin Durant: Kobe and Jordan are a head above everybody else that’s ever played the game
Chronicle wrote:
Quote:
Durant especially, a player likely to crack the mythical 30,000 points mark, has plenty to gain in all-time discussions should the Warriors win, so history has often been a topic of conversation for Durant. The reigning Finals MVP spoke with Vince Carter about history and historic players and was asked which players he would have loved to have played in the Finals, and while choosing Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan as his answer isn’t all that surprising, another tidbit he added to his answer may shock some.
“It’s a tie between MJ and Kob,” Durant said. “Two guys that I think are a head above everybody else that’s ever played the game. Just their will to win is something that’s contagious, and it makes you a better player as an opponent as well.”
A glaring omission from that short list is of course, Durant’s Finals opponent this year LeBron James. This is the third time Durant and James have faced off in the Finals, each earning 4-1 series wins over the other. Durant and Bryant have locked horns in the playoffs before as well, with Bryant’s Lakers sweeping Durant’s Thunder in 2010, and Durant responding by beating the Lakers 4-1 in 2012.
every single time you ask a player who has played with or against kobe/lebron during their eras(KD only caught the later part of kobe's era). You get the same answer. "Kobe and Jordan would never let you off the hook, they were relentless." The hell with the stats. the were relentless. Meaning LBJ as great as he is, and he is great. He isnt relentless. Now he's getting to that point since he's getting to the point of age where he no longer cares what anyone thinks. but he was not always like that. KD knows this. cause KD is from LBJ's era as well even though he's younger. This generation cares to some degree TOO MUCH about what others think. They need that validation more than any other era I've seen prior. I think this will eventually come back to a norm once the entire social media thing gets old and is no longer a big deal. It's just like picking up the phone was to us.
And some people are just not born that way. everyone isnt relentless like that. and thats a good thing. there's more than one way to win a few rings. but game recognizes game. You know how good you are in comparison to other nba players and you realize its beyond skill/size/athleticism. This guy named kobe mentally is tougher than you. You KNOW THIS. If you asked lebron to take a lie detector test and ask on the court who was mentally tougher,, You or Kobe? he would either lie and say himself and we would all know he was lying or he would answer kobe and we would know he was telling the truth.
Wilt was relentless, Cap was relentless, I.thomas was relentless, Magic with a smile on his face was relentless, Jordan was relentless(pippen with all of his talent was not relentless cause if he were he would've been better than jordan...jordan admitted to this in a few interviews about pip when they were still playing), Reggie Miller was relentless, Tmac was not relentless in his prime because he would allow kobe to stop him from scoring after he just dropped 30 in the first half. you can't be relentless if you wont continue and finish what you started.
There's a reason kobe had more points than the mavs that night. thats relentless. I'm going to kill you until the game is well in hand and its over with.
Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Posts: 22853 Location: La Jolla, San Diego
Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2018 12:52 pm Post subject:
People who think KD will be up there close to Kareem, Karl Malone and MJ in the scoring records haven't looked close at his numbers. Already turning 30 in a few months and he is waaaaaay behind. He has also only averaged over 20 shots per game twice in his career. He just plays efficient basketball and isn't gunning for any records, so he won't be there when it's said and done.
Conversely, people who think Lebron isn't going to be there haven't been looking closely at his numbers either. Not yet 34, still going strong and already at 31,000+. This guy is breaking Malone for sure, and he'll break Kareem too if he wants to "hang" around.
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