I remember reading an internet story from the LA Times from like 20 July 1996 which reported Jerry West told Shaq that Kobe was already better than him. Guy said it was nuts. Guy had no nuts.

38 minutes ago, harveycmd said:

Times up. It's universally recognized as 1996.

‘84 beats them all day…7 game series ends in game 5, at most…may be a sweep

1 minute ago, Townsend said:

‘84 beats them all day…7 game series ends in game 5, at most…may be a sweep

Not likely. Only thing close is Jordan v Kobe. We talking 12 guys. 

 

1 minute ago, harveycmd said:

Not likely. Only thing close is Jordan v Kobe. We talking 12 guys. 

 

Jordan, Olajuwon, Barkley, Stockton…not gonna matter past that…Kobe would have to get in a fist fight with Iverson & Marybury every game just to get shots up…lol

51 minutes ago, harveycmd said:

Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers)

Marcus Camby (Toronto Raptors)

Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Vancouver Grizzlies)

Stephon Marbury (Milwaukee Bucks, traded to Minnesota)

Ray Allen (Minnesota Timberwolves, via trade)

Antoine Walker (Boston Celtics)

Lorenzen Wright (Los Angeles Clippers)

Kerry Kittles (New Jersey Nets)

Samaki Walker (Dallas Mavericks)

Erick Dampier (Indiana Pacers)

Todd Fuller (Golden State Warriors)

Vitaly Potapenko (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Kobe Bryant (Charlotte Hornets, traded to L.A. Lakers)

Predrag Stojaković (Sacramento Kings)

Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns)

Tony Delk (Charlotte Hornets)

Jermaine O'Neal (Portland Trail Blazers)

John Wallace (New York Knicks)

Walter McCarty (New York Knicks)

Žydrūnas Ilgauskas (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Dontae' Jones (New York Knicks)

Roy Rogers (Vancouver Grizzlies)

Efthimios Rentzias (Denver Nuggets)

Derek Fisher (Los Angeles Lakers)

Martin Müürsepp (Miami Heat)

Jerome Williams (Detroit Pistons)

Brian Evans (Miami Heat)

Priest Lauderdale (Atlanta Hawks)

 

 

Who was the best player from this draft?

How stupid was Charlotte? To be fair, at the time who knew a high school kid was going to be that good. 

1 minute ago, mmdaytontexas said:

How stupid was Charlotte? To be fair, at the time who knew a high school kid was going to be that good. 

True enough. I remember watching TNT draft coverage with Dave Cowens say, "We don't won't high school kids." Jerry West then said on an interview, "We think this kid will be the best payer in the world soon." Jerry was right. 

14 minutes ago, Townsend said:

Jordan, Olajuwon, Barkley, Stockton…not gonna matter past that…Kobe would have to get in a fist fight with Iverson & Marybury every game just to get shots up…lol

 

This team is hard to follow.  Not one player seems to get it. They don't play defense. They have no pride. They get punked and don't respond. Let's hope Miller can do something.  Right now I am not sensing the Longhorn love for this team. Unlike the love we have for our women's team! 

33 minutes ago, Townsend said:

Jordan, Olajuwon, Barkley, Stockton…not gonna matter past that…Kobe would have to get in a fist fight with Iverson & Marybury every game just to get shots up…lol

 

22 minutes ago, mmdaytontexas said:

How stupid was Charlotte? To be fair, at the time who knew a high school kid was going to be that good. 

Kobe always denied it, but the rumor that he only wanted to play in LA was floating around before the draft…draft night trade to the Lakers made it hard believe it wasn’t true…maybe the Lakers started the rumor to lower the cost of trading for him tho

Player Original PickCareer MVP AwardsNBA ChampionshipsAll-Star Selections

Kobe Bryant13th1 (2008)518

Allen Iverson1st1 (2001)011

Steve Nash15th2 (2005, 2006)08

Ray Allen5th0210

Ben WallaceUndrafted014

43 minutes ago, Townsend said:

Kobe always denied it, but the rumor that he only wanted to play in LA was floating around before the draft…draft night trade to the Lakers made it hard believe it wasn’t true…maybe the Lakers started the rumor to lower the cost of trading for him tho

I heard that in late May 1996. As a Laker fan I never had any doubt West would get Kobe and we'd win multiple titles.

It was hard to believe for most, but getting Kobe was more important that signing Shaq. Jerry West said it at the time.

Fat boy never worked for anything, whereas Kobe never stopped working. 

Edited January 10Jan 10 by harveycmd

I remember talking to Adrian Wojnaroswki in 2004 when Shaq left. He said Kobe was being selfish. Told him every real Lakers fan would rather have Kobe than Shaq. Told him to get back to me in ten years. He didn't.

2 hours ago, harveycmd said:

Not likely. Only thing close is Jordan v Kobe. We talking 12 guys. 

 

Kobe is number two but not too close to Jordan. The last six complete season he had with the Bulls ended in championships. Kobe was right to copy Jordan’s moves. It was good to hear they were good friends. The personalities were very much the same. 

3 minutes ago, Jordan91 said:

Kobe is number two but not too close to Jordan. The last six complete season he had with the Bulls ended in championships. Kobe was right to copy Jordan’s moves. It was good to hear they were good friends. The personalities were very much the same. 

I'm not arguing Jordan. Kobe was the most skilled player ever. More total first team all NBA and all first team defense than any player. No contest between him and Shaq.  These guys talking about analytics is Seinfeld stuff. 

1 hour ago, Townsend said:

Kobe always denied it, but the rumor that he only wanted to play in LA was floating around before the draft…draft night trade to the Lakers made it hard believe it wasn’t true…maybe the Lakers started the rumor to lower the cost of trading for him tho

I never heard that. Interesting. 

4 minutes ago, mmdaytontexas said:

I never heard that. Interesting. 

It's true. Kobe's agent Arn Tellum put it out that he only wanted to play for the Lakers. Jerry West told him to do that after he kicked Michael Cooper's ass one on one. It was a gamble, but it worked. Kobe let everyone know he'd go to Duke if he didn't go to the Lakers.

Edited January 10Jan 10 by harveycmd

Why wouldn't you want to go to Lakers if you were Kobe?

It's important to remember that Kobe begged West to work out for the Lakers multiple times. Kobe paid to go to LA to meet Jerry West and work out for the Lakers about five times. Chumps don't do that any one. I don't think anyone ever did it before. I don't think there's been a case of player literally dictating his draft team more than Kobe. His maternal grandfather loved Magic and pushed him to the Lakers.

 

Edited January 11Jan 11 by harveycmd

Magic knows this and that's part of the reason Magic says Kobe is the greatest Laker ever. Kobe lived up to it and actually is the greatest Laker ever.

It's truly amazing. Imagine that you have a sixteen year old kid in high school kid in 1995. You think he's good enough to play big time. So big time you want him to play for the LA Lakers and win titles. He's the real deal. Becomes the youngest basketball player to ever to win three world titles. Becomes one of the best players to ever dribble a basketball. 

You're a thirteen year old boy in 1992 that your family wants to be as good as Magic Johnson. You want to be better than Michael Jordan. That's some serious pressure crap.

 

Edited January 11Jan 11 by harveycmd

You're seventeen. You beg to work out for Jerry West, the best talent evaluator in the history of basketball. You think you're pretty good. You not only make him think you're pretty good, but make him think you're gonna be best basketball in the world soon. You prove him right. Truly nuts stuff.

Edited January 11Jan 11 by harveycmd