Comments on the Kobe Bryant...The Best Player in the NBA article here.

LOL, "I'm not exactly on speaking terms with Shane Battier right now". good line

I like category #2, Most Dominant. The first thing that struck me was who might be the next to fall into this bucket. Oden?, I am not sure

With regards to Kobe, he is amazing, he controls the ebb and flow and is focused as you pointed out.

I guess you have to ask yourself, is Kobe the best in the NBA....of all time?

I struggled with the "Most Dominant" player of today when I was writing the article. I wanted to have someone to put in there but in the end no one really stuck out. I think the closest would have to be Kevin Garnett, Yao Ming (when healthy), Tim Duncan, Amare Stoudamire and Kobe. The only reason I didn't just choose one was because I thought back to how much Shaq used to dominate and none of these players are close to that level.

Now as far as Kobe being the best of all time...? I have to say maybe. I grew up with Jordan and think that he was an unbelievable player but watching Kobe do some of the things he does is incredible. Their games are so similar that it's hard to separate them sometimes. They even walk and talk alike (probably because Kobe grew up watching Mike and started emulating him at a young age). But in order to be the best of all time I think Kobe is going to have to have another 2-3 years at his current pace. If he can do that, especially if the Lakers don't add any weapons around him, he'll get my vote.

Is Kobe the best of all time? Michael Jordan gets my vote but Kobe is stacking up some amazing numbers. Kobe is a superstar on the Lakers and in my opinion one of the best in the NBA; I still stick with Nash for the top MVP candidate. Over the years Bryant has shown all the skeptics what he is all about. I feel he needs a few more phenomenal seasons before he is labeled "The best player of all time".

You never know Kobe could be of the greatest but he will need to prove to the fans once again his skills

VIP
Remember when Shaq was his most dominant his side kick was none other then Kobe "The Dominant One". When Shaq was either fouling out or taken out(due to his lack of free throw shooting ability) in the 4th of huge games it was Kobe who put the team on his shoulders and willed them to three championships. No disrespect to Shaq he's one of the top 3 centers to ever lace on Nike's. But he was playing with one of the top 2 players to ever set foot on the hardwood floor.

P10west...

I have made this same argument to my friends many times trying to get them to agree with me that Kobe is the games best player. The only problem with this argument is when you look at everything objectively, Shaq made those Lakers teams. Kobe was obviously the more talented overall player but it was Shaq that made them so dominant.

Granted, there were many times when Kobe carried the load when Shaq was fouled out, in foul trouble, or benched because of his free throw shooting. I remember the first time I thought that Kobe was the best player in the NBA, when he had his first "MJ" moment. Game four of the 2000 NBA Finals against the Pacers. Shaq fouled out with 2:33 to go and Kobe carried them on his back, with a throbbing ankle to the victory, scoring baskets on three straight possessions along the way. That's when I knew he would be special. The thing is, the two kinda made each other. Kobe was more effective because Shaq commanded double teams inside and Shaq had more room to roam because Kobe stretched the defense.

Truth is, Kobe is not the best player of all time yet, even though after every Laker game I think he is. However, at age 30 he still has a chance to be. At this point, he's still behind Jordan, Bird and Magic. I'm rooting for him though.

-Vip

P.S. Shaq wore Reebok...Which was cool back in the day. I had a pair of Shaq's "Pumps" when I was like 9. Recently he signed a shoe deal with a Chinese shoe company called Li Ning. Ironically, Yao Ming was signed by Reebok. Just some food for thought.