Ai vs Kobe
I just had to rip this straight from the Slam website, the AI vs Kobe saga continues. I had promised myself not to talk about bball on this blog but (sniff, sniff) , I CAN'T HELP IT!
by Ryan Jones
We're on to SLAM 97 now, so I suppose I should let this go, but I feel compelled to holla back at all the readers who've taken offense at our '96 Draft Remix in SLAM 96, where we had Allen Iverson going first and Kobe Bryant going second. Obviously, we put that thing together knowing it would spark conversation and at least a little bit of hate, and of course that's part of the fun. If people hadn't been talking/complaining about it, we'd have been disappointed...
All that said, some of y'all have gone a little too far, particularly with your 1 vs. 2 beef. You think Kobe should've been No. 1? No problem, you can definitely make the argument, just like we did when we broke this whole thing down -- before settling on Allen Iverson. My beef is with those of you who've taken it next level, basically saying there's no way Kobe can be slated anywhere other than the top spot. To which I respond: Don't be stupid. The idea that this is such a no-brainer in Kobe's favor is silly. Why? Check the reasons...
Has Kobe ever won an MVP award? No.
Has Kobe ever been the clear-cut No. 1 player on a team that made the NBA Finals? No.
Has Kobe ever won a scoring title? No, at least not for another couple of months.
For AI, of course, the answer is yes, yes and yes -- 4 of 'em. But beyond all that, let's focus on just this season, since everybody is on Kobe's d*ck right now (pretty deservedly as far as his on-court work) and everyone seems to have completely forgotten about AI.
Compare their numbers through this past weekend and here's what you get:KB: 34.9 ppg, 45% fg, 4.5 apg, 1.8 spg, 3.1 t/opgAI: 33.1 ppg, 45% fg, 7.4 apg, 2.0 spg, 3.2 t/opg
Point being, you could argue that regardless of all the MVP talk that has Kobe as a leading candidate and totally ignores Iverson, AI is having just as good a season as KB -- or, if you really wanted to get into details and count the assists and steals in his favor, Allen is actually having a slightly BETTER season, at least statistically. Obviously if the Sixers don't make the playoffs, a very real possibility, those numbers will have been wasted. But that won't be AI's fault. And KB's Lakers haven't exactly locked down a playoff spot themselves.
While we're checking the numbers, though, let's go ahead and compare the career stats. There's AI, averaging 28 ppg, 6 apg and 2.4 spg to KB's 23 ppg, 4.5 apg and 1.5 spg. You say Kobe came straight out of high school and needed a couple years to develop? We say, exactly. That's all part of it. Then add in the MVP and the scoring titles and the fact that he straight dragged a mediocre team to the Finals, and tell me again why this is so hard for people to get?
My point? If Kobe scores 51 against the Raptors instead of 81 and has otherwise the exact same season he's having, I bet most of the KB worship on this topic would be greatly muted. Don't get caught up in one game and the hype it inspires when judging 10 years of accomplishment.
We didn't.
Ok, so I'm lazy. But point is, AI is the don... for now
posted by dkosei2 @ 8:35 AM
12 Comments:
That looks more like your blog 'coz Kofour Osei's blog is incomplete without Basketball and Shoes! =)
As Kobe's number one fan, I feel I must address this issue. And my position is that AI is definitely the man and I got nothin but respect for a dude averagin 33 and 8. He just had 47 and 12 meme. Kobe is my dude but AI's has just proven amazed so many times and for so long that its not even that close really.
AI has left more of an impact on the game of basketball as a result of having been a one-man show his whole career. The fact that he's always managed to drag his sorry-ass team into the playoffs (not to mention that amazing 2k1 Finals run) is a testament to his greatness. Kobe played with Shaq and won 3 titles and is now starting to put up historic numbers as he tries to lead LA back into the playoffs.
The thing is though, Kobe is simply more talented. As he has proven this year, he's a better socrer when the offense is designed around him. He's always been a better defender (infinitely better actually, check the all-defense teams), a better rebounder (since he's taller), free throw shooter and three point shooter. The only advantages AI are steals (since he's quicker and covers the passing lanes) but he can't guard his man one-on-one and Iverson also plays the point guard position, hence the higher assist totals.
I've always maintained that Kobe and Iverson are the two most gifted ballers since Jordan, but in terms of pure raw skill, I gotta give the edge to Kobe. Had their roles been reversed, meaning Kobe in Philly and AI playing with Shaq, their career numbers would be flipped. Iverson would have 3 titles and Kobe would have the monstrous offensive career numbers but no titles. Another thing to consider is that AI is going to retire before Kobe since he's older and Kobe will probably end up surpassing a lot of his scoring records (not the career scoring average, but most likely the total career points scored)
Iverson's true impact comes from the cultural point of view. His fuck-all-y'all attitude and refusal to change who he is no matter the detractors is a testament to the strength of his personality. He's done things his own way for 10 years and for that you gotta respect the guy. Bryant and Iverson are probably the two toughest motherfuckers in the league since they always play hurt and don't back down from anythihg (remember, Kobe led the Lakers to the 2k4 Finals while flying back and forth from his rape trial to the NBA arenas, something I don't think anyone else could have handled). In terms of overall basketball talent, I gotta give the edge to Kobe but AI is very, very, very close.
How did you hope to keep that promise of not talking about bball on your blog? :)
I think you've found a new niche market of fans with a post like this.
Well said Mutoni. After reading your compelling arguments, I have to agree with you that Kobe does have a slight edge...
I'm just a Kobe hater. But I can't front on his game.
i miss the good old days when AI vs. Marbury was a legitimate debate.
Well, first of all as much as I liked it, the media created the whole Iverson Vs Marbury thing because Iverson straight up killed Marbury just about every time. And the continue on what Stephane was saying, I'm not even sure Iverson will outscore those dudes when he's on his "decline", it seems to me that a lot of what seperates AI from the other guys is his blinding quickness. What happens when he finnally starts losing it?
But until then, I hope everybody saw what he did to Antonio Daniels last week... He made dude fall twice on the same play! I swear!
The double-crossover, double-fall move by Iverson was one of the greatest things to ever happen. I'm still in shock. I can't even rationally discuss it at this point. WOW.
Aside from Vince's monster throwdown on Zo earlier this year, that move by AI is the play of the year.
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