To be garnished with the title of the best NBA player who ever lived, I believe a player should be equally legendary off the court. A player with that title should be an ambassador of the game, a reminder for players, fans, and followers that to be truly great, one must be great in all aspects.
I can't remember a time when Jordan refused to take shots, complained about the diminishing roles of his teammates, or broke up a dynasty while complaining of not receiving touches of the ball.
Kobe certainly has an impact on the NBA and his team, the numbers speak for themselves. Bryant has tremendous power at his fingertips, with the ability to change the face of a single game and a season. Evident last night, Kobe didn't take a shot until a few minutes into the second quarter and his team was down by double digits.
What was the purpose of the lack of shooting? It may have been a nagging injury that No. 24 doesn't want extra attention about, or maybe it was something deeper.
Is it possible that Kobe Bryant was sending a message to teammates and doubters about the importance of his shot selection? After the Game Four loss to Oklahoma City, Bryant was repeatedly put on the spot about his shot selection and leadership on the court. Perhaps the most influential player in today's game took it upon himself to make a statement, showing the series could be in the hands of one man.
Where one man uses his power to make statements, another lets his abilities on the court make a statement in another way. Michael Jordan used dominance to make statements. When his doubters came around, he silenced them by playing through a ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
