Has LBJ already supplanted Kobe Bryant as the best Laker based on lifetime achievement?

[Axxo]

Curious to get thoughts on this. If yes, then does LBJ even need to lead LAL to a championship to cement his legacy?

[danfantastk32]

Dude...Lebron has an NBA legacy, but zero LAKER legacy. He's gotta win at least 5 rings to get into the Kobe/Magic category in LA. At least 1 of those would have to be against the Celtics.

Would be great if Lebron won 5 rings here.....but I think it's safe to say Lebron will never be the LAKER Kobe was.

[iamworthy]

Here's a list of accomplishments by Kareem Adul Jabbar:

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 1995[1]
6-time NBA champion: 1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988
10 NBA Finals appearances: 1971, 1974, 1980, 1982–1985, 1987–1989
6-time NBA Most Valuable Player: 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980[2]
2-time scoring champion: 1971, 1972[3]
1-time rebounding leader: 1976
4-time blocks leader: 1975–1976, 1979–1980
1-time field goal percentage leader: 1977
19-time NBA All-Star: 1970–1977, 1979–1989[4]
Selected, but did not play due to personal reasons in 1973.
2-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player: 1971, 1985[5]
15-time All-NBA selection:
First Team: 1971–1974, 1976–1977, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986[6][7]
Second Team: 1970, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1985[6][7]
11-time All-Defensive selection:
First Team: 1974, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1981[8][9]
Second Team: 1970, 1971, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1984[8][9]
NBA All-Rookie selection:
First Team: 1970[10][11]
NBA Rookie of the Year: 1970[12]
6-time The Sporting News Most Valuable Player: 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year: 1985
Ranked #7 by SLAM Magazine's Top 50 Players of All-time[13]

And yet Everyone I here this topic is always between magic and Kobe. IMO you gotta be a lifer.

[Axxo]

Dude...Lebron has an NBA legacy, but zero LAKER legacy. He's gotta win at least 5 rings to get into the Kobe/Magic category in LA. At least 1 of those would have to be against the Celtics.

Would be great if Lebron won 5 rings here.....but I think it's safe to say Lebron will never be the LAKER Kobe was.

So in your mind is LBJ better than Kobe Bryant.. or is this an apples to oranges discussion?

[danfantastk32]

Here's a list of accomplishments by Kareem Adul Jabbar:

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 1995[1]
6-time NBA champion: 1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988
10 NBA Finals appearances: 1971, 1974, 1980, 1982–1985, 1987–1989
6-time NBA Most Valuable Player: 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980[2]
2-time scoring champion: 1971, 1972[3]
1-time rebounding leader: 1976
4-time blocks leader: 1975–1976, 1979–1980
1-time field goal percentage leader: 1977
19-time NBA All-Star: 1970–1977, 1979–1989[4]
Selected, but did not play due to personal reasons in 1973.
2-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player: 1971, 1985[5]
15-time All-NBA selection:
First Team: 1971–1974, 1976–1977, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986[6][7]
Second Team: 1970, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1985[6][7]
11-time All-Defensive selection:
First Team: 1974, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1981[8][9]
Second Team: 1970, 1971, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1984[8][9]
NBA All-Rookie selection:
First Team: 1970[10][11]
NBA Rookie of the Year: 1970[12]
6-time The Sporting News Most Valuable Player: 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year: 1985
Ranked #7 by SLAM Magazine's Top 50 Players of All-time[13]

And yet Everyone I here this topic is always between magic and Kobe. IMO you gotta be a lifer.

Well I think the issue is that you have Magic and Kobe who were lifers that you're being compared to. Gonna be really, really hard to beat that. CAREER-wise.....I think Kareem sits behind nobody. But a good chunk of that career was in a different jersey.

If the topic here is 'best player to ever wear a Laker jersey' ....I would say Kareem, or maybe Lebron(let's see how his career finished out...the guy damn well might have a decade left in him). But "Best Laker".....I would say Magic or Kobe.

[danfantastk32]

Dude...Lebron has an NBA legacy, but zero LAKER legacy. He's gotta win at least 5 rings to get into the Kobe/Magic category in LA. At least 1 of those would have to be against the Celtics.

Would be great if Lebron won 5 rings here.....but I think it's safe to say Lebron will never be the LAKER Kobe was.

So in your mind is LBJ better than Kobe Bryant.. or is this an apples to oranges discussion?

Yeah.....I think Lebron is better NBA player than Kobe. Not better Laker.

[Trips71]

No need to constantly compare the two. Let's just be happy we get to watch Lebron in a Lakers uniform, while having enjoyed watching Kobe, Shaq, Magic, Worthy, Kareem.....

[LAKESHOW]

What is this, the General Board?

[Heej]

The most accomplished Laker for now is Kareem. LBJ likely gets there with 1 more ring provided he follows the career track. He has an outside shot of passing Karrem in points while playing in a Laker jersey. Particularly if he's committed to playing off ball and in the post as reports say. I really wish Kareem would teach him the skyhook. Even with bad spacing that shot should be unstoppable. I'm not sure why Giannis hasn't learned it yet tbh. That dude just could not get buckets when they needed them.

[theforumblue]

this kind of question shows lack of respect for the franchise.

[Kilroy]

He hasn't even signed the contract yet guys... First that, then win multiple championships as the main guy... Then we'll talk.