RealGM

SIMMONS

I can't say that I'm surprised. You're the same person who fell in love with the NBA as a kid by reading Sports Illustrated issues in your local Canadian library. The other obvious change: Kobe's section needs to be rewritten. I can't remember anyone reinventing himself historically as well as Kobe did these past 16 months. The Olympics, then the 2009 Finals, then the media victory lap that everyone ate up … and then, when it seemed as if we were headed for a decline, he reinvented himself as the second coming of post-baseball Jordan and developed an even nastier, more physical post-up game than MJ had. I can't believe what I am watching. It's staggering. He's like a 6-foot-6 Hakeem Olajuwon. I went into this season thinking Kobe would be able to last just one or two more seasons at a high level; now I'm wondering whether he could play like this well into his late 30s. Why not? I mean, Karl Malone did it. Like Malone, Kobe is a workout freak who takes care of his body and seems predisposed to staying healthy, anyway. Malone averaged a 26-10 and made second-team All-NBA in the 1999-2000 season when he was 36 years old … and then he played four years after that. Kobe is only 31. Could he replicate Malone's longevity and consistency?

Let's say he plays five more years at this level and averages 25-26 points a game, plays in two more Finals (winning one) and makes three first-team All-NBAs and two 2nd-team All-NBAs. (Conceivable.) Here's how his hypothetical résumé would look after the 2014-2015 season: five rings and eight Finals appearances in all … 34,000-plus points (third all time) … 1,300-plus games (the record is 1,611, held by Robert Parish) … nearly 6,000 playoff points (close to the record of 5,987, held by MJ) … 10 first-team All-NBAs, four second-teams and two third-teams. Again, that's a reasonable scenario. So if he stays healthy and keeps playing at this level, he would eventually become the Kareem of non-centers: either the third or fourth best player in the history of the league. Meanwhile, just 26 months ago, the Lakers were shopping him and he seemed destined to leave. I think this is startling.

lovethisgame wrote:I'm an avid reader of Simmons' articles and podcasts despite his ever dissipating sheer hate for the Lakers. I also recently purchased his new book, The Book of Basketball. It's very entertaining. A lot of facts and a lot of hypothetical scenarios. He's a good modern journalist and his take on the NBA (and pop culture) is very amusing.

vinnycorleone wrote:

lovethisgame wrote:I'm an avid reader of Simmons' articles and podcasts despite his ever dissipating sheer hate for the Lakers. I also recently purchased his new book, The Book of Basketball. It's very entertaining. A lot of facts and a lot of hypothetical scenarios. He's a good modern journalist and his take on the NBA (and pop culture) is very amusing.

I just finished his book and I was thoroughly impressed with his knowledge of basketball. Even though he's a Celtics fan...I still read most of his articles and listen to his podcasts because of the fact that he simply KNOWS basketball.