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Maybe it’s just an internet culture thing, but it seems like it’s just accepted that Kobe is the greatest Laker ever even though it’s clearly Magic.

They both have 5 rings all with the Lakers.

Magic has 3 MVPs Kobe has 1.

Magic has 3 FMVPs Kobe has 2.

Magic was also a unique player who was never seen before in the history of the league and I’d argue we still haven’t seen someone like him. The best passer in the history of the league being a 6’9’’ PG. Kobe on the other hand was the knockoff version of the GOAT.

People will point to Kobe’s cultural significance as an argument but: 1. That’s not a basketball argument. Saying his name when you throw paper into a trash can doesn’t make him the GOAT Laker and 2. Magic was arguably just as culturally significant (showtime Lakers) and far more important in a league history perspective in the sense that him and Bird are often credited with saving the NBA and making it what it is today.

And if this wasn’t enough of an argument for Magic as the GOAT Laker over Kobe, let me ask you this: who in their right mind ranks Kobe above Magic in an all time player ranking list? The answer is nobody (remember I said “in their right mind”). But even if we just looked at consensus we would see Magic generally ranked around 5 all time and Kobe generally ranked around 8-10 all time. So for two guys who both played their entire careers with the Lakers, how is it that the guy ranked 8-10 all time is generally thought of as the GOAT Laker over the guy ranked around 5th all time?

Almost every knowledgeable expert/analyst/fan has Magic ahead of Kobe as a Laker and in the all-time rankings.

Magic is generally regarded as a top 5 player of all-time while Kobe is most often regarded as a top 8-12 player of all-time depending on the rankings.

Most people do? I do not think that is really true at all.

He is one of the most iconic NBA players in the world along with Michael Jordan. In fact, in much of the world he is the most iconic NBA player.

I think it's recency bias. In general:

Greatest Laker playing as a Laker: Magic
Greatest Laker to put on a Laker uniform: Lebron or Kareem
Greatest Laker overall including coaching/management: Jerry West

Kobe has the longest overall tenure playing for the Lakers.

LeBronSpaghetti wrote:Maybe it’s just an internet culture thing, but it seems like it’s just accepted that Kobe is the greatest Laker ever even though it’s clearly Magic.

They both have 5 rings all with the Lakers.

Magic has 3 MVPs Kobe has 1.

Magic has 3 FMVPs Kobe has 2.

Magic was also a unique player who was never seen before in the history of the league and I’d argue we still haven’t seen someone like him. The best passer in the history of the league being a 6’9’’ PG. Kobe on the other hand was the knockoff version of the GOAT.

People will point to Kobe’s cultural significance as an argument but: 1. That’s not a basketball argument. Saying his name when you throw paper into a trash can doesn’t make him the GOAT Laker and 2. Magic was arguably just as culturally significant (showtime Lakers) and far more important in a league history perspective in the sense that him and Bird are often credited with saving the NBA and making it what it is today.

And if this wasn’t enough of an argument for Magic as the GOAT Laker over Kobe, let me ask you this: who in their right mind ranks Kobe above Magic in an all time player ranking list? The answer is nobody (remember I said “in their right mind”). But even if we just looked at consensus we would see Magic generally ranked around 5 all time and Kobe generally ranked around 8-10 all time. So for two guys who both played their entire careers with the Lakers, how is it that the guy ranked 8-10 all time is generally thought of as the GOAT Laker over the guy ranked around 5th all time?

So speaking as an Angeleno, I've watched this all unfold over decades pushing back along the way before giving up.

Even before his passing, there was a local attachment to Kobe that always went beyond what you'd expect based on how good he is which I'd attribute to him being a) extremely good looking, and b) as close to Jordan in style and attitude as possible. I know people locally who aren't even into basketball but who embraced 'Mamba Mentality' in the pursuit of their dream as if 'work hard to make your dreams come true' was a new idea.

Now, this doesn't necessarily mean Magic is gone as a contender now or going forward, but he's basically the only one in competition with Kobe, and it's not because he was better than Kobe - though he was - but because he's extremely charismatic in his own right.

Magic himself has said Kobe is the best Laker ever...

Personally they are my all time favorite players , even if they are so different; but both have brought FIVE rings to the Lakers.

I have no problem with ranking both behind Micheal Jordan as best ever, in no particular order.

By the way, every damn topic here tries to diminish Kobe's legacy, as if he is threatening somebody who has an inferiority complex

Not sure why it's that big a deal. But Magic was better for a shorter period of time. Kobe played longer. Pick whichever you want, but would be nice if those picking Kobe would be consistent in longevity over peak elsewhere.

But the reason I think Doc nailed. He's likable and Magic has been basically retired since the early 90's so in 35+ years a lot of people have grown up not really knowing who he was in the same way they knew Kobe.

Magic played basketball 30+ years ago, a lot of us truthfully never watched him play in his prime and unfortunately so much of Magic’s legacy is his HIV diagnosis.

Kobe’s game and mentality was modeled after MJ too, not to mention his tragic premature death so there which just enhances his mystique. When I think of Kobe I think of the consummate competitor, that drive and edge he had that is so rare and special.

So there is 100% a lot of recency bias but Kobe was a special player that is incomparable to any player in the league now and basketball world really misses him. RIP

Luke wrote:Magic himself has said Kobe is the best Laker ever...

Personally they are my all time favorite players , even if they are so different; but both have brought FIVE rings to the Lakers.

I have no problem with ranking both behind Micheal Jordan as best ever, in no particular order.

By the way, every damn topic here tries to diminish Kobe's legacy, as if he is threatening somebody who has an inferiority complex

Kobe himself has said Magic is the best Laker ever. Wayne Gretzky has said about 20 different guys were better than him. That doesn’t make it true.

Kobe is an all time great but his legacy is massively overrated. Jason Timpf, one of my favorite basketball media personalities, just ranked Kobe as the 3rd best player of all time. That is pure insanity. So if anyone wants to accuse me of diminishing Kobe’s legacy I say go for it because you are correct. I have no problem going against the grain and saying the conversation around his legacy and all time great status has reached delusional levels of overrated.

Recency bias but also because Kobe was an athletic scoring wing/guard. There was an ad in the 90s about baseball basically saying "chicks dig the long ball(pause)" but it basically implied that home run hitters will always get the most attention from casual fans no matter what in baseball. The same thing can be said about athletic scoring wings/guards to casual NBA fans. Started with Dr. J(and really Baylor) and went into overdrive obviously with Jordan and it's been this way ever since. It's the reason why a lot of younger casual fans are basically trying to dismiss every past NBA big man legend except Shaq and Hakeem. The amount of fans who basically dismiss KAJ, Wilt, Russell, and even Duncan is kind of disturbing and it's all because when they watch games or highlights of theirs it's not the aesthetic that they find exciting.

There's also this very weird tendency that I only see concerning the NBA and the way it's covered to basically only acknowledge going back to Jordan in the 90s. MLB, NFL, NHL media and their casual fans don't just outright dismiss all the history of their sports as much as NBA fans do. NBA goes out of their way to act like they're the most in tune with the "kids" or the zeitgeist

Magic is the best Laker ever.
Kobe is the most exciting Laker ever
Jerry West is the most important Laker ever.

I don't think Kobe is widely considered to be the greatest Lakers of all time, but what I do know is that in 15-20 years from now, all the recency bias will be put aside, and when Kobe will become as distant memory as Magic (as a player), there's no way that he'll be perceived as even the same tier of a player.

There's just too much of disparity in terms of individual accolades.

LeBronSpaghetti wrote:

Luke wrote:Magic himself has said Kobe is the best Laker ever...

Personally they are my all time favorite players , even if they are so different; but both have brought FIVE rings to the Lakers.

I have no problem with ranking both behind Micheal Jordan as best ever, in no particular order.

By the way, every damn topic here tries to diminish Kobe's legacy, as if he is threatening somebody who has an inferiority complex

Kobe himself has said Magic is the best Laker ever. Wayne Gretzky has said about 20 different guys were better than him. That doesn’t make it true.

Kobe is an all time great but his legacy is massively overrated. Jason Timpf, one of my favorite basketball media personalities, just ranked Kobe as the 3rd best player of all time. That is pure insanity. So if anyone wants to accuse me of diminishing Kobe’s legacy I say go for it because you are correct. I have no problem going against the grain and saying the conversation around his legacy and all time great status has reached delusional levels of overrated.

I personally think that Lebron's legacy is grossly overrated, but I don't try to make a topic to try to diminish his legacy every day. I could, but I'm not obsessed by him.
Regards Kobe , every single day there is Frye, Teague, Arenas or other scrubs, who are quoted here to say he was overrated; but nobody posts when the overwhelming majority of fans in LA ; of players that have played with him and against him; of coaches and agents ; say that he his among the best ever. There are countless examples.
He is not overrated at all for many important people in connection with the NBA. Also to say he is overrated, you'd have to start to say who rates him too high. I personally don't know who is Jason Timpf, is he connected with the NBA ?
Final thing. You are free to not like him, everybody can have his opinion. I think the most important thing is to try to discuss real facts. Kobe on this board in my opinion is treated unfairly, every day, there are a lot of examples...

Magic Johnson? The point guard from the Swedish team M7 Borås?

LeBronSpaghetti wrote:

Luke wrote:Magic himself has said Kobe is the best Laker ever...

Personally they are my all time favorite players , even if they are so different; but both have brought FIVE rings to the Lakers.

I have no problem with ranking both behind Micheal Jordan as best ever, in no particular order.

By the way, every damn topic here tries to diminish Kobe's legacy, as if he is threatening somebody who has an inferiority complex

Kobe himself has said Magic is the best Laker ever. Wayne Gretzky has said about 20 different guys were better than him. That doesn’t make it true.

Kobe is an all time great but his legacy is massively overrated. Jason Timpf, one of my favorite basketball media personalities, just ranked Kobe as the 3rd best player of all time. That is pure insanity. So if anyone wants to accuse me of diminishing Kobe’s legacy I say go for it because you are correct. I have no problem going against the grain and saying the conversation around his legacy and all time great status has reached delusional levels of overrated.

Barkley has Kobe in the top 3 all-time. Lot's of media guys do. I have Kobe ranked top 3. He's pretty easily the 2nd or 3rd best player to ever step on an NBA court if you just look at it objectively without an agenda.

ballzboyee wrote:Barkley has Kobe in the top 3 all-time. Lot's of media guys do. I have Kobe ranked top 3. He's pretty easily the 2nd or 3rd best player to ever step on an NBA court if you just look at it objectively without an agenda.

Care to elaborate instead of just throwing out an alleged objective argument without giving substance (which looks even more like an agenda from your side...)?

He played in LA for 20 years. He was around for five titles. He's still fresh in the minds of Laker fans.

Magic retired for good 29 years ago, retired from being Magic Johnson 34 years ago, and won his last ring 36 years ago.

OP is right Magic should be the Greatest Laker of all time. But they are like 1A and 1B. It’s very close.

The problem is Magic and I think Jerry West have both called Kobe the Greatest Laker so I that kinda muddied everything.

Jerry West is the greatest Laker.