Know What You Have Before It's Gone

[JimMurray]

Tonight Kobe's injury scare got me thinking just how lucky we are to have an NBA team sitting at 23-4. Let me say that again

23-4

It wasn't long ago when we were slumming with Kwame Brown, Chris Mihm, Smush Parker, Chuckey Atkins, Brian Cook, etc....

Furthermore, it's not going to be long before our number one option is Andrew Bynum. We take it for granted as Laker fans but it's going to be a LONG time before we see another player in purple and gold have the kind of impact that Kobe Bryant has had.

Let's savor these next 2-5 years or however long it is that Kobe is in his prime, and this team is still championship caliber; cause when it's gone, you know we're going to have to pay some dues. (Think 90's).

[slifersd]

Don't worry about rebuilding this team. Worst case scenario, we'd still be a whole lot of better than the Bulls.

[JimMurray]

Don't worry about rebuilding this team. Worst case scenario, we'd still be a whole lot of better than the Bulls.

I'm hopeful, but you and I both know that it won't be the same. I lived through the 90's. Trying to replace the Showtime Lakers took a good 10 years. Between 92-96 our best player was....Sedale Threat? Nick Van Exel? Eddie Jones? Cedric Ceballos? I'm not worried that we won't be competitive, I'm just savoring the view from the top of the mountain; because that's always special, no matter when it happens.

[bobobolas1]

Now it all is about the money. Stars want to be in big markets, LA is LA. free agency would always want to come LA. if kobe were retired right now, lebron, wade, bosh,.... would be sleeping by the phone waiting for a LA call.

[CowsMoo]

Now it all is about the money. Stars want to be in big markets, LA is LA. free agency would always want to come LA. if kobe were retired right now, lebron, wade, bosh,.... would be sleeping by the phone waiting for a LA call.

True. Lakers are kind of lucky to have such great players fall into our laps. But as of now, we have Buss who is determined to beat the Celtics' record in championships. Past that, I'm pretty sure he'll still be motivated to win.

[Optms]

I agree with everything you stated in the OP, JimMurray. We see one of the greatest players suit for the team night in and night out and give us fans a show. He has been one of the hungriest most consistent super stars for quite some time. The hungriest in my opinion, and I love how he still goes out there like he HAS something to prove. He keeps all eyes on LA and it is evident by the huge fan base that pursues him and that huge group of haters that just adore derailing his achievements.

He isn't appreciated enough. I guarantee when he hangs it up, it will hit all us Laker fans hard how good we had it. Enjoy him now while he's still here and keep winning them rings, boys.

[fareweatherfan]

like everything else, we won't fully appreciate kobe until he's gone.

[Edrees]

The lakers have built 3 entirely different championship teams in a 25-30 year span. Not many franchises have that kind of consistency, infact I'd say NONE do. Boston has been **** for decades, and the teams that were good in the 90s are not championship teams anymore. The spurs are now fading.

The management and leadership know what they are doing, and they'll do it again after the kobe era. Mitch will find a way to get an all calibur player to the team. So yes I will treasure this, and there will be a couple of years downtime, but we'll be back at the top again without too long of a gap time and time again

I really think it happening three times under the same owner is hardly luck. he knows what he's doing.

Maybe I'm too optimistic and I should savor this while I can? hehe.

[Anklebreaker702]

As long as we keep plugging in pieces we'll be ok. Players like Kobe are never replaced (unless we some how freakishly get Wade still in his prime). Just like we've never replaced Kareem, Magic, or Shaq.