Kobe: "New Goal. Play until I'm 40"

Quake Griffin · Post #21 » by **Quake Griffin** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 8:46 pm

i hope he's not under the theory that ring counting will help him surpass Jordan.

An Unbiased Fan · Post #22 » by **An Unbiased Fan** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 8:48 pm

Kobe's going after Russell. 8-)

But seriously, dude is 34 and still dropping 26 ppg on 70%+ TS. His skillset will allow him to play to his 40's if he chooses.

It's crazy that he's still the best SG in the NBA in his 17th year.

ReturnofFlash · Post #23 » by **ReturnofFlash** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 8:48 pm

Quake Griffin wrote:i hope he's not under the theory that ring counting will help him surpass Jordan.

No matter what he tries, he will never pass Jordan. Btw I have a question since Kobe has 2 finals MVP and say Miami repeats and LeBron gets his 2nd finals MVP, would you put LeBron above Kobe, since he has 3 and possibly 4 mvp's.

WaffleRecord · Post #24 » by **WaffleRecord** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 8:53 pm

6 years from now, at least it's just a goal and not a for sure thing. It would be cool to see him pull it off though. Hopefully he knows when to hang it up though

poeman · Post #25 » by **poeman** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 8:56 pm

I have learned to accept that Kobe should never be mentioned in the same breath as Jordan.

-Kobe had a 4 year head start going from high school to the pros...Jordan was at UNC for 4 years

-Kobe has lost in the finals more then once...Jordan has won every final appearance and had MVP

-Jordan retired twice, missing 2 years early on and few more years after the 6th championship.

If Jordan never retired and went from HS to college he would have such separation from the pack it'd be insane.

minifang · Post #26 » by **minifang** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 8:57 pm

He's 34 right now night so including this season and the next six, that's seven more potential rings. He can get up to 12!

It's hard to imagine him stepping away from the only thing he lives and breathes.

LakersAreBetter · Post #27 » by **LakersAreBetter** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 8:58 pm

Axel wrote:
Kobeskillz wrote:
Axel wrote:I hope he humiliates himself. He's got a big EGO.

It's pretty stupid to wish that upon one of the all time greats of the game. What kind of fan are you? Just because he said he would play till 40 doesn't mean he wants to be the main focus. All the dumb haters where saying he was done after last year and all of a sudden with another legit superstar and a new system and he's off to a great start for someone who has played as long as he has.

Last year it was Mike Brown iso iso iso. This year he's in a system similar to the triangle. Kobe is more comfortable in a system since that's all he's ever played in.

Oh and Kobe doesn't seem to be limiting Howards production at all. Are you guys blind? Look at both Howards and Kobes stats to start and that's with a 80% Howard.

Not a player fan?

Sorry, I see through the stat padding and trying to outdo Michael Jordan. I am just skeptical that Kobe's ego would allow him not be the main focal point on the team. He's either going to ride Dwight's coattails in a secondary role (as you suggest), or decline in efficiency while trying to maintain his former level of production. I'm not really a fan of either scenario.

oh man kobe haters are loosing it now.

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk 2

minifang · Post #28 » by **minifang** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 9:02 pm

It always befuddles me that some Kobe haters (or haters of any player) do nothing but bash that player. At least respect the man for his game.

It will be a sad day for the NBA when Kobe Bryant retires.

thewhat · Post #29 » by **thewhat** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 9:11 pm

With all the attention Dwight Howard recieves and Nash handling the ball, yeah I can see Kobe playing until 40. Playing off the ball. He is looking great out there. I can see him transitioning into a roll like Paul Pierce or Jason Kidd. Jordan...pshhhh, Kobe is gunning for Kareem's spot all time.

JustAwesome · Post #30 » by **JustAwesome** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 9:22 pm

poeman wrote:Kobe has a big ego...He doesnt want to be the second option on his team.

Not everyone is going to be as mature as Robinson was when the team drafted Duncan. Bryant is the way he is because it has worked for so many years. It's human nature to be become stubborn.

gotokyo · Post #31 » by **gotokyo** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 9:23 pm

You guys are really hating on kobe for wanting to play longer? Because he will never reach the mythical beast that is the untouchable legendary greatness of on sir Michael Jordan?

Wow by that logic why did he ever play in the NBA to begin with?? Actually why is anyone playing in the NBA? No basketball will ever be better then what happened 20 years ago so might as well cancel the whole NBA and just run replays of jordan's playoff games every year forever!!

Get over yourselves. The guy loves the game, its been his whole life since he was born. If the opportunity arises where he gets to still play for a contender and at an elite level for a few more years before he packs it in for good who wouldn't take that opportunity?

Kobeskillz · Post #32 » by **Kobeskillz** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 9:26 pm

Axel wrote:
Kobeskillz wrote:
Axel wrote:I hope he humiliates himself. He's got a big EGO.

It's pretty stupid to wish that upon one of the all time greats of the game. What kind of fan are you? Just because he said he would play till 40 doesn't mean he wants to be the main focus. All the dumb haters where saying he was done after last year and all of a sudden with another legit superstar and a new system and he's off to a great start for someone who has played as long as he has.

Last year it was Mike Brown iso iso iso. This year he's in a system similar to the triangle. Kobe is more comfortable in a system since that's all he's ever played in.

Oh and Kobe doesn't seem to be limiting Howards production at all. Are you guys blind? Look at both Howards and Kobes stats to start and that's with a 80% Howard.

Not a player fan?

Sorry, I see through the stat padding and trying to outdo Michael Jordan. I am just skeptical that Kobe's ego would allow him not be the main focal point on the team. He's either going to ride Dwight's coattails in a secondary role (as you suggest), or decline in efficiency while trying to maintain his former level of production. I'm not really a fan of either scenario.

Stat padding while winning 5 rings. Yeah ok. So what if he's trying to outdo MJ. MJ isn't some god that you should bow down to. He has the balls to say yeah i'm going to try and be the best and believe i'm the best no matter what. Better than the wasted potential of Vince, Tmac, AI, etc.

Oh and Dwight hasn't won anything by himself yet so not sure how Kobe would be ridding his coattails. You are delusional if you don't think that even at 34-37 Kobe won't be a key piece in a championship run if it happens. Even at 17 years and 34 years old he's still performing at a high level and best SG in the game. Who else can say that? If if you disagree about him being the top SG just the fact that it's arguable it's impressive in itself.

TrevorAriza · Post #33 » by **TrevorAriza** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 9:26 pm

All he said was that he want's to play till he's 40, and people are saying he's a "douche" or "he'll never be jordan."

Some of y'all are ridiculous it's embarrassing

The4thHorseman · Post #34 » by **The4thHorseman** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 9:32 pm

re49gb_2gho32fp wrote:Music to Howard's ears. Now he has an excuse to leave.

and sign with Houston in the off season. They have the cap room.

desertlakerfan · Post #35 » by **desertlakerfan** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 9:33 pm

I've said many times I expect Kobe to have a Malone-like ending to his career, one that involves playing into his late 30s while still performing at a high level. He takes care of his body just as well as the mailman did throughout his career, and with Nash joining him he can see first hand a peer still playing into his late 30s.

I didn't buy the "two more years" story one bit when it came out, 2 more year as "the man" maybe but Dwight might take that honor this year if not next.

thewhat · Post #36 » by **thewhat** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 9:35 pm

Kobe is getting Howard easy looks. And all the attention that Howard gets on the block allows Kobe to camp on the 3 point line. They are both making each others games much easier for each other. Its like watching Shaq/Kobe8 all over again.

Joker · Post #37 » by **Joker** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 9:37 pm

No issue with the wanting to play until 40 goal, but I hope that doesn't mean that if it's clear he needs to hang it up by the time he's 37-38, he doesn't try to embarrassingly cling on for another 2-3 seasons.

Kobeskillz · Post #38 » by **Kobeskillz** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 9:41 pm

thewhat wrote:Kobe is getting Howard easy looks. And all the attention that Howard gets on the block allows Kobe to camp on the 3 point line. They are both making each others games much easier for each other. Its like watching Shaq/Kobe8 all over again.

Yup I agree with this. They are complimenting ea other perfectly but you know how haters are. Stats are clearly clearly showing Kobe playing at a high level and playing well with Howard.

Joker · Post #39 » by **Joker** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 9:43 pm

desertlakerfan wrote:I've said many times I expect Kobe to have a Malone-like ending to his career, one that involves playing into his late 30s while still performing at a high level. He takes care of his body just as well as the mailman did throughout his career, and with Nash joining him he can see first hand a peer still playing into his late 30s.

I didn't buy the "two more years" story one bit when it came out, 2 more year as "the man" maybe but Dwight might take that honor this year if not next.

You can't strictly look at age --- it's a mileage thing too. By the end of this season, Kobe's combined career regular season and playoff minutes will be around what Karl Malone finished his career at (~63000). Playing another 5 seasons after this would be an additional 5 seasons' worth of mileage relative to Malone's total career.

desertlakerfan · Post #40 » by **desertlakerfan** » Mon Nov 5, 2012 9:52 pm

Joker wrote:
desertlakerfan wrote:I've said many times I expect Kobe to have a Malone-like ending to his career, one that involves playing into his late 30s while still performing at a high level. He takes care of his body just as well as the mailman did throughout his career, and with Nash joining him he can see first hand a peer still playing into his late 30s.

I didn't buy the "two more years" story one bit when it came out, 2 more year as "the man" maybe but Dwight might take that honor this year if not next.

You can't strictly look at age --- it's a mileage thing too. By the end of this season, Kobe's combined career regular season and playoff minutes will be around what Karl Malone finished his career at (~63000). Playing another 5 seasons after this would be an additional 5 seasons' worth of mileage relative to Malone's total career.

I dunno how you figure Kobe's going to play +12k minutes this year.... your math is a bit off. Remember speaking of mileage Kobe's first two years he played fewer minutes where Malone was a full time starter his rookie season on through into his 19th year.

Right now Kobe's at 42.5k regular season and 8.6k playoffs. Add in another 2-3k this season and he's still around 9-10k off Malone's career mark of 63k.