Lately, there has been an incredible back and forth in the news about who is the #1 player of this era. LeBron, Dunca, and Kobe have all been contenders, and with a Heat vs Spurs Finals starting tonight, the conversation just keeps getting hotter.
On Twitter today, Hall-of-Famer and former 76ers legend, Julius Erving, says if he had to pick between LeBron and Kobe, he would pick Bryant. Erving says Kobe’s one of the top five players of all time. Refreshing, seeing as Kobe was feeling a lack of confidence over Phil Jackson’s decision in his new book ‘Eleven Rings’.
LeBron James, on the other hand, listed Tim Duncan as this generation’s best player. The Miami Heat player had this to say about his upcoming opponent:
Probably one of the best players to ever play the game of basketball,” he said of Duncan. “If I just look at the last 15 years, he’s probably been the most consistent, most dominant player that we’ve had as far as 15 years all together. He’s won four titles, multiple All Stars, MVP, and so on and so on.
Andrew Ungvari of Lakers Nation decided to answer why he thinks Bryant is still the best player of this era; it’s the Finals baby. Kobe’s Lakers made it to seven NBA Finals, winning five, and repeated as champions three times. Ungvari continues to details the Spurs success during Duncan’s reign, but how it never matches up to what Kobe and the Lakers have been able to accomplish.My favorite example? This one:
“Even if you exclude the playoff that Duncan missed in 2000 with a torn meniscus, there are still six other instances in which the Spurs were eliminated from the playoffs with home court advantage: in 2001, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, and 2012.”
This post is a must-read. It shows Lakers fans that although the past two seasons have been less than expected, we have been spoiled. Spoiled with a tremendous legacy and a player that has done so much for the sport of basketball. Ungvari absolutely convinces you Bryant is still #1 (if any of you were feeling doubtful).
By now, you know about Metta’s children’s book came out. Check out this clip of him reading from his book to kids. It is adorable!
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Lakers Nation News
Video: Metta World Peace Reads Story From His New Book to Children
NBA Legend Julius Erving Picks Kobe, Spurs Over LeBron James
LeBron James Says Tim Duncan, Not Kobe, Is Generation’s Best Player
Duncan, Spurs Title Won’t Pass Kobe, Lakers In Battle For This Era
With Dwightmas Approaching, Let’s Look At The Potential Options
Julius Erving Says Lakers Tricked 76ers Into Accepting Andrew Bynum Trade
Mitch Kupchak Acknowledges Dwight’s Decision Dictates Future Moves
Lakers Nation Roundtable: Will The Lakers Use Their Amnesty Clause?
Lakers News: Lakers Tweet Video of Darius Morris’ Workout
Lakers News
Kobe’s Brilliant Game 1 Performance in the 2009 NBA Finals [Silver Screen and Roll]
Kobe Talks: Targets Early Return, Lays Out Plan to Keep Dwight [Silver Screen and Roll]
The Path Forward for the Lakers is Less Complicated Without Dwight Howard [Silver Screen and Roll]
Atlanta Hawks May Have Revealed Too Much Interest in Howard, Paul [LA Times]
Kupchak Conversation [THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS]
Steve Nash Says He Was Never Really Close to Playing for Heat [ProBasketballTalk]
Metta World Peace Talks NBA Finals, His Children’s Book [ProBasketballTalk]
Phil Jackson, John Salley to Discuss Book by Former Lakers Coach [LA Times]
The Forum: Will Lakers Make The Playoffs Next Season? [ESPN]
Player Capsule: Devin Ebanks [THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS]
Tiger Woods Regains Spot Atop Forbes Highest-Paid Athletes List [CBSSports.com]
Free Throws Kobe Made After Tearing His Achilles Rank Among the Best Shots of His Career [ProBasketballTalk]
Lakers Trying to Prepare for Dwight Howard’s Decision [Lakers Now]
Lakers Use Video App Vine to Show a Darius Morris Workout [LA Times]
NBA News
Ginobili Says He Thinks He Will Be Back With the Spurs Next Season [ProBasketballTalk]
NBA Finals Predictions: Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs [SI.com]
Previewing the Heat-Spurs 2013 NBA Finals [Grantland]
Game 7 of East Finals Sets TNT Ratings Record [NBA.com]
Spurs’ Tracy McGrady to Consider Retirement Following 2013 Finals [The Point Forward]
Clippers Targeting Pacers’ Shaw [Hang Time Blog]
The Athlete vs. The Celebrity [Sports Info 101]
Spurs Certainly are Rested, but Are They Rusted? [ProBasketballTalk]
Gregg Popovich Credits Pat Riley for Building ‘Big 3’ [SI.com]
Chris Bosh, NBA Finals X factor? [TrueHoop Blog]
Spurs’ Leonard Eyes Matchup with LeBron [Yahoo! Sports]
Brooklyn Nets Given Permission to Speak with Brian Shaw [Sporting News]
Nets, 76ers Among Three Teams to Contact Larry Brown [CBSSports.com]
LeBron Calls Duncan “most consistent, most dominant” Player of Last 15 Years [ProBasketballTalk]
The 5 Elements of the Effective Spurs Offense [The Triangle Blog]
Corner 3-Pointers, Paint Play Will Likely Dicate These NBA Finals [NBA.com]
Miami’s Bosh Aiming to Shake Out of Slump [Yahoo! Sports]
Nets Want Brian Shaw so Badly, They Won’t Pursue George Karl [ProBasketballTalk]
Kawhi Leonard of San Antonio Spurs ready to Guard LeBron James [ESPN]
Larry Bird Wants $5M, Partial Ownership to Become Kings President [SI Wire]
Jason Kidd Says He, Mark Cuban of Dallas Mavericks Talking Again [ESPN Dallas]
No Comparing James Then And Now [Hang Time Blog]
How the Spurs and Heat Use the Most Important Shot in Basketball [Grantland]
Denver Nuggets Part Ways With Coach George Karl [ProBasketballTalk]
Masai Ujiri Officially Introduced as Toronto Raptors General Manager [ESPN]