Measuring stick…
Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are both currently training in Las Vegas in preparation of Team USA’s appearance in the 2012 Olympics in London. With LeBron James coming off winning his first NBA championship with the Miami Heat, Bryant in an interview with Sports Illustrated had some comments regarding LeBron’s accomplishment, saying that winning one championship isn’t enough to hang your hat on:
“One championship doesn’t get it, you know what I’m saying?” Bryant said. “So for me, when we won one, it was a little different because it was, like you know, Michael (Jordan) had six, Magic (Johnson) had five. So me and Shaq (O’Neal) both were like, man, we got to get some more. One ain’t going to cut it.”
I mean, since the last time we were here I got two… Dirk got one. He (James) got one.”
When asked if he would remind James about who has more championships, Bryant responded, ”Not yet,” he said. “I will. I will.”
Bryant has a good point here. Winning one NBA championship is a great accomplishment in every way but when compared to the legends of the game, both past and present, winning multiple championships is the bar every great players should strive to achieve.
The Lakers and Heat both have added future Hall of Famers to their roster to make a run at the title in 2012-2013, with the Lakers acquiring veteran PG Steve Nash and the Heat picking up SG Ray Allen to keep them among the NBA’s elite teams.
As off-base as the comparisons regarding Bryant and James may be, the debate will always be a hot topic among both NBA fans and analysts alike. It will be interesting to see if Bryant can win his sixth ring before calling it a career of if James will be able to secure his second ring and truly establish his legacy as one of the best players in NBA history.
-ALR
