The Official Orlando Magic vs Cleveland Cavs Thread
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What are you talking about? According to your logic we cannot say Jordan was better than Kobe because they didn't play together at the same age? Nah.. I think i'll stay right here.
^^This is exactly the type of person I was talking about in my previous post. This dude is a Bulls fan but jocks the fuck out of Lebron.
^^This is exactly the type of person I was talking about in my previous post. This dude is a Bulls fan but jocks the fuck out of Lebron.
The problem with the "he wasn't as good as so and so when he was that age" argument is that it's only used to compare similar players. You never hear of anyone comparing Jordan to Kareem or Shaq to Clyde Drexler in the way you hear people comparing Kobe to Jordan or (now) Lebron to Kobe.
The reason this is a problem is that people who make this argument don't take into account the impact the older player had on the younger player's game. The younger player greatly benefits from what the older player who he is being compared to already did.
Without Jordan doing what he did in the league to serve as a blueprint, who is Kobe, (and everyone else for that matter) patterning their games after? Same goes for Jordan patterning his game after Dr J and David Thompson, then adding his own stuff to it...
The reason this is a problem is that people who make this argument don't take into account the impact the older player had on the younger player's game. The younger player greatly benefits from what the older player who he is being compared to already did.
Without Jordan doing what he did in the league to serve as a blueprint, who is Kobe, (and everyone else for that matter) patterning their games after? Same goes for Jordan patterning his game after Dr J and David Thompson, then adding his own stuff to it...
Point and case.
I think people just get caught up in the fact that these are the two best players in the NBA (and they hold some ranks throughout history) so people want (or NEED) to make comparisons. But everything you said is true.
I try to stay away from the discussion as much as I can because I am a Laker fan and my opinion/judgment is clouded by this fact. But when people start popping off without really taking into account the many factors that determine what "the best player" really is, I simply cannot resist. Players are measured not only by their ability and how well they play up to it, but also the END result. If a player and their team dominate the regular season year after year but never win championships (Malone?), then it's hard to say they are the epitome of talent at their position. It is within that respect that I am still waiting to say Lebron is truely the king. It has absolutely nothing to do with his talent.
I think people just get caught up in the fact that these are the two best players in the NBA (and they hold some ranks throughout history) so people want (or NEED) to make comparisons. But everything you said is true.
I try to stay away from the discussion as much as I can because I am a Laker fan and my opinion/judgment is clouded by this fact. But when people start popping off without really taking into account the many factors that determine what "the best player" really is, I simply cannot resist. Players are measured not only by their ability and how well they play up to it, but also the END result. If a player and their team dominate the regular season year after year but never win championships (Malone?), then it's hard to say they are the epitome of talent at their position. It is within that respect that I am still waiting to say Lebron is truely the king. It has absolutely nothing to do with his talent.
