The World Needs to Open It’s Eyes and Stop Hating on Kobe Bryant

Every now and then there comes a basketball player who takes the entire league by storm. These special players are what we called superstars and there have been several of them throughout NBA history. The original superstar was Mr. Basketball, former Minneapolis Laker George Mikan. Mikan formed the NBA’s first dynasty, and he helped pave the way for a future of great players and athletes.

As the years passed, the NBA was fortunate enough to showcase players such as Jerry West, Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Larry Bird; however, many fans and analysts believe the NBA’s ultimate superstar was Michael Jordan.  Jordan dazzled fans with his unforgettable moves and his offensive arsenal. MJ left the game with a remarkable six NBA championships, five regular season MVPs, six Finals MVPs and a career scoring average of 30.1 points per game.

When Jordan decided to retire from the NBA, people were ready to name him the greatest of all-time. Jordan changed the entire landscape of the NBA and no other player could compete with his breathtaking statistics.

“No one can beat Jordan! No one can come close to matching what Jordan did in his career!” These were the words Jordan’s fans murmured over-and-over again. However, on June 26^th, 1996 a young teenager from Lower Merion High School was preparing himself for his NBA journey.

The young man by the name of Kobe Bryant ended that epic day wearing a Los Angeles Lakers jersey, and he would be paired with the giant Shaquille O’Neal.  There was not much hype around the Philadelphia native, but in his mind Bryant knew he could shine amongst the league’s best.

And Bryant did just that. Kobe became one of the league’s best players in a very short time, and he developed the reputation of a high-energy shooting guard. Bryant is currently in his fifteenth NBA season, he has won five NBA championships and two Finals MVPs.  However, despite his unprecedented numbers and individual accolades Bryant is still hated by many NBA fans. However, those naysayers have to open their eyes and realize that Kobe Bryant is perhaps the greatest player of this generation and the closest thing that the NBA has ever seen to Michael Jordan.

Next: The Reasons for the Hate

NBA fans have a reason to despise Kobe Bryant, since he did many questionable things during his early years in the NBA. Bryant was very arrogant and he believed the team would be best if the offense played through him. The term “selfish” has been associated with Kobe for several years, and it was adopted during the early years of the 2000s.  “He wasn’t always the most lovable guy. Sekou Smith said of NBA.com. “When he was younger, he was brash and turned off as many people as he did people that instantly became his disciples.”

Kobe had as many supporters as he did haters, but it did not seem to bother the jocular young teenager. This type of public perception was very common, and it happened to players like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.  Despite the fact that these players had amazing careers, they were hated by opposing teams and fans.  However, in the summer of 2003 Kobe Bryant reached the nadir of his career.

Bryant had been accused of sexual assault, and was put to trial for the nefarious act. Bryant had admitted to conducting adultery, but he pleaded not-guilty to raping a 19-year old woman. This topic is a very sensitive issue and is something many Lakers fans try to ignore.  Although the charges were dropped, the events that took place in Eagle, Colo. ruined Kobe Bryant’s reputation.

After the trials concluded, the Los Angeles Lakers’ team was slowly falling apart. Despite their three NBA championships, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal began to fight over the spotlight in Los Angeles. In the summer of 2004 Bryant’s image took another blow when he was suspected of forcing the Lakers to trade Shaquille O’Neal.

In the middle years of decade, Bryant became the face of the Los Angeles Lakers; but this time he was the only star on the team. Although Kobe was an offensive juggernaut, the fans were not willing to forgive him. Kobe was by far the best player in the league, but his previous actions made him lose his supporters and his sponsorships. Kobe dropped nearly 35 points per game, but no one wanted to praise the young man.

That type of animosity for Kobe was completely unfair and the world had to acknowledge the fact that he was putting up numbers that no other player had ever put up before. Many haters say they will never root for Kobe because of his selfish attitude. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was arrested after driving under the influence of drugs, but he is still regarded as the greatest center to every play the game.  Michael Jordan was plagued with the word “selfish” for a few years of his career and he had admitted to being addicted to gambling.

If those great superstars were able to deal with controversy in their careers, but had been forgiven, why can’t the world do the same with Kobe Bryant? Every person deserves a second chance and so does Kobe.

Next: Forget the Past, and Judge the Present

Bryant’s haters have to forget his past actions and they must realize what he is currently doing. Bryant has completely changed his demeanor, and he is no longer the selfish player that he once was.  Kobe has never committed another sinful deed, and he has never had another off-the-court issue. If the man has changed his life for the better, why do people still have a negative view of him?

In addition to his change in lifestyle, Kobe is making a case as the greatest player ever. Bryant is climbing the NBA’s all-time scoring list, and he is breaking franchise records nearly every season. Kobe’s focus and determination is at a level the NBA has never seen, and those characteristics are the main reasons why players like LeBron James and Dwayne Wade will never reach the same level as Kobe. “Off the charts. Smith said regarding Kobe’s focus. “Probably the best I’ve seen since Jordan in his prime.”

In 2008 Kobe Bryant won his first NBA regular season MVP, and in that same season he brought the Lakers back to the NBA Finals.  Although the team lost to the Boston Celtics, the Game Six debacle was a boon for the Lakers. From that point on, Bryant became the ultimate team leader and he was determined to bring the Lakers back to glory. Kobe regained most of his supporters, but others were still unwilling to support him despite all of his success.

In the following season, Kobe Bryant finally won his first championship without Shaquille O’Neal.  After a tough stretch of mediocre basketball and winless seasons, Kobe got the burden off his back and led his “own” team to a title.  However, Bryant was not done there and he brought the Lakers back to the NBA Finals in 2010.  This time the Lakers went up against the Celtics again, and it was the toughest challenge of Kobe’s career. After seven grueling games, Kobe and his Lakers escaped with a win to capture their second consecutive NBA title.

With the coveted fifth NBA title, Kobe is only one ring away from tying the great Michael Jordan. In the early 2000s, Kobe was Shaq’s sidekick and many people believed he would stay in that position. However, Kobe had supreme confidence and he knew when given the opportunity, he can carry the Lakers on his shoulders. “He was riding shotgun most nights the first time around, still learning how to drive the championship car.” Smith said. “He is the unquestioned leader of the Lakers now. No one can deny that. And there lies the biggest difference between then and now.” Despite the negative comments, and the belief that he can never led his own team to a championship, Kobe Bryant proved his naysayers wrong and is on the verge of winning his sixth title.

Next: Kobe Bryant’s Legacy

As much as Laker fans want to ignore the fact that Kobe Bryant is 32 years old, he will be retiring from the NBA before we know it. Bryant has played every minute as a Laker, and he has dazzled the Staples Center crowd from his very first game. Just like every great player, Bryant’s legacy will be judged based on his championship rings and individual statistics.

No other player has been compared to Michael Jordan more than Kobe Bryant, and it is clear that Kobe not only wants to match Jordan’s six rings — but he wants to surpass them.

Although Kobe has not retired, he is already considered one of the greatest players to ever play the game. Bryant has the ability to take over a game, and he can do it both on the offensive and defensive end of the court. As of right now, Bryant is averaging 25.3 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game and 4.7 assists per game.

Bryant is currently ranked number eight on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, and he will most likely climb two more positions by year’s end. It is hard for Lakers fans to put into words what Bryant has meant to them and the franchise. Bryant brought the Lakers back to glory thanks to his stellar play and leadership on the court.

The young kid from Lower Merion High School has done some ill-advised things in life, but he learned from his mistakes and turned his life around. Kobe’s haters have to realize that he is one of the greatest players to every play the game, and that the NBA may never see a player like Kobe Bryant again. The “haters” constantly bring up the incidents that followed Kobe during his early years in the NBA and his selfish demeanor when discussing his legacy.  However, that is no longer a creditable argument  since Kobe has fixed his previous flaws.  Bryant used his second chance to change his personality and avoid troubling situations; he is no longer a selfish score, but instead a valuable team player.

Perhaps the only reason why people hate on Kobe Bryant now is because he is lethal player who breaks the hearts of his opponents. The naysayers are jealous of Kobe’s skills and the fact that their favorite teams cannot stop the “Black Mamba.”

“I think that now, it has just gotten to the point, where people understand how amazing of a player he truly is, and how exceptional of a career he has had. But since he doesn’t play for their favorite team, and since they have for 14 years, been on the wrong end of his greatness, they hate that aspect about him.” Michael Goldsholl of LakersNation.com said. “So, the only way they know how to deal with that is hate on him for his clouded past – whether that be him being a ball hog for a few seasons or the sexual assault trial – because now, they have nothing of merit to hate on him for.”

Look at the countless buzzer beaters and unprecedented numbers Kobe has accomplished throughout his NBA career. Bryant has worked harder than any other player in the NBA, and he deserves to be praised for this work. Forget his troubled past, and look at what Kobe is doing right now.

Kobe has cemented himself with the NBA’s all-time greats, and it will not be very long until he is considered the greatest player to every play the game.  As Sekou Smith put it, “And he should be and will be considered one of the all-time greats. If he didn’t play another second of NBA basketball, that’s already done.”