If the Lakers miss the playoffs, will it hurt Kobe's legacy?

[Marcus13]

Not his legacy, no. I do believe historically this may be the season people look back and say say "Ok, he was finally past his prime." even tho he is statistically still putting up amazing numbers

[Ben]

The only thing his legacy can do is stay the same or grow. Nothing he does in his 17th year onwards can affect it now.

[R-Star]

Agreed with the guys who said no. If they don't make the playoffs that doesn't tarnish what hes done or where he ranks now.

[e-monk]

if they dont make the playoffs this season will just be looked at as some strange abberation and/or cosmic karmic strangulation and later it will be used in arguments having to do with building super teams or the impact of too many stars on team chemistry or some such

[Ronny]

It won't hurt Kobe at all to be honest . Kobe is a tried and tested player , a legend and a hall of famer . The Lakers have done it before , and if they can't bring it this time around , then it's the damned team chemistry to blame .

[R-Star]

Originally Posted by Ronny

It won't hurt Kobe at all to be honest . Kobe is a tried and tested player , a legend and a hall of famer . The Lakers have done it before , and if they can't bring it this time around , then it's the damned team chemistry to blame .

Yep. Not really something where people will look back and say "They lost because of Kobe." or "I would argue Kobe over xxx player, but he didn't make the playoffs in 2013."

[Luke]

No Kobe's legacy is essentially set in stone and the only changes to that will happen if something positive happens. It's hard to hold anything against a 17 year vet. Dwight, on the other hand, will probably catch a lot of flack. Then again I think it's moot because I remain optimistic that the Lakers will make the playoffs.

[Mattsanity]

well I'm going to create a tangent and say that he'll need his 6th ring for kobe stans to compare him to jordan. He may be old now but jordan was also playing at a high level at 34. bryant needs another ring so there's no reason why a team with nash and howard shouldn't go deep in the playoffs.

[The Big Dipper]

Originally Posted by Mattsanity

well I'm going to create a tangent and say that he'll need his 6th ring for kobe stans to compare him to jordan. He may be old now but jordan was also playing at a high level at 34. bryant needs another ring so there's no reason why a team with nash and howard shouldn't go deep in the playoffs.

As a Kobe fan, Michael is the better all around player, but Kobe has nothing to prove.

As I am sure you know rings are a team accomplishment. Jordan stans wouldn't admit Kobe was better even if he had 7 rings so no point in using rings.

I mean Wilt was a better overall player than Jordan and Oscar Robertson was a better overall player than Lebron but no one talks about rings to Wilt or the big O because it's a team stat.

[R-Star]

Originally Posted by Mattsanity

well I'm going to create a tangent and say that he'll need his 6th ring for kobe stans to compare him to jordan. He may be old now but jordan was also playing at a high level at 34. bryant needs another ring so there's no reason why a team with nash and howard shouldn't go deep in the playoffs.

I'd never argue Kobe over Jordan, but using age isn't relative. Kobe came straight out of highschool. Hes got miles on him like a 36-37 year old would if you compare him to guys who went to college.

[Mattsanity]

Originally Posted by The Big Dipper

As a Kobe fan, Michael is the better all around player, but Kobe has nothing to prove.

As I am sure you know rings are a team accomplishment. Jordan stans wouldn't admit Kobe was better even if he had 7 rings so no point in using rings.

I mean Wilt was a better overall player than Jordan and Oscar Robertson was a better overall player than Lebron but no one talks about rings to Wilt or the big O because it's a team stat.

the comparison will never go away though. Even Kobe said he wants his 6th ring.

Originally Posted by R-Star

I'd never argue Kobe over Jordan, but using age isn't relative. Kobe came straight out of highschool. Hes got miles on him like a 36-37 year old would if you compare him to guys who went to college.

so you're implying that Kobe > Jordan because Jordan wasn't playing when he was 36 and 37. j/k

[The Big Dipper]

Originally Posted by Mattsanity

the comparison will never go away though. Even Kobe said he wants his 6th ring.

Yeah they won't I mean it's obvious jordan was an influence.

Yeah Kobe has such a competitive attitude I bet he wants to one up Jordan on rings but in my eyes he wasn't as great a player as Jordan but being a close 2nd is nothing to be ashamed of, it is actually something to be very proud of.

I made a post the other day about how close in greatness 2 players can be that even option 2 can be as great as option 1. Like having Duncan or Hakeem on your team either one is a great pick.

[e-monk]

let's put it this way Howard has a hell of a lot more at stake in making this work than Kobe does

[Jamel Irief]

Again Kobe is in his 17th season. Anything he does from now on only helps his legacy, not hurt it.

What were Jordan, Bird, Oscar, West, Wilt, Magic, Robinson, Barkley and countless others doing in their 17th season? Answer: playing golf.

What was Pippen doing? He was an oft-injured nobody on the Bulls.

What was Shaq, Moses and Hakeem doing? Playing on lottery teams, just like Kobe might do.

Stockton? Less than 30 mpg near role player on a team that lost in the first round.

Karl Malone was still an all-star on a playoff team.

Kareem was even better, an all-NBA performer on a team that lost in the WCF.

[XxIrvingxX]

Originally Posted by Jamel Irief

What was Shaq, Moses and Hakeem doing? Playing on lottery teams, just like Kobe might do.

I could've sworn Shaq was either playing for the Suns, Cavs or Celtics, all of whom were playoff teams and the second of which had the best record in the NBA.