Kobe Bryant surpasses 30,000 Career Points

[Kevin Greene]

Now Bryant in is elite company. The only other players to score more than 30,000 are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.

''It's pretty awesome,'' Bryant said. ''These are players I respect tremendously and obviously grew up idolizing and watching and learned a great deal from.''

When Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni was asked before tipoff about Bryant's impending milestone, the coach joked, ''That just means he is old.''

In fact, at 34, Bryant is younger than the other four were when they hit the mark, but Bryant also turned pro at 18, and is in his 17th season.

''Honestly, I don't know why I'm still working as hard as I am after 17 years,'' Bryant said. ''I enjoy what I do. I think that's the thing that I'm most proud of: every year, every day working hard at it. It's a lot of years, a lot of work.''

Well done Kobe.

.

[ZB1224]

Congrats to the greatest player that we've seen since Jordan.

[Kakarot]

Congrats to the mamba. Huge accomplishment

[teeray]

There is no doubt that Kobe is one of the top 5 Lakers to ever play the game and maybe a top 20 NBA player all time. Congrats to Kobe.

[ZB1224]

There is no doubt that Kobe is one of the top 5 Lakers to ever play the game and maybe a top 20 NBA player all time. Congrats to Kobe.

Lol

[nickzz]

There is no doubt that Kobe is one of the top 5 Lakers to ever play the game and maybe a top 20 NBA player all time. Congrats to Kobe.

wat

[teeray]

Lol

wat

It is the truth and that is quite an honor. He may be top 15 of all-time. Does that make you guys feel better. He is at best the 5th best Laker of all time, and you could make the argument that he isn't even a top 5 Laker.

[nickzz]

i'm going to go ahead and put him as the #2 laker of all time (#3 could be argued) and a definite top 10 player of all time.

[ZB1224]

i'm going to go ahead and put him as the #2 laker of all time (#3 could be argued) and a definite top 10 player of all time.

Agreed.

As far as top 10 player of all time I can only think of the following players as being ahead of him (for now):

MJ

Magic

Kareem

Russell

Wilt

You could also say Bird, but that's very arguable. He could pass Wilt, Russell, and Kareem in the next few years. I'm pretty sure that he will never pass MJ, but passing Magic is possible (although not likely). Btw, that would also put him as the 3rd best Laker behind Magic and Kareem right now.

[teeray]

i'm going to go ahead and put him as the #2 laker of all time (#3 could be argued) and a definite top 10 player of all time.

How? You have to start the list with Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Shaq O'Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, and George Mikan. He may even be behind Jerry West. He is somewhere in the same category as Elgin Baylor. So I put Kobe somewhere in the 6-8 best Laker of all time list. Look at those names though. That is still good company.

And top 10 all time is really pushing it. I have a hard time finding a spot for him in the top 10 all time. Who are your top ten players all time??

[ZB1224]

How? You have to start the list with Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Shaq O'Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, and George Mikan. He may even be behind Jerry West. He is somewhere in the same category as Elgin Baylor. So I put Kobe somewhere in the 6-8 best Laker of all time list. Look at those names though. That is still good company.

And top 10 all time is really pushing it. I have a hard time finding a spot for him in the top 10 all time. Who are your top ten players all time??

My own personal top 10 list?

1. MJ

2. Magic

3. Kareem

4. Russell

5. Wilt

6. Bird/Kobe

7. Kobe/Bird

8. Duncan

9. Shaq

10. Hakeem

West and the Big O right outside. LeBron also on the brink of cracking the top 10.

[nickzz]

How? You have to start the list with Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Shaq O'Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, and George Mikan. He may even be behind Jerry West. He is somewhere in the same category as Elgin Baylor. So I put Kobe somewhere in the 6-8 best Laker of all time list. Look at those names though. That is still good company.

And top 10 all time is really pushing it. I have a hard time finding a spot for him in the top 10 all time. Who are your top ten players all time??

i'm too lazy to think of a top 10 of all time. but you think wilt was a better LAKER than kobe? ridiculous.

[teeray]

i'm too lazy to think of a top 10 of all time. but you think wilt was a better LAKER than kobe? ridiculous.

I was talking about players who played for the Lakers for an extended period in general, not exclusively their time with the Lakers, however:

People act like Wilt was garbage when he played for the Lakers because he didn't average 50 points, but he averaged nearly 20 points, 19 rebounds, and 4 assists a game in his 5 years there and won a title. He led the NBA in rebounding all 5 seasons he was with the Lakers.

He also shot close to 60% from the field. And averaged well over 20 rebounds per game in all 5 playoff runs he had with the Lakers. He was also the NBA Finals MVP in '72 Yeah, I would say he was better than Kobe even while he was a Laker.

[teeray]

My own personal top 10 list?

1. MJ

2. Magic

3. Kareem

4. Russell

5. Wilt

6. Bird/Kobe

7. Kobe/Bird

8. Duncan

9. Shaq

10. Hakeem

West and the Big O right outside. LeBron also on the brink of cracking the top 10.

Looking at this list outside of Wilt and Russell you would think basketball wasn't even played before 1980.

No Havlicek, Dr. J or Mikan??

No Jerry West or Big O??

C'mon man