Kobe's Beef

Last night in Los Angeles, the best basketball players in the world took the floor for a meaningless annual exhibition known as the NBA All Star game. Per usual, most players looked disinterested from the outset, probably still recovering from a night out on the town the previous evening. Little defense was played, sloppy turnovers ensued and players showboated by attempting shots they would never dare to take in an actual game.(See Dwight Howard 20 foot jumper) One man, though, looked like he was on a mission from the jump. Playing in his home arena, Kobe Bean Bryant clearly wanted to give the fans a show while also reminding his fellow ballers that he’s not ready to ride off into the sunset just yet. Kobe flashed some reminders of his athletic explosiveness that won him a dunk contest in 1997. He demonstrated his vast offensive repertoire when he banked in a fade away jumper off the glass. He exhibited his Jordanesque competitive nature by outworking every player on the floor as evidenced by collecting 10 offensive rebounds. Simply put, Kobe Bryant cared about that game more than anyone else on the planet.

From the beginning of his career, Kobe seemingly wrestled with gaining acceptance from his peers and the public as a whole. Kobe just always seemed different. He grew up the son of an NBA player. He spent his formative years in Italy rather than an impoverished inner city like so many of his peers. He skipped the college experience for the bright lights of the NBA right out of high school. He never sported cornrows and didn’t get a single tattoo until the later part of his career. More than anything, he just never seemed like one of the guys. He tried to joke around with his teammates, but it just never seemed genuine and his personality as a whole just always felt contrived. When being interviewed it always seemed like he was trying to impersonate Michael Jordan rather than revealing his own personality.

While it’s a shame we may never get to know the real Kobe, that shouldn’t prevent us from appreciating the artistry of his game. He clearly studied the on court moves of Michael Jordan and has mastered many of those skills. It’s nearly impossible to watch Kobe without thinking of MJ-The follow through on the jump shot, the post up game, the fade away jumper and the desire to take the last second shot with the game hanging in the balance. He’s still playing at high level while many of his contemporaries have fallen off the map. Allen Iverson is playing in Turkey. Tracy McGrady is getting limited minutes in Detroit. Vince Carter is simply an afterthought. And there was Kobe, after 14 years in the league and countless minutes under his belt, he’s still one of the premier players in the game. Still trying to fight off the next generation of young guns looking to steal his crown.
Kobe may never get the acceptance that he’s been looking for. His peers may never embrace him as one of their own and the public may never view him in the same light as other beloved athletes. You don’t have to like him, but at least respect him. I sure do.