Mark Jackson on Kobe Bryant - 2000

[Nowitness]

Peter Vecsey: "Now we've given them credit, does it tell you anything negative about your team that you weren't able to take advantage of the fact that Kobe Bryant, their second best player is not on the court"

Mark Jackson: "Well absolutely not! Take away our second best player and give us Shaq and we'll still be fine"

'Audible groans of laughter'.

Jackson was one of the smartest players ever, as evidenced by building a dynasty that the white man Kerr stole from him and forming the best commentary duo since Bill Walton and Snapper Jones.

How damaging is this to Bryant's legacy? He wasn't respected by his contemporaries during his first 3 title runs, they knew if you replaced him with any average SG they'd still win with Shaq putting up the greatest offensive peak we've ever seen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV_kRB2Piuo

Incase Bean stans wan't proof of the quote.

[Rysio]

How about quotes from 2001? Obviously kobe wasn't on that level in 2000.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Imagine thinking some obscure quote, before Kobe's prime, "damaged" his legacy.

You do know in 2006 Mark Jackson claimed Kobe would go down as GOAT...right?

[LAmbruh]

Lakers with Shaq/No Kobe: 36-8


Lakers with Kobe/No Shaq: 53-45


Crazy, LA was a 60 win pace team with Shaq while Kobe was out. Meanwhile barely a fringe .500 team led by Kobe while Shaq was down.
Amazing impact of a Top 10 ATG that Shaq aka MDE (most dominant ever)

[HBK_Kliq_2]

With Durant needing curry/klay/Dray or Irving/Harden on his team to win.

Kobe now looks pretty damn good replacing Shaq with pau gasol and still pretty much getting the same results.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

Lakers with Shaq/No Kobe: 36-8


Lakers with Kobe/No Shaq: 53-45


Crazy, LA was a 60 win pace team with Shaq while Kobe was out. Meanwhile barely a fringe .500 team led by Kobe while Shaq was down.
Amazing impact of a Top 10 ATG that Shaq aka MDE (most dominant ever)

But Kobe replaced you with Pau Gasol a fringe top 50 ever player and still went to 3 finals and won 2 rings. Would of won 3 rings but 2008 Celtics were like 10x better then any east finals team that Shaq beat.

[FKAri]

What a stupid thread.

[Nowitness]

But Kobe replaced you with Pau Gasol a fringe top 50 ever player and still went to 3 finals and won 2 rings. Would of won 3 rings but 2008 Celtics were like 10x better then any east finals team that Shaq beat.

Pau was All-NBA both years they won and should have been FMVP in 2010, saved LA in the clutch.

Imagine people thinking Kobe was the best player is his era when Shaq carried him to 3 titles.

Kobe titles without an All-NBA teammate? 0
Duncan titles without an All-NBA teammate? 4

Kobe’s legacy was saved by not facing LeBron in 09 or a healthy Boston in 2010.

[SouBeachTalents]

[LAmbruh]

But Kobe replaced you with Pau Gasol a fringe top 50 ever player and still went to 3 finals and Won 2 rings. Would of won 3 rings but 2008 Celtics were like 10x better then any east finals team that Shaq beat.

nah Shaq was replaced by Odom who he was traded for. Lakers got back to the Finals because were a top notch organization that went through a complete rebuild after losing Shaq. Pau Gasol, Bynum, Artest/Ariza, Fisher. Shaq was right back into the Finals in Miami after leaving LA

Both were awful leaders and needed baby catering but Kobe couldn't even snag a playoff series win without Phil Jackson. Shaq went to Finals on 3 different teams

Shaq put Orlando on the Map out of LSU, greatest rookie/soph franchise turnarounds ever. Kobe didn't see major floor time until his 3rd year

[BigKobeFan]

Kobe was still on his rookie contract.

[tpols]

Jackson was one of the smartest players ever, as evidenced by building a dynasty that the white man Kerr stole from him

Mods? Blatant racism here. Mark Jackson was a terrible coach who clashed with everybody in the FO. He's not a tactical guy... he's a preacher. Kerr crafted the ball sharing system that made the dubs teamwork GOAT and ultimately unlocked their ceiling. Praise be.

As far as Kobe goes, if he was such a non factor Jalen Rose wouldn't have purposely injured him.

[WhiteKyrie]

With Durant needing curry/klay/Dray or Irving/Harden on his team to win.

Kobe now looks pretty damn good replacing Shaq with pau gasol and still pretty much getting the same results.

You mean

LeBron needed Wade and Bosh - 2 rings
LeBron needed Kyrie and Love
Steph needed Klay and Dray
Durant needed Steph and Klay and Dray - 2 rings
Harden needed Durant and Kyrie (possibly)

Now

Mike needed just Scottie - 6 rings
Hakeem needed just Drexler - 2 rings
Shaq needed just Kobe - 3 rings
Kobe needed just Gasol - 2 rings
AD needed just LeBron

And therein lies the difference.

[RRR3]

Coach filling his adult diapers again. Won’t someone put the old guy down for his nap? He’s getting cranky.

[ShawkFactory]

You mean

LeBron needed Wade and Bosh - 2 rings
LeBron needed Kyrie and Love
Steph needed Klay and Dray
Durant needed Steph and Klay and Dray - 2 rings
Harden needed Durant and Kyrie (possibly)

Now

Mike needed just Scottie - 6 rings
Hakeem needed just Drexler - 2 rings
Shaq needed just Kobe - 3 rings
Kobe needed just Gasol - 2 rings
AD needed just LeBron

And therein lies the difference.

By this logic wouldn't Lebron have just needed AD too?