Respect, admiration, but no adulation. By surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record on Tuesday to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron James made history. A performance hailed by his peers, but also by Lakers fans, with whom the child of Akron is playing his 5th season. But even if no one has dominated so many aspects of the game with such regularity, in Los Angeles, there is no debate: the “GOAT”, the “greatest of all time”, remains Kobe Bryant, the hero gone too soon, who offered five NBA titles to the Lakers in twenty seasons.
What LeBron did, “it’s crazy, and the craziest thing is that he didn’t finish”, loose Craig, catching his breath after having put the misery to opponents of a head of less than him on the tarmac of Venice Beach, Wednesday. Clarissa, who goes on 3-pointers like Steph Curry, agrees. “It’s phenomenal, for him, and for the city.”
“Kobe will always be the GOAT for LA”
So, LeBron or Kobe, who is stronger? “On the game, the points, the numbers, LeBron. The stats speak for themselves, there is no debate”, Judge Craig. “But if you ask the city, Kobe will always be the GOAT for LA,” he assures. “I was there when the Lakers won back to back to back (in 2000, 2001 and 2002 with Shaquille O’Neal, and in 2009 and 2010 with Pau Gasol)”, continues Clarrisa. “I have to say Kobe. »
15 km away, on land in Inglewood paid for by Dwight Howard, Richard – 18 years old and 1m88 – repeats his ranges. His dream of one day playing in the pros slipped away after a hand injury. Like the youngsters in the Netflix documentary series Last Chance Uhe still hopes to join a “JUCO” (junior college) for two years to then try to go to “D1”, the highest university level.
Like Craig, he acknowledges that LeBron James is “more complete” than Kobe Bryant. “But Kobe was always there, LeBron just came” to Los Angeles, he continues, summing up a sentiment shared by many.
A disappointing record
Not to mention that the record of King James with the Lakers is far from royal. With the exception of the title of the strange 2020 season in Miami’s Covid bubble, which did not really thrill the Angelenos, it’s bleak plain: no playoffs in 2019 and 2022, elimination in the first round in 2021, and a sad current 13th place in the west. “I don’t know what’s going on, but they need to find a team spirit,” sighs Clarissa.
James insisted on recruiting Anthony Davis, even if it meant mortgaging the team’s future, but repeated injuries never allowed the duo to dominate over time. And we don’t talk about the fiasco Russell Wesbrook, from which the Lakers parted ways on Thursday, in favor of Minnesota point guard D’Angelo Russell. James was hoping to reunite with former teammate Kyrie Irving, who eventually left for Dallas, as the Lakers front office this time refused to bow to public pressure from their star.
At best, this reshuffle could allow the Lakers to dream of the playoffs, but clearly not to claim the title, especially against the Suns reinforced by Kevin Durant. So much so that some are already speculating on a nuclear option : what if LeBron James asked to be traded next summer? At least Los Angeles will always have Kobe Bryant.