Greatest Laker

Last week Magic Johnson anointed Kobe Bryant with the crown of being the greatest Laker ever. It has set off a fury of discussion of who is the greatest Laker Kobe or Magic. The Lakers are one of the most storied franchises in NBA history. The Celtics are the only other franchise that has been more successful in their history. The Lakers have won titles in multiple decades. They were once little brother to the Celtics until one Ervin " Magic " Johnson showed up in tinsel town. L.A. has never been same the since that time. I grow up in the late 70s and 80's when the NBA was at its best. You didn't have as many teams and the game was a lot more physical. Kobe is phenomenal talent and he will retire as one of the greatest if the not the greatest player in NBA history but he will never be the greatest Laker. I know you are like how can he not be the greatest Laker but arguably one of the greatest players in NBA history. Statically Kobe career stats are better than Magic's but Ervin Johnson is the author of showtime. The Lakers have had a host of NBA legends to play for their franchise for example Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, and most notably Jerry West the NBA logo. There were several contributor to the building of The Lake Show but there is only one author that gets credit for publishing the finished product in which we called Showtime. Magic entered the NBA as a star after winning the National Championship in college basketball against another legend Larry Bird. The 1979 National College Basketball Championship was one of the greatest games in final four history. Magic's arrival in Los Angeles launched the beginning of Showtime. Playing at the Great Western Forum along side with Kareem they went on to win five NBA titles. The purple and gold was must see TV and made court side seating a status for Hollywood superstars. Some of the most ferrous NBA title games were played in the 80's between the Lakers and their opponents from east the Celtics and 76ers. Kobe has won five NBA titles and along with Shaq they brought swagger back to Los Angeles. My argument is that the road to a NBA Championship was a lot harder in the 80's. Magic competed against Larry Bird, Dr. J., and Isiah Thomas. Kobe competed against some scrappy teams that were good but did not have the Hall of Fame caliber of talent in which Magic faced. In Magic's rookie season the Lakers won the NBA finals where in game 5 of that series Magic started at center and the rest is history. Kobe is amazing but he did not transform L.A.. Kobe benefited from playing with a Shaquille Oneal in his prime and was able to fine tune his craft to point of being an assassin. At the end of the day Kobe will end his career as one of the top player to ever play the game but he will never be the greatest Laker. The Black Mumba will forever be remember and L.A. skyline will always shine because of Magic.