Lake Show Life
Fansided

5 Players Who Could Be the Next Kobe Bryant

By Cody Williams

Apr 10, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) steals the ball from the Houston Rockets during the second half at the Toyota Center. The Rockets defeat the Lakers 130-110. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) steals the ball from the Houston Rockets during the second half at the Toyota Center. The Rockets defeat the Lakers 130-110. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Nov 8, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) grabs the loose ball with Los Angeles Lakers small forward Kobe Bryant (24) during the 4th qtr at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: The Knicks won 99-95. Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) grabs the loose ball with Los Angeles Lakers small forward Kobe Bryant (24) during the 4th qtr at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: The Knicks won 99-95. Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Kristaps Porzingis – New York Knicks

New York Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis is undoubtedly going to be the player who stands out the most on this list, largely because he’s the only player of the five who (spoiler alert) isn’t a guard. However, he has the chance to really capture the same narrative that Kobe Bryant did over his career—to essentially be the East Coast version of Kobe for the New York Knicks as Bryant was for the Lakers.

Porzingis legitimately looks like he has the opportunity to be the savior of the Knicks moving forward. He has all of the tools as a player to succeed and is possesses a unique skill set that is going to make him a problem for many years to come (something Kobe can also relate to). Moreover, the PorzinGAWD also has the motivation of being somewhat overlooked coming into the league for one reason or another and now has that fueling him to be even better as he moves forward in his career.

All of this is quite similar to how Kobe’s career played out. He came into the league feeling “unwanted” by the Hornets and then ultimately rejuvenated Lakers basketball in a way they hadn’t seen since the 80s and the Showtime Lakers. While Porzingis saving the Knicks might be an even more impressive feat than that considering their tortured recent history, KP-6 has the chance to be Kobe-esque in this regard.

Next: No. 3 Damian Lillard

Home/Lakers News