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Los Angeles Lakers: Comparing Kobe Bryant as 8 and 24

By Leandre Ochoa

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 6: The Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Fame player banners are seen at STAPLES Center on April 6, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 6: The Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Fame player banners are seen at STAPLES Center on April 6, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
ATLANTA – FEBRUARY 9: Michael Jordan /

Jason Kidd: Also, not really an equal comparison as far as player position, but again not including a future Hall of Fame player that played during the duration of  #8’s career wouldn’t be fair. Bryant and Kidd ran into each other at different points of their respective careers, including a meeting in 1999 that saw the Lakers go against a blonde-haired Kidd and a shell of his former self, Penny Hardaway, in the 2000 semis with the Lakers winning that series. Jason Kidd, bald this time around, played against Bryant in the 2002 NBA Finals. Blonde hair or no hair, Kidd still lost to Kobe, as the Lakers went on to win a 3rd straight NBA title.

Head to Head in wins: Kobe – 28/Kidd – 13

Michael Jordan: In the awareness of the article’s context, I’m going to move forward under the assumption you understand what the words “Michael Jordan” means to #8.

Head to Head in wins:  Kobe – 5/Jordan – 3 — but most importantly, number of titles: Jordan – 6/Kobe – 5

Gary Payton: Another point guard that played during the era of #8, Payton, who was the only point guard in the history of the NBA to win a Defensive Player of the Year award, played against Bryant while in prime years. While much of Payton’s biggest fans would claim his biggest rival would be John Stockton or Michael Jordan, it’s imperative to understand that Kobe had to face a Payton-led Sonics team in the same division. Bryant played against Payton four times a season, between 1999-2004. Add Shawn Kemp and a flailing Detlef Schrempf, and you’re in for a long, bruising night.

Head to Head in wins: Kobe – 15/Payton – 13

2003-04 Detroit Pistons: With all the praise to good times, we can’t forget to mention the bad times. The ’04 Pistons, were all bad if you were a Lakers fan. Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, and Ben Wallace to the Lakers were like paper through a buzz saw. Even with a top-heavy team stacked with an aging Gary Payton and Karl Malone, the Lakers limped their way into the NBA Finals as the favorites, and ended that series feeling battered and beat, ending their reign as supreme leaders of the NBA.

Kobe, trying to overcome legal battles that year, seemed to have been in a world of literal trials and tribulations. From court issues to basketball-court issues, Bryant evolved from a jovial, cheery, youthful adult into something more stout, even more determined, and more refined version of the Kobe formally known as “showboat”.

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