Who is the face of the NBA?

[Fresh8]

I guess it depends on the country... I bet in some, MJ would still be the face of the NBA!

In China, it's T-mac and AI and Yao...

[BIG GREEN]

LeBron and Dwayde

[Mr.Funk]

Right now, its Kobe and Lebron. Kobe won championships. And Lebron is the most hype up player in the history. But eventually Lebron will just be Lebron in a few years when he still can't even make the playoffs. In a few yeays, Wade will be the face of the NBA if the Heat can win a champion, which is most likely.

[kevC]

You're all wrong. Ha Seung-Jin is the face of the NBA.

[eastinglandboi]

That is just horrifying.

[kinokong]

holy shit....

[Jugs]

[eastinglandboi]

god your ill and not in a good way

[Pera]

You're all wrong. Ha Seung-Jin is the face of the NBA.

He is one ugly NBA face

[Mighty Mos]

I think Kobe is the face of the NBA. Only because Lebron is hyped so much in the States doesn't mean regular people in other countries hear much about him. Alot of people only know a few players - jordan, kobe, shaq and maybe some star of their home-country. The reason for this is that when Kobe and Shaq won championships they were on every news show. So even people who don't care heard about 'em.

[beau_boy04]

Stephen A. Smith of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER writes, “You applaud when you see the names LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. You say "about time" when you see a shooter such as Michael Redd on the list. But once you analyze the preliminary roster for the U.S. national basketball team - and notice the omission of Allen Iverson - the nausea that instinctively kicks in should not result from the inclusion of Luke Ridnour or rookie Chris Paul over the 76ers' dynamic superstar. Try the name Kobe Bryant. It may sting a little bit, but deal with it. When you have Kobe Bryant, you don't need another shooter or scorer. You don't need a point guard who likes to shoot or score, either. You barely need another defender and, without question, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better winner or leader when it comes to basketball.”

[beau_boy04]

now we know who's the face of the Nba.

[Axel]

Steven A Smith knows nothing. He was also the idiot who said Tim Thomas would do nothing with the Suns. He said he would be 'too lazy' and wouldn't fit in with their offense. Funny enough he scored 20 points that night, and had another solid game today against the Mavs.

AI should have been on the team. Why does everyone say that Kobe should be the MVP? Why not AI??? His team is doing better, his scoring averages are very similar to Kobe's and he's averaging 3 more assists per game! He's even shooting the ball at a higher percentage, and he's just 6'0!! I would have put AI on the team OVER Kobe. Just because he had the 81 point game does not suddenly make him a better player.

[J@3]

Why not AI??? His team is doing better

6ers: 30-30
Lakers: 31-29

his scoring averages are very similar to Kobe's and he's averaging 3 more assists per game!

That would have something to do with the fact that he plays point guard. Brevin Knight is averaging more assists than Kobe too, lets throw him into consideration.

He's even shooting the ball at a higher percentage, and he's just 6'0!!

OMG!! Earl Boykins is 7 inches shorter than Iverson and averaging around 13ppg, lets throw HIM into consideration too! Man this MVP race is heating up!

I would have put AI on the team OVER Kobe.

Me too! God knows the 6 foot tall shot jacking point guard who would most likely be in a career decline is a much better choice than someone like Kobe, a player who most international teams would never have played against therefore have little idea on how to guard. Not to mention that ball hog, in the All Star game, focused on passing the ball and ended with like 8 assist while not taking many shots... much like the way Iverson supposedly plays international competition, and Kobe's 6'7

Just because he had the 81 point game does not suddenly make him a better player

I'd say leading your team to a better record than the 76ers, in a stronger conference, with a much weaker team would have something to do with him being a better player though, but then again, that's just my humble Kobe-biased opinion.

This isn't to say I don't think Iverson should be in the team... but at the expense of Kobe?

[Axel]

I'd say leading your team to a better record than the 76ers, in a stronger conference, with a much weaker team would have something to do with him being a better player though, but then again, that's just my humble Kobe-biased opinion.

Kobe has Lamar Odom. AI has a declining C-Webb who can't finish anymore. Oh, and he also has Kevin Ollie. The Sixers bench is just horrible, one of the worst in the league. They can't rebound and they can't defend, yet somehow despite all of this, AI has kept them in the playoff hunt, and lately they have been playing better than the Lakers.

Me too! God knows the 6 foot tall shot jacking point guard who would most likely be in a career decline is a much better choice than someone like Kobe, a player who most international teams would never have played against therefore have little idea on how to guard. Not to mention that ball hog, in the All Star game, focused on passing the ball and ended with like 8 assist while not taking many shots...

So you're going to judge Kobe's game tendencies on one All-Star exhibition game? That really is facetious of you. It's also ironic that you're willing to acknowledge AI as a ball hog, but not Kobe. Funny, I recall him taking 46 shots in the 81 point game which you've had as your signature line for the past month. If that isn't ball hogging I don't know what is. Since when did shooting 50% from the field warrant shooting the ball 46 times?

That would have something to do with the fact that he plays point guard. Brevin Knight is averaging more assists than Kobe too, lets throw him into consideration.

So the fact the AI has a more rounded game should be ignored since he plays point guard? Great players should make their teammates better no matter what position they play. As it is, AI is pretty much a combo guard, yet he is able to be among league leaders in both assists and points, while still shooting a high percentage... something Brevin Knight, Earl Boykins, and Kobe are unable (or at least unwilling) to do.


I didn't say Iverson should be on the team at the expense of Kobe. I do think he has had a better season, though. If I had to pick one, I would pick AI, because of the previous reasons, and his former commitments to the team.

[J@3]

**DISCLAIMER** none of the following is at all hostile or aggressive, debates are fun.

Kobe has Lamar Odom. AI has a declining C-Webb who can't finish anymore. Oh, and he also has Kevin Ollie. The Sixers bench is just horrible, one of the worst in the league. They can't rebound and they can't defend, yet somehow despite all of this, AI has kept them in the playoff hunt, and lately they have been playing better than the Lakers.

oh please... that "declining" Chris Webber is putting up 19/9/3... you also conveniently forgot to mention Andre Iguodala, Samuel Dalembert and Kyle Korver. You're seriously telling me the team of Chris Mihm, Brian Cook, Lamar Odom, Kobe Bryant and Smush Parker is superior to this? It's not as if the Lakers bench is much better either.

So you're going to judge Kobe's game tendencies on one All-Star exhibition game? That really is facetious of you. It's also ironic that you're willing to acknowledge AI as a ball hog, but not Kobe. Funny, I recall him taking 46 shots in the 81 point game which you've had as your signature line for the past month. If that isn't ball hogging I don't know what is. Since when did shooting 50% from the field warrant shooting the ball 46 times?

This is hilarious... I'm not judging Kobe's game tendancies, where did I say that? All I said is that he's capable of sharing the ball in a team full of superstars. You honestly think that him taking 46 shots in that game while shooting over 50% was wrong? Did you even see the game? The team were LOSING... if Kobe didn't go nuts, the team LOSES. It's not like he just shot jacked and ball hogged a blow out game, they needed something insane and they got it.

It's not like Iverson's never taken a huge amount of shots in a game, hell, the guy took 43 shots of his own and didn't get anywhere near 81 points. In his career high 60 game, he shot under .500. It proves nothing, it's not like either of them would do anything remotely like this in the Olympics.

So the fact the AI has a more rounded game should be ignored since he plays point guard? Great players should make their teammates better no matter what position they play. As it is, AI is pretty much a combo guard, yet he is able to be among league leaders in both assists and points, while still shooting a high percentage... something Brevin Knight, Earl Boykins, and Kobe are unable (or at least unwilling) to do.

Who's ignoring it? Stephon Marbury is a career 20/8 guy, would you have him on the team? Assist numbers are misleading. As far as having a more rounded game goes, how can you base that purely from a statistical point of view? Kobe's a better shooter, he has more range on his jump shot, he can hit the 3 with consistancy... he's taller so that ultimately makes him harder to defend, he's a great defender (when he wants to be ), he can play out of the post etc etc... of course statistics probably disagree with me, but unless you get into that E=MC2 garbage some people like, statistics aren't a huge part of the pie.

I didn't say Iverson should be on the team at the expense of Kobe. I do think he has had a better season, though. If I had to pick one, I would pick AI, because of the previous reasons, and his former commitments to the team.

That's fair enough, if I had a choice I'd have both. I don't agree that he's had a better season, but that's what opinions are for... fuck it, Dweaver's ruined the winking smiley for me, I'll use this

[Axel]

Did you even see the game?

Yes I did see the game. It was good up to a point, but then once they were ahead it became complusory to feed Kobe the ball and put up a shot.

oh please... that "declining" Chris Webber is putting up 19/9/3... you also conveniently forgot to mention Andre Iguodala, Samuel Dalembert and Kyle Korver. You're seriously telling me the team of Chris Mihm, Brian Cook, Lamar Odom, Kobe Bryant and Smush Parker is superior to this? It's not as if the Lakers bench is much better either.

Like I said, they can't defend or rebound. They look good on paper offensively, but that is about as much as AI's teammates can provide. I wouldn't say that Kobe has more talented teammates, but he does have Phil Jackson, and I would say he's the reason Smush, Cook, etc are out-performing the cast AI has.

It's not like Iverson's never taken a huge amount of shots in a game, hell, the guy took 43 shots of his own and didn't get anywhere near 81 points. In his career high 60 game, he shot under .500.

I'll give you that, but that's not really pertinent. I'm talking about this year only, in the past, I think AI has shot the ball too much, at too low a percentage, and hasn't involved his teammates enough. Any other year I would have picked Kobe even though he isn't one of my favorite players.

Stephon Marbury is a career 20/8 guy, would you have him on the team?

Nope, I don't like NY players.

[J@3]

Yes I did see the game. It was good up to a point, but then once they were ahead it became complusory to feed Kobe the ball and put up a shot.

I agree there, but I can't really see Kobe telling them to feed him the ball, especially since the game in Dallas.

Nope, I don't like NY players.

Agree there also

[dada]

I hate it when people bring up the 46 shots, its as if they are saying if a player is hot don't feed him the ball. Did you expect him to score 81 0n 5 shots? Maybe 4?

As Jae said, assists are misleading. A guy averages 8/9/10 assists a game doesnt necessarily mean they were all quality assists. I watch Cavalier games and its no wonder Lebron averages like 7 a game, he comes down, passes it once and guys jack up the shot:

"WOW, AWESOME ASSIST!! WHAT CREATIVITY!!"

I'm not saying passing the ball is a bad thing and it doesnt help the team, but people go crazy cuz one guy averagess 0.1 assists or something more than the other.


Regarding the comparison of both their teams, I also noticed to convenient exclusion of Iggy. Also I would love to have that declining Webber in LA. Also that hOrrible 3 point shooter name Korver and the guy who couldnt block a midget Dalembert. Hell, throw in Steven Hunter too as he would fit right in with the multitudes of big guys in LA.

[air gordon]

Jerry West...

There is no face (and there shouldn't be) of the NBA. all the best players or (most marketable players) are stuck on teams that can't even get out of their conference

[funk99]

kobe