The 2017 rookie class appears to be a very strong one for the NBA and, on the whole, that is fantastic for the league. However, the group of talented young players, headlined by those at the point guard position, appear to be leaning in something of a controversial direction with regard to one particular point of view regarding all-time NBA greats.
First, Lakers guard Lonzo Ball sided with Kobe Bryant in the seemingly eternal debate concerning L.A.’s long-time centerpiece when compared to LeBron James, although he said for his whole life he’d thought it was James before donning a Laker uniform changed his opinion. Now, No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz is doing the same and he said as much in an interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio.
“I think Kobe’s better, but that’s no knock on LeBron. But, I mean, Kobe’s the next thing after Jordan, really. Championships do have a role to play with it, but when you just look at the work that Kobe has done, it’s unbelievable.”
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“I think [LeBron’s] up there. I think he got some ways to go. Definitely, I mean, the team he has now is pretty great. I think he should be winning some more rings. I think he’s on the way there. He’s a great player. I think he’s the best player right now.”
To be fair to Fultz, the former Washington guard did refer to James as the best player in the league today and he indicated that LeBron “should be winning some more rings” before hanging it up at the end of a lengthy career. Still, the notion that Bryant is the better player even at this stage is one that isn’t met with universal approval by any means.
The “RINGZZ” argument may always lean in Bryant’s favor, simply because James would need to win two more titles to even match the total of his famous contemporary. At the same time, Bryant’s first three titles came as the No. 2 option alongside Shaq, whereas James has been the best player on his team for the duration of his NBA career, even when playing with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Fultz won’t be the last person to side with Bryant here and he shouldn’t be necessarily be condemned for it. In the same breath, one side of the argument won’t be happy with his take, just as the other side won’t be thrilled when a player believes James has surpassed Bryant in the overall pecking order.
