Kobe Bryant needed 31 points to pass Michael Jordan as the third all-time leading scorer in NBA history, and he did that on Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Los Angeles Lakers have had a lot of legendary players roll through their franchise, but Kobe Bryant continues to separate himself from the pack. While the world is obsessed with Kevin Durant, LeBron James and other stars of the game, Kobe has somehow quietly become the best player in basketball.
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The only thing strange about that is Kobe is flying under the radar at a time when he’s solidifying his status as the best player of his generation.
Kobe may not get the universal love and attention he once did while in his prime, but he is no doubt at the top of his game as he enters the final years of his career. That iconic status Kobe has created over his career in the NBA graduated to legendary and mythical on Sunday night when he broke Michael Jordan’s all-time scoring mark to become the third leading scorer in NBA history.
How fitting too that Kobe — a Los Angeles Laker — broke the record against the Timberwolves, who live in the shadow of the Minneapolis Lakers.
It’s not a record that is as lauded as others, but the NBA scoring record is up there with the home run record in baseball, the rushing record in the NFL and the all-time goals record in hockey. It’s not so much a record of talent as it is persistence, but as Kobe has proven over his career talent actually has a lot to do with it.
He’s not plastered on commercials like LeBron and Durant and he’s not as popular as he once was in his prime, but Kobe Bryant showed that he’s the best player of his generation even if he’s not the best player in the NBA anymore.
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