Kobe was drafted in 1996 and from all the players of that era, I think it would be safe to say that Kobe was the best and accomplished the most.
He has the most rings, he has gotten them with two vastly different Laker teams and his level of play even after 17 years is still on a Top 10 level.
More than anything else, that is what is astonishing to me. From his third year on he has being playing at a Top 5-10 level. This has been going on for a decade and half now. That is very difficult to accomplish for anyone in the history of NBA.
Here is what Dirk had to say.
“To me, he’s the number one player over the 15 years I’ve been in the league,” said Nowitzki to Grantland’s Zach Lowe.
“I was always a huge fan of Kobe,” Nowitzki said. “Obviously, he’s now on the declining end, like most of us older guys, but the stuff he does … they are never out of a game.”
“When I get home, at like 11 p.m., I know the fourth quarter will just be starting in L.A., and I’ll sit down and watch him basically will his team to win with some incredible shots.”
A very level headed assessment of what is going on with Kobe right now in his career, but you would expect that from Dirk.