Top Five Shooting Guards in NBA History
Best Shooting Guards in NBA History: Number 2
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (1996 – 2016)
When Kobe Bryant was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996, there were a lot of doubts as to whether or not he could make it in the NBA. The previous summer, a tall skinny kid out of Farragut Academy in Chicago by the name of Kevin Garnett, had been selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves. While the experiment in Minneapolis seemed to be going well, Garnett was a forward and Kobe was a guard. Could a 6’6″ shooting guard make the leap from high school to the NBA? Many pundits weren’t sure.
One man who was convinced was the Lakers general manager, Jerry West. He was an all-time great player who morphed into one of the best talent scouts in the history of the league. He orchestrated a trade for Kobe, sending center Vlade Divac to the Hornets in exchange for the player who would go on to have one of the most storied careers in the history of the NBA.
Although Kobe was not a full-time starter for the Lakers until his third season, he became an All-Star in just his second year in the league. In his fourth year in the league, the Lakers made their first trip to the Finals during the Shaq and Kobe era. The team would go on to defeat the Indianapolis Pacers in six games and win their first of three consecutive championships.
After contract disputes forced Shaquille O’Neal to leave the team in 2004, Kobe Bryant officially became the leader of the Los Angeles Lakers. After a few down seasons, the Lakers returned to the NBA Finals in 2008, losing to the Boston Celtics in six games. However, the team returned to the Finals in 2009 and 2010, emerging victorious in both years. It was these two back-to-back championships that solidified Kobe’s legacy as one of the greatest leaders in the history of the league.
While Kobe’s five championships are impressive, his list of individual accolades is equally awe inspiring. During his NBA career, he was named All-Star game MVP four times, MVP of the NBA Finals twice, claimed the 2008 regular season MVP, and won two scoring titles. There are very few players in the history of the league who can match his resume. Affectionately referred to as “The Black Mamba,” Kobe Bryant is a legend who will never be forgotten.