1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: This episode is brought to you by all State. Some 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,120 Speaker 1: people just know they could save hundreds on car insurance 3 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:08,840 Speaker 1: by checking all State first, Like you know to check 4 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: the date of the Big Game first before you accidentally 5 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: buy tickets on your twentieth wedding anniversary and have to 6 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:17,920 Speaker 1: spend the next twenty years of your marriage making up 7 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: for it. Yeah, checking first is smart, So check all 8 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: State first for a quote that could save you hundreds. 9 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,600 Speaker 1: You're in good hands with All States savings. Very terms 10 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: apply All State Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. 11 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:46,199 Speaker 2: Welcome in another very special edition of What's Right with 12 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 2: Nick Wright, as we continue our countdown of the fifty 13 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 2: greatest players of the last fifty years in the NBA. 14 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 2: We are already now to the top seven. Last week 15 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 2: we did number eight, A cheme a lot, Number nine, 16 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 2: Shaquille O'Neill. The top seven. You guys know who the 17 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 2: seven guys are. Obviously, the question is in what order 18 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 2: will they come? Number seven is a guy whose apex 19 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 2: was one of the five best apexes we've seen in 20 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 2: NBA history, So why is he number seven and not higher? 21 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 2: Came into the league a little old left the league 22 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 2: a little early, but while he was there, from the 23 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 2: moment he stepped on the court, was one of the 24 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 2: best players in the league and stayed like that for 25 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 2: a full decade. Number seven Larry Bird. So here's Larry 26 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 2: Bird top line of the resume. Nine times First Team 27 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 2: All NBA, one time second Team All NBA. He is 28 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 2: a three time MVP and those MVPs came in three 29 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 2: consecutive years. The only person eligible for this list to 30 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 2: win three MVPs in a row. The only others to 31 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 2: do it, ever, are Wilt and Russell, and those guys 32 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:11,839 Speaker 2: are too old for the list. By the way, from 33 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 2: his rookie year to nineteen eighty eight, he was top 34 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 2: four MVP voting all nine seasons, and the way it 35 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 2: went for him was he had three straight second place 36 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 2: finishes followed by three straight first place finishes. So from 37 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 2: a six year stretch of eighty one to eighty six, 38 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 2: not only did his team win the title, well two 39 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 2: of the From the nineteen eighty finals, how about that 40 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 2: nineteen eighty finals to the end of the eighty six season, 41 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 2: Larry Bird collected three league MVPs, two finals MVPs, three 42 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 2: second place finishes. And three championships. He's three time All Defense. 43 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 2: He invented the fifty to forty ninety club and he 44 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,799 Speaker 2: did it twice. And he's one of only three guys 45 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 2: in the last fifty years to average at least twenty 46 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 2: four and ten for his career. The other two are 47 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 2: Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Karl Malone. Everyone remembers Larry Bird, 48 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 2: the iconic scorer, you know, the first true great deep 49 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 2: shooter of any era, because he came into the league 50 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 2: around the advent of three point line. Didn't shoot, you know, 51 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 2: ten percent is when he threes. This guys shoot today. 52 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 2: But he was the first star player that it was 53 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 2: truly a weapon. For what I think younger folks don't 54 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:34,639 Speaker 2: understand is was an exceptional rebounder, averaging ten rebounds a 55 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 2: game for his career and one of the greatest passers ever. 56 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 2: His court vision was in the eighties, surpassed only by 57 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 2: Magic and Isaiah. That's it. So that's Larry Bird top 58 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 2: line resume stuff. Now we will get to the playoffs, 59 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 2: as we do with everybody on this list. At this 60 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 2: point of the list, we must go year by year 61 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 2: by year. So in the playoffs again, top line, three 62 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 2: time champ, two time finals, MVP, five time finalists. So 63 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 2: let's just start with his rookie season nineteen eighty his 64 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:16,799 Speaker 2: rookie year to close out his first playoff series ever 65 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 2: thirty four, ten and seven to beat Moses Malone and Houston. 66 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 2: That is his first playoff series ever, thirty four, ten 67 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 2: and seven. He averaged twenty two, fourteen and four in 68 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:36,479 Speaker 2: a round two loss to Doctor J and Philly, and 69 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:40,039 Speaker 2: had thirty one and twelve in the Celtics only win 70 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 2: of that series. So that's Larry Bird. Couple interesting things 71 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 2: that you're gonna hear there. One is, wait, Houston was 72 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 2: in the East. They were in the East. There were 73 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 2: some weird geographical alignments in the early eighties. But also 74 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 2: the guy averaged it is twenty two, fourteen and four 75 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:00,040 Speaker 2: as a rookie in round two against Doctor J in 76 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 2: eighteen eighty one, his first championship. How does he get there? 77 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 2: We already mentioned guys on this list that were on 78 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:10,720 Speaker 2: that team, Kevin McHale, but McHale was barely a contributor 79 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 2: on this team. Tinyn eight Archibald was an important contributor 80 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 2: on this team, but the best player on this team, 81 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 2: without question was Larry Bird. With respect to Cedric Maxwell, 82 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 2: who will get to well, we won't get to on 83 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 2: the list, but was an important part of the finals 84 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 2: nineteen eighty one averages twenty four to thirteen and seven 85 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 2: in a round one sweep of Chicago in the Eastern 86 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 2: Conference Finals, again against Philly, the team that knocked him 87 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 2: out last year. Year two, Larry Bird averages in the 88 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:45,839 Speaker 2: Eastern Conference Finals twenty seven, thirteen and five, avenging the 89 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 2: previous year's loss, beating Philly in seven games. By the way, 90 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 2: and this is one of my favorite sliding doors moments 91 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 2: in NBA history. They're down three to one in that series. 92 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 2: They come back and win game five, six and seven. 93 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 2: And if you remember our Doctor J discussion, the Celtics 94 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 2: won games five, six, and seven by a combined five points. 95 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 2: They won those games by two, one and two. If 96 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 2: they don't win those games one of those games, Doctor 97 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 2: J probably has an extra ring. Larry maybe only has two, 98 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,840 Speaker 2: and he's thought of quite differently. So those were critical moments. 99 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 2: He's in year two. How did they win them? Game 100 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 2: five Larry Bird had facing elimination thirty two, eleven, five, 101 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 2: three and two. Game six, he had twenty five sixteen, four, 102 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:44,839 Speaker 2: two and two and Game seven twenty three, eleven, five, 103 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 2: five and two, and then Game six of the finals 104 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 2: against Moses in Houston with the title on the line, 105 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 2: had twenty seven, thirteen and five averaged four of the 106 00:06:55,839 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 2: series fifteen, fifteen and seven. Didn't not win finals MVP. 107 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 2: I think that's a pretty questionable one for Larry not 108 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,600 Speaker 2: to have won it, but he did. Nineteen eighty two, 109 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 2: Philly got him back. Doctor J was at this moment, 110 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 2: I think, still a better player than Larry Bird. Doctor 111 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 2: J was on the downswing and Larry was on the upswing. 112 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 2: Was still Doctor J got him back. Bird averaged for 113 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 2: the series eighteen points, fourteen rebound, seven assists. They lose 114 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 2: in seven in the Eastern Conference Finals. Nineteen eighty three. 115 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 2: Remember Sidney Moncreef. Earlier on the listen, I said most 116 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 2: underrated player of the eighties. He was swept by Sidney 117 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 2: Montcreef and Milwaukee in round two for the playoffs that year, 118 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 2: twenty one points, thirteen rebound, seven assists for the playoff averages. 119 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 2: And now we're to the stretch of the three straight 120 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 2: MVPs nineteen eighty four wins League MVP for the playoff 121 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 2: run as a whole twenty eight points, eleven rebound, six 122 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 2: assists on fifty two percent shooting. Round two against the 123 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 2: Nixon Bernard King, another guy on our list, averages thirty 124 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 2: eleven and seven, including the playoff game of his life 125 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 2: up to that point, Game seven against the Knicks in 126 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 2: round two, Larry Bird had thirty nine points, twelve rebounds, 127 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 2: ten assists. In that series. He scored thirty five plus 128 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 2: three times the next round, got revenge on Moncreef and 129 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 2: the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, and then in 130 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 2: the finals against Magic and Kareem and the Lakers twenty 131 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 2: nine to twenty one, a twenty nine point twenty one 132 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 2: rebound game down to one in Game four to even 133 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 2: the series. Followed that up with a thirty four point 134 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 2: seventeen rebound game to go up three to two, and 135 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 2: they win the title in seven. He's Finals MVP. They 136 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:43,320 Speaker 2: have two overtime wins in that series, so that's one 137 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 2: that man another sliding, so two of his first three 138 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 2: titles easily could have gone the other way. He averages 139 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 2: for the finals twenty seven, fourteen and four nineteen eighty 140 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 2: five as the defending champs averages pardon me, thirty five, 141 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 2: eleven and six in round one in a sweep of Cleveland. 142 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 2: Again he's the defending champ. Comes into the playoffs League 143 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 2: MVP again averages thirty five and eleven with six assists 144 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 2: in round one against Cleveland. Against Isaiah and the Pistons 145 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 2: in round two, game two to go up two zero, 146 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 2: forty two points, ten rebound, six assists, and then forty three, 147 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 2: thirteen and five to go up three to two in 148 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:29,079 Speaker 2: a critical Game five. They would win in six. They 149 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 2: dismantle the Sixers in the Eastern Conference Finals. But that 150 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:36,080 Speaker 2: Lakers team in eighty five, nobody was beating them. The 151 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 2: Lakers crush them, and watch crush them is unfair. The 152 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 2: Lakers won the series in six games. Third, though, acquitted 153 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 2: himself quite nicely twenty four points, nine rebounds, five assists 154 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:50,720 Speaker 2: nineteen eighty six. Then we get there what many people, 155 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 2: not me, but many people consider the best team ever. 156 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 2: It's his third straight League MVP. He's gonna finish it 157 00:09:57,120 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 2: with another finals MVP. They they they sweep the Bulls 158 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 2: in round one. You know he's on that Bulls team, right, 159 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 2: Michael Jordan. They swept him in round one, and in 160 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:10,439 Speaker 2: Jordan's famous sixty three point double overtime game, Larry had 161 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:14,119 Speaker 2: thirty six points, twelve rebounds, eight assists. They beat Dominique 162 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 2: in Atlanta in Round two, including twenties while averaging twenty 163 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:22,599 Speaker 2: seven points, ten rebounds, seven assists. They sweep Milwaukee in 164 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 2: the Eastern Conference finals. He averages twenty seven points, nine rebounds, 165 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:31,079 Speaker 2: eight assists, two steals, so they're eleven and one en 166 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 2: route to the finals. In those finals, they're playing Houston. 167 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 2: Remember a team from last week we talked to Houston 168 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 2: team that also had Ralph Sampson. He averages in the 169 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 2: finals twenty four points, ten rebounds, nine assists is two 170 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:47,720 Speaker 2: total assists, shy. I think it was two of averaging 171 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 2: a triple double for the finals, something only Lebron would 172 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 2: do later in NBA history. He has twenty nine to 173 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 2: twelve in Game six to win the title. So that's 174 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 2: the end of his championships. It's not the end of 175 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 2: his great playoff moments. Nineteen eighty seven sweeps Jordan again 176 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:09,960 Speaker 2: in round one seems relevant. Thirty two, fourteen and six 177 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 2: to finish off that sweep to open round two against 178 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 2: Moncreef in Milwaukee forty points, eleven rebounds, seven assists for 179 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 2: steals and then to go up three to two or 180 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:22,720 Speaker 2: three to one in that series forty two, seven and 181 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,959 Speaker 2: eight in a double overtime victory, and then in game 182 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 2: seven against Milwaukee thirty one to ten in eight. So 183 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,720 Speaker 2: think about this for a moment. They win the title 184 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:34,800 Speaker 2: in nineteen eighty four, they lose in the finals in 185 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 2: nineteen eighty five. They win the title in nineteen eighty 186 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 2: six for his league MVP all three years finals MVP twice. 187 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 2: Then in nineteen eighty seven, seemingly exhausted, he has a 188 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:52,080 Speaker 2: sweeps Jordan in round one, goes seven in round two 189 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 2: against a very good Milwaukee team, is a monster in 190 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 2: the critical games of the series. It opens the series 191 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:02,559 Speaker 2: with a four point game, It has another forty point 192 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:04,719 Speaker 2: game to go off three to one. Then when they 193 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 2: lose games five and six, in game seven has thirty 194 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 2: one to ten and eight to move on to face Detroit. 195 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 2: Against Detroit, they're tied with the Pistons two to two 196 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:20,679 Speaker 2: averages thirty six, ten and seven in the final three 197 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 2: games to win that series in seven, including in Game 198 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 2: seven thirty seven, nine, and nine, So that is four 199 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 2: straight trips to the finals in a period where he's 200 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 2: winning all the league MVPs. In the finals, once again, 201 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,680 Speaker 2: the Lakers were too much. Bird, though played well again 202 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:41,440 Speaker 2: twenty four to ten and six for the finals, and 203 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 2: that's kind of the end of the road for Boston. 204 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 2: It's not the end of the road for Bird, for 205 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 2: it has a few other massive moments. Nineteen eighty eight, 206 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 2: Detroit beats them after a that seven game war with Dominique, 207 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:57,320 Speaker 2: including the the that's the Dominique's most famous game, the 208 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 2: game seven loss to Larry where Larry scored two winning 209 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:03,320 Speaker 2: in the fourth quarter and they move on. But Detroit 210 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 2: was too much for him. And then in nineteen eighty 211 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 2: nine he has bone spurs and back issues, and that's 212 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:12,080 Speaker 2: basically the end. So the reason Bird can't be higher 213 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 2: is it's really just a ten year run. But what 214 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 2: an unbelievable ten year run for his career, twenty four 215 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 2: to ten and seven in the playoffs. The only other 216 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 2: person to average he averaged twenty four to ten and seven. 217 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 2: The only other person in playoff history to average twenty 218 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:33,839 Speaker 2: ten and five is Yannis Yannis. By the way, I 219 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:36,839 Speaker 2: think one day We'll probably supplant Larry Bird past Larry Bird, 220 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 2: but hasn't yet Larry Bird your seventh greatest player of 221 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 2: the last fifty years. Let's go to some Larry Bird 222 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:44,320 Speaker 2: callers before we move on. 223 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 3: Hey, Nick, that was just doing a quick Danny Age 224 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 3: contribution rideer. I think about all the things that Danny 225 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 3: has contributed to the NBA, and it got me thinking 226 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:01,679 Speaker 3: about Larry Bird. Saw have Larry Bird at seven on 227 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 3: your top fifty LI seven? Really there are six guys 228 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 3: better than Larry Bird. You have Luca Legend at twenty, Hattie, 229 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 3: only have Larry Legend at seven. Larry's just like Luca, 230 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 3: but a much better defender. Plus, besides Danny Ainge, Larry 231 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 3: Bird never had a top twenty guy with him. I 232 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 3: mean Magic had Kareem and Kobe had Shack. Who did 233 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 3: Larry Bird have. I gotta get back to my contribution, right, 234 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 3: But Larry and seven. 235 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 4: It's crazy one. My favorite Larry Bird's story is good 236 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 4: because I'm gonna tell it to you. The end of 237 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 4: a long road trip Portland Trailblazers coming up on the schedule, 238 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 4: Larry Bird turns to his teammates and says, you know 239 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 4: what fellas I'm gonna play tomorrow left handed? Wouldn't you 240 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 4: know what he does? Goes out there and scores forty 241 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 4: seven points, not all of them left handed, but a lot. 242 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:01,280 Speaker 4: Then the other day I saw video Larry Birds signing 243 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 4: autographs with his left hand. 244 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 2: Larry Bird is left handed? Ruined the memory. I wasn't there, 245 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 2: I was eight, but it was on the Larry Bird. 246 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 5: VHS tapes and I've incorporated that into my memory bank. 247 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 5: So Nick, did this ruin an all time great Larry 248 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 5: Bird's story, not my telling of it, the idea that 249 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 5: he's left handed. 250 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:26,360 Speaker 2: No, let me respond to Wilds and then Jenna Larry Bird, 251 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 2: much like a couple other all time greats, Lebron James 252 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 2: and myself rights left handed but plays sports right handed. 253 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 2: His right hand dominant, but rights and probably eats left handed, 254 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 2: so he is right handed. He played that game left handed. 255 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:43,360 Speaker 2: He had a lot of legendary stuff. It didn't make 256 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 2: you know, it's not one of the reasons he's top 257 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 2: seven all time, but the three point contest thing was 258 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 2: pretty legendary. Hell, the McDonald's horse commercials with Jordan from 259 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:55,960 Speaker 2: the early nineties, those were pretty legendary. Now as far 260 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 2: as Jenna's point that he didn't have another all all 261 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 2: timer alongside him, that's true. What's also true, though, is 262 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 2: he had tiny Nade Archibald for Ring one and Michale. 263 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:10,240 Speaker 2: Was that McHale wasn't great. He had perished for basically 264 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 2: the entirety of it. He had Walton in eighty six 265 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:16,840 Speaker 2: along with McHale. It's not like he didn't have excellent teammates. 266 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 2: Those Celtics teams were great even though they didn't have 267 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 2: another super superstar. But I mean McHale was, you know, 268 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 2: top thirty five on our list, pretty damn good. And 269 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 2: so I think that that is. I think seven is 270 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 2: perfectly fair to him, especially when you think of the 271 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 2: six guys who are ahead of him, number seven on 272 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 2: the list, Larry Bird, number six on the list is 273 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 2: a guy. Handful of guys who played against him say no, 274 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 2: I actually think he's one of the two greatest players ever. 275 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 2: We'll discuss him next. What's right. 276 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 6: This episode is brought to you by Unstoppable. Discover the 277 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 6: inspiring true story about it, Anthony Robliss, who defined every 278 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:04,919 Speaker 6: expectation to become a national wrestling champion, and Unstoppable, a 279 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:08,720 Speaker 6: new original movie from Amazon MGM Studios and director William Goldenberg. 280 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 6: Evoking the excitement and camaraderie of classic sports dramas and 281 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:15,440 Speaker 6: thrilling wrestling matches, Unstoppable features an all star ensemble cast 282 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 6: including Jirelle Jerome, Jennifer Lopez, Don Cheatle, Michael Tania, and 283 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 6: Bobby Canavani. Watch Unstoppable now exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. 284 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 2: All right, welcome back in What's Right with Nick Wright's 285 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:31,919 Speaker 2: special edition. As we count down the fifty greatest players 286 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 2: of the last fifty years, and we are now to 287 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 2: the top six. We just did Larry Bird at number seven, 288 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:41,040 Speaker 2: and number six is a guy who everyone has an 289 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 2: opinion of, and I think even though we all watched 290 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:51,360 Speaker 2: his entire career, I think because it overlapped with Lebron, 291 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:55,920 Speaker 2: who has all the longevity records, and he's going to 292 00:17:56,000 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 2: end with all the totals records, the overall long ngevity 293 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:05,360 Speaker 2: and raw numbers of this player. It's almost forgotten by 294 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:07,919 Speaker 2: some not to mention the fact, oh yeah, he won 295 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 2: five championships. You probably will. I guess I could be 296 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 2: talking about one of two guys, because there are two 297 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:16,600 Speaker 2: guys yet to be named on this list, whose career 298 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 2: overlapped with Lebron, whose raw numbers are unbelievable, and who 299 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:25,160 Speaker 2: won five championships, And there's gonna be hotly contested who 300 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:27,400 Speaker 2: should be ahead of who? Well, I guess we're about 301 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 2: to find out. Number six Kobe Bryant. So Kobe Bryant's 302 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:36,000 Speaker 2: totals and frontline resume stuff, let's just get right to it. 303 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:40,879 Speaker 2: Eleven times first Team All NBA. That is the second 304 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:44,120 Speaker 2: most ever, tied for the second most ever behind only Lebron. 305 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 2: Two times second Team All NBA, two time third Team 306 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:52,399 Speaker 2: All NBA, fifteen total All NBA teams. That again is 307 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 2: tied for the second most ever, behind only Lebron. Now 308 00:18:56,840 --> 00:19:02,720 Speaker 2: he only has the one league MVP, but eleven times 309 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 2: he finished in the top five, So eleven time first 310 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:10,840 Speaker 2: Team All NBA, eleven top five MVP finishes. He is 311 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 2: twelve time All Defense. He is a two times scoring champ, 312 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 2: including a season where he averaged thirty five points per game. 313 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:22,439 Speaker 2: He has the fourth most points in NBA history. And 314 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 2: some of these numbers here are just bananas. He's scored 315 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 2: at least thirty four hundred and thirty one times in 316 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:32,399 Speaker 2: his career. That is five and a half full seasons 317 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 2: of thirty point games. That's the fifth most ever. He's 318 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:39,200 Speaker 2: scored at least forty won one hundred and twenty two 319 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:42,400 Speaker 2: times in his career. That is the third most ever. 320 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 2: He's scored at least fifty twenty five times in his career. 321 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 2: That is the third most ever. He's scored at least 322 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:56,439 Speaker 2: sixty six times in his career. That is the second 323 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 2: most ever. He has obviously the second most points in 324 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:02,240 Speaker 2: a game ever, the eighty one point game against Toronto, 325 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:05,120 Speaker 2: and then he also has the game against Dallas where 326 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 2: he scored sixty three points through three quarters and they 327 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:10,680 Speaker 2: asked him, you didn't want to go for seventy, try 328 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:12,960 Speaker 2: for eighty. He's like, no, I'll do that another time, 329 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 2: and he did it a few weeks later. So that's 330 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 2: the regular season stuff. It's jarring. The postseason stuff, a 331 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 2: lot of great some a little bit of bat and 332 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 2: Kobe versus Duncan is going to be contested, obviously by 333 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:32,400 Speaker 2: virtue of the fact that I haven't put said Duncan's 334 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:35,400 Speaker 2: name yet he's ahead of him. One of the deciding 335 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:40,400 Speaker 2: factors is Duncan doesn't have as many tough playoff moments 336 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:43,120 Speaker 2: as Kobe. I'm not even holding the teenage Kobe stuff 337 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:45,359 Speaker 2: against him, but I don't want to focus on Kobe's 338 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:49,200 Speaker 2: tough playoff moments. Instead, six race players last fifty years. 339 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:51,080 Speaker 2: Over these next ten minutes, I want to focus on 340 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 2: mostly his great playoff moments. He's obviously a five time champion, 341 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:57,879 Speaker 2: a seven time finalist, and a two time finals MVP. 342 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:00,200 Speaker 2: And just like he is the fourth most regular other 343 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:03,680 Speaker 2: season points ever, he is the fourth most playoff points ever. 344 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:06,480 Speaker 2: But let's do it like we've done it for everybody, 345 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:11,960 Speaker 2: year by year. So nineteen ninety seven, he's eighteen years old. 346 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:14,840 Speaker 2: Eighteen years old, and in round one he is a 347 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:18,920 Speaker 2: twenty two point game. Nineteen ninety eight, he's nineteen years old, 348 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:21,400 Speaker 2: also as a twenty two point game. But that's about it. Again, 349 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:24,920 Speaker 2: he's a literal teenager. You can't hold any He wasn't 350 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:27,080 Speaker 2: that good in that Round Lebron game. In the league 351 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:29,159 Speaker 2: as a teenager, didn't make playoffs first couple years, we 352 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:31,239 Speaker 2: don't know how he would have done. Not fair, But 353 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 2: now we will get to his actual playoffs. Soup nineteen 354 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:36,680 Speaker 2: ninety nine, finally a starter, because those first few years 355 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:40,399 Speaker 2: he also wasn't a starter. He's playing real minutes and 356 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:44,080 Speaker 2: averages as a twenty year old in nineteen ninety nine, 357 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:47,800 Speaker 2: twenty point seven rebounds, five assists for the playoffs. They 358 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:51,719 Speaker 2: get to Round two, two thousand, his first time in 359 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:54,760 Speaker 2: the playoffs as a star, and he played like it 360 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:58,919 Speaker 2: in the playoff run. The run to the championship, Kobe 361 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:02,840 Speaker 2: Bryant average twenty one points, four rebounds, four assists. He 362 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:07,120 Speaker 2: was the unquestioned second best player on a dominant champion. 363 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 2: He had three thirty point games in Round one against Sacramento. 364 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:16,480 Speaker 2: He was obviously the passer on the historic Kobe de 365 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 2: Shaq Lobb in Game seven against Portland, including in that 366 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:24,880 Speaker 2: game twenty five points, eleven rebounds, seven assists. Again, this 367 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:29,119 Speaker 2: is Kobe Bryant at twenty one years old on a 368 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:33,359 Speaker 2: run to the finals. And here's something that Kobe fans remember, 369 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 2: but I think a lot of other folks don't. Game 370 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:39,879 Speaker 2: four of the Finals, so Kobe misses Game three with 371 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:42,960 Speaker 2: an injury that he suffered in Game two. He's back 372 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:46,199 Speaker 2: in Game four. That game goes to overtime. The series 373 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:51,480 Speaker 2: is only two to one. Shack fouls out. Kobe scores 374 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:55,280 Speaker 2: eight points in ot finishes with twenty eight for the 375 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:58,240 Speaker 2: game and they go up three to one, obviously going 376 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:01,160 Speaker 2: to win the championship and to buy the way in 377 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:05,120 Speaker 2: Game six, the title clinching game, twenty six points, ten rebounds, 378 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:08,040 Speaker 2: four assists. Two thousand and one, though, is when he 379 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:11,360 Speaker 2: fully arrived as a top five player that playoff run 380 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:14,679 Speaker 2: in two thousand and one. In the playoff run, he 381 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:18,479 Speaker 2: averages twenty nine points, seven rebounds, six assists. He's twenty 382 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:23,120 Speaker 2: two years old. Round two against Sacramento Game three thirty six, 383 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 2: seven and four, and in Game four to finish off 384 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 2: the sweep, plays all forty eight minutes and has forty 385 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:36,480 Speaker 2: eight and sixteen. Forty eight and sixteen, twenty two years 386 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:40,960 Speaker 2: old to finish off the sweep of the Kings. Averages 387 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:43,600 Speaker 2: for the series thirty five points, nine rebounds, four assists. 388 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:47,480 Speaker 2: Opens the next round, so he closed out Sacramento with 389 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:52,000 Speaker 2: forty eight, opens the next round with forty five and ten, 390 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 2: so that's ninety three points in consecutive playoff games for 391 00:23:57,040 --> 00:24:01,679 Speaker 2: the one Lakers to eliminate the Spurs that round, he 392 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 2: has thirty six, nine and eight. In the finals, he 393 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 2: scores thirty three twice, averages for the finals twenty five, 394 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:12,159 Speaker 2: eight and six. The Lakers are fifteen and won that playoffs. 395 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:15,600 Speaker 2: Some people think it's the greatest team ever. He was dominant, 396 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:19,879 Speaker 2: utterly dominant. He's twenty two years old. He was their 397 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:22,360 Speaker 2: second best guy. Like, if you want to know why, 398 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 2: well the man how good was Shack during that run? Well? 399 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:29,399 Speaker 2: Go look, the Shack numbers are cartoonish during these three years, 400 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 2: but that shouldn't overshadow what Kobe did two thousand and 401 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 2: two going for the three peat. Opens the playoffs with 402 00:24:36,359 --> 00:24:40,240 Speaker 2: the thirty four point game for the playoffs averages twenty 403 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:44,200 Speaker 2: seven to six and five. They're kind of coasting until 404 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:47,359 Speaker 2: the Western Conference Finals against the Kings, down three to 405 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:51,679 Speaker 2: two in that famous Game six. Everybody knows the officiating 406 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:54,640 Speaker 2: not great. But in the famous Game six, he has 407 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:58,640 Speaker 2: thirty one eleven and five and Game seven, the ot game, 408 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 2: the game where Paga air what should have been the 409 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:04,280 Speaker 2: game winner. He plays fifty two and a half of 410 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:07,679 Speaker 2: fifty three minutes and scores thirty ten and seven. They 411 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:09,359 Speaker 2: needed every last bit of it to get back to 412 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:12,840 Speaker 2: the finals. In the finals, which they were, they had 413 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:15,840 Speaker 2: no chance. New Jersey was drawing dead against them. He 414 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:21,040 Speaker 2: averages twenty seven, six and five, including the key game 415 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 2: of those finals was Game three. You're up two zero? 416 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:25,959 Speaker 2: Is it gonna be serious? Is it not? Kobe has 417 00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 2: thirty six, six and four. They win their third straight type. 418 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 2: So that's Kobe. Bryan's twenty three years old, his three 419 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 2: time champion. Now I have won the finals MVP because 420 00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:37,680 Speaker 2: Shack again refer to the Shack video. All he did 421 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 2: over those three years in the finals was average thirty 422 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:44,280 Speaker 2: six and sixteen. But Kobe had a key moment in 423 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 2: two thousand to win the championship, the game Shack fouled 424 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 2: out of In two thousand and one, he was utterly fantastic, 425 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:54,199 Speaker 2: back to back forty five plus point games and then 426 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:56,880 Speaker 2: kicked ass in the finals. And two thousand and two 427 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:03,560 Speaker 2: you could argue he was I don't think he was, 428 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 2: but one could argue at that point he was third 429 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:08,119 Speaker 2: best player in the league. You could argue with Shaq 430 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:11,920 Speaker 2: Duncan Kobe, that's how good he was. So now let's 431 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 2: go to two thousand and three. They're going for four 432 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:16,000 Speaker 2: in a row. Obviously, no one's won four in a 433 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:19,919 Speaker 2: row since Russell Celtics. Nobody had been to four straight 434 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:23,000 Speaker 2: at that point in time since Bird Celtics right or 435 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:25,600 Speaker 2: the with the Celtics and the Lakers in the eighties 436 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 2: did it. He's going for four in a row. For 437 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:31,920 Speaker 2: the playoffs. He averages thirty two to five and five 438 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:34,399 Speaker 2: in two thousand and three. That's the first playoffs he 439 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:37,280 Speaker 2: outplays yet he averages thirty two to five and five 440 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:40,639 Speaker 2: for the playoffs. He opened the playoffs with thirty nine, 441 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 2: five and eight. Round two against San Antonio, he scores 442 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:49,719 Speaker 2: thirty five four times, but they lose in six. In 443 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:54,000 Speaker 2: that playoff run. By the way, Shaq and Kobe combined 444 00:26:55,600 --> 00:27:00,960 Speaker 2: per game sixty points, twenty rebounds, ten assist. The rest 445 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 2: of the Lakers though we're not up to the task. 446 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:06,160 Speaker 2: That was, you know, Spurs were better. Spurs deserved to win, 447 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:09,399 Speaker 2: so instead of you know, going for a fourth straight, 448 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:12,480 Speaker 2: they're out in round two to San Antonio. The team 449 00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:15,760 Speaker 2: was gash four. They're down two to one to the 450 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:19,360 Speaker 2: defending champion Spurs. In round two, Kobe has forty two, 451 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:23,080 Speaker 2: six and five. That's his first forty point game since 452 00:27:23,119 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 2: the back to back ones in the playoffs. That is 453 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:28,920 Speaker 2: that we just talked about No. One. He gets back 454 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:31,720 Speaker 2: to the finals beating Garnett and Minnesota in the Western 455 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:35,560 Speaker 2: Referends Finals, they lose to Detroit, and if we're being fairy, 456 00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:37,920 Speaker 2: as a rough finals, he has one good game and 457 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:40,760 Speaker 2: their one win thirty three, four and seven, but for 458 00:27:40,840 --> 00:27:44,119 Speaker 2: the finals averages twenty three points, three rebounds, four assists 459 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:47,160 Speaker 2: on just thirty eight percent shooting. And now Shack's gone, 460 00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:49,879 Speaker 2: and now it's a bit of a wasteland for a 461 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:53,840 Speaker 2: little bit. Oh five, they missed the playoffs in the 462 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:57,520 Speaker 2: middle of his prime. Not great. Six. This is a 463 00:27:57,520 --> 00:28:01,160 Speaker 2: weird one because the six first round has a couple 464 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:05,200 Speaker 2: of his best moments and then his arguably worst moment 465 00:28:05,280 --> 00:28:08,440 Speaker 2: of his career. So six first round against Phoenix, Game four, 466 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:11,800 Speaker 2: he hits a layup to end regulation and force overtime, 467 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 2: and a buzzer beater in overtime where he does the 468 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:20,280 Speaker 2: famous Michael Jordan pantomime fist pump celebration that puts them 469 00:28:20,359 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 2: up three games to one. Game five, they lose. Game six, 470 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:32,399 Speaker 2: Kobe scores fifty fifty points, eight rebounds, five assists, but 471 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:37,399 Speaker 2: they lose in overtime. Game seven is the rough moment 472 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:40,160 Speaker 2: he's angry about. Game six, he scores fifty and they lose. 473 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:44,040 Speaker 2: He scores twenty three in the first half, but only 474 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:46,840 Speaker 2: had one assists in that first half, and they're down twenty. 475 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:50,320 Speaker 2: They're down by fifteen. Something happened in a halftime in 476 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:53,680 Speaker 2: the locker room about Kobe needed to pass more so 477 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:57,240 Speaker 2: in the second half of that game, he refuses to shoot. 478 00:28:57,480 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 2: In the second half of the game seven of a series, 479 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:01,720 Speaker 2: they were up three to one in where Kobe in 480 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:03,960 Speaker 2: a buzzer beater to win a game, a fifty point 481 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:07,400 Speaker 2: game and a loss. Second half, he takes three shots, 482 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:10,840 Speaker 2: scores one point on a technical free throw, and they 483 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:14,640 Speaker 2: lose by twenty plus. So now it's shacks gone. You're missed. 484 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:17,440 Speaker 2: The playoffs out in round one. Now we're to seven 485 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 2: Phoenix again in round one, down oh two, Kobe keeps 486 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:25,840 Speaker 2: them alive by scoring forty five, six and six, but 487 00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 2: they lose in five anyway, Kobe average thirty three to 488 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:32,520 Speaker 2: five and four. Then there's the career crossroads, the famous 489 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:34,640 Speaker 2: you know he went on Steven A. Smiths radio show, 490 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:38,160 Speaker 2: floated that he wanted to be traded, trash them his 491 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:41,160 Speaker 2: teammates in that in that parking lot video, and the 492 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:44,720 Speaker 2: Lakers don't trade him. Instead, they trade four pal and 493 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:48,960 Speaker 2: now Boom. Kobe finally has a legitimate team around him. 494 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:51,880 Speaker 2: And what do they do? They make three straight finals 495 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:55,440 Speaker 2: forty nine, four and ten. In game two of a 496 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:58,880 Speaker 2: Round one sweep of Carmelo and Ai in Denver averages 497 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:02,320 Speaker 2: thirty three, seven, seven, and Round two against Utah, scoring 498 00:30:02,360 --> 00:30:04,680 Speaker 2: at least thirty three and five of the six games 499 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:07,600 Speaker 2: thirty nine points to get back to the finals and 500 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:11,520 Speaker 2: close out the Spurs again, the defending champions Spurs in 501 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:15,560 Speaker 2: the finals averages twenty six to five and five, including 502 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:21,280 Speaker 2: thirty six and seven, but Boston wins in six average 503 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:24,040 Speaker 2: thirty six and six for the playoffs thirty point six rebounds, 504 00:30:24,040 --> 00:30:26,200 Speaker 2: six a six. But he's back in the finals and 505 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:28,160 Speaker 2: obviously the next two years they would win the title. 506 00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:32,400 Speaker 2: Well again his long career. We gotta go year by 507 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:35,600 Speaker 2: year on it OH nine for the playoff run averages 508 00:30:35,640 --> 00:30:40,040 Speaker 2: thirty points, five rebound, six assists in Round one Game 509 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:42,760 Speaker 2: four against Utah thirty eight and six to go up 510 00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:45,600 Speaker 2: three to one. Forty point game in game two of 511 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 2: Round two against Houston. That was a weird series that 512 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:52,040 Speaker 2: Houston team had no business taking the Lakers seven, but 513 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:56,520 Speaker 2: they did to the Lakers one in seven. Obviously magnificent 514 00:30:56,840 --> 00:31:00,520 Speaker 2: in the Western Armends finals against Carmelo, Carmelo's best, only 515 00:31:00,600 --> 00:31:04,200 Speaker 2: real chance to make the finals average thirty four, six 516 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:07,720 Speaker 2: and six, had two forty point games and a game 517 00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:11,720 Speaker 2: of thirty five six and ten in those Western Conference finals. 518 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:16,920 Speaker 2: He opens the finals with forty points, eight rebounds, eight assists. 519 00:31:17,240 --> 00:31:19,719 Speaker 2: He averages thirty two points per game for the series. 520 00:31:19,960 --> 00:31:23,080 Speaker 2: For his first finals MVP and I would argue, I 521 00:31:23,120 --> 00:31:26,040 Speaker 2: think most people would argue the most important ring of 522 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:28,640 Speaker 2: his career up to that point, it tied Shack. That 523 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:30,800 Speaker 2: was a real rivalry at that point in time. It 524 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:33,240 Speaker 2: proved you could win it without Shack. But did Kobe 525 00:31:33,240 --> 00:31:35,480 Speaker 2: Bryant rest. Oh No, of course not. Kobe Bryant won 526 00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:37,640 Speaker 2: the type to rest. Very next year they win it again. 527 00:31:38,320 --> 00:31:43,960 Speaker 2: So in round one they're playing the young Thunder. He 528 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:48,960 Speaker 2: has thirty two seven and three to beat OKC in 529 00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:52,640 Speaker 2: game in game six, that was the pal tip end game. 530 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:55,920 Speaker 2: That's another sliding doors moment. If Powell doesn't get that 531 00:31:55,960 --> 00:31:59,000 Speaker 2: tip and that thing goes seven, does Oka se knockout 532 00:31:59,040 --> 00:32:02,080 Speaker 2: the defending Champlainers. I don't know, but they don't. Kobe 533 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:04,720 Speaker 2: has thirty two seven and three. They get they escaping 534 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:08,440 Speaker 2: round one against Oksee. Round two they sweep Utah. Kobe 535 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:11,120 Speaker 2: scores thirty in all four games, or at least thirty. 536 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:16,600 Speaker 2: Opened the Western Armends finals with forty five and five 537 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:19,400 Speaker 2: against Phoenix, averages thirty four to seven and eight for 538 00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:21,840 Speaker 2: the series to get to his third straight finals. Second 539 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:24,080 Speaker 2: Diamon's career has been to three straight finals. Won his 540 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:28,840 Speaker 2: second tright finals MVP averages twenty nine, eight and four 541 00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:31,360 Speaker 2: for the series. And yes, we all know he was 542 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:34,040 Speaker 2: six of twenty four in game seven, but the idea 543 00:32:34,560 --> 00:32:37,520 Speaker 2: that someone else should have been finals MVP that year 544 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:41,080 Speaker 2: when he averaged twenty nine to eight and four was nuts. 545 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:44,239 Speaker 2: So from eight to twenty ten, made the finals all 546 00:32:44,280 --> 00:32:48,960 Speaker 2: three years, won two titles. His playoff averages across those 547 00:32:49,000 --> 00:32:53,760 Speaker 2: three years thirty points, six rebounds, six assists, and then 548 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:57,120 Speaker 2: it's basically over. Twenty eleven, he's swept by Dallas in 549 00:32:57,200 --> 00:33:00,800 Speaker 2: round two, averages twenty three points for the playoffs. Twenty twelve, 550 00:33:01,520 --> 00:33:05,360 Speaker 2: he has one final burst in him final three playoff 551 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:08,400 Speaker 2: games of his career, playing the Thunder of twenty twelve, 552 00:33:08,720 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 2: the Thunder that would go on to the finals. He 553 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:14,280 Speaker 2: has thirty six, seven and six, thirty eight, eight and five, 554 00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:19,120 Speaker 2: and is forty two point five rebounds zero assists in 555 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:21,760 Speaker 2: his final playoff game ever, which is a little fitting 556 00:33:21,960 --> 00:33:25,120 Speaker 2: in a good way, similar to Kobe's final regular season 557 00:33:25,200 --> 00:33:28,440 Speaker 2: game ever being the iconic sixty point game. And so 558 00:33:28,520 --> 00:33:32,160 Speaker 2: that's the career so eighty eight career thirty point playoff 559 00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:35,080 Speaker 2: games that is the third most ever. Find on limj 560 00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:39,120 Speaker 2: and Lebron thirteen career forty point playoff games that's the 561 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:42,200 Speaker 2: sixth most ever and a career playoff average of twenty 562 00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:45,320 Speaker 2: six five and five for the sixth greatest player of 563 00:33:45,320 --> 00:33:49,960 Speaker 2: the last fifty years, the Great, the late Great Kobe Bryant. 564 00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:54,280 Speaker 2: Let's go to some Kobe Bryant caller before we wrap 565 00:33:54,280 --> 00:33:54,600 Speaker 2: it up. 566 00:33:55,560 --> 00:33:59,760 Speaker 7: Kobe at number six. Fun fact about Kobe Bryant, He's 567 00:33:59,800 --> 00:34:05,320 Speaker 7: the only player in the top Tennish discussion who won 568 00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:10,680 Speaker 7: multiple championships without a top seventy five teammate. When he 569 00:34:10,719 --> 00:34:13,239 Speaker 7: won his last two with paalgasov Gas All did not 570 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:17,040 Speaker 7: make the top seventy five. That puts Kobe in a 571 00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:25,239 Speaker 7: class by himself in regards to championships. Michael Lebron, Shaq Kareem, 572 00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:27,839 Speaker 7: you can go on and on. None of them won 573 00:34:28,080 --> 00:34:32,919 Speaker 7: multiple titles without a top seventy five teammate like Kobe did. 574 00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:34,040 Speaker 2: Props. 575 00:34:34,640 --> 00:34:37,440 Speaker 8: Nick, appreciate you having me on the podcast. Bro. You know, 576 00:34:37,480 --> 00:34:39,319 Speaker 8: over your career, I've had a lot of takes that 577 00:34:39,440 --> 00:34:43,319 Speaker 8: I have vehemently disagreed with, but none more than you 578 00:34:43,480 --> 00:34:46,360 Speaker 8: saying that Kobe is on this list of greatest players 579 00:34:46,400 --> 00:34:49,960 Speaker 8: to never be the best player in the NBA. And 580 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:52,960 Speaker 8: I'm just trying to imagine a world where let's just 581 00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:55,560 Speaker 8: take Luka Danca till you have top twenty on this list, 582 00:34:56,440 --> 00:34:59,400 Speaker 8: starts a three year run next year where he wins 583 00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:03,440 Speaker 8: a league in goes to three straight NBA finals, wins 584 00:35:03,480 --> 00:35:07,480 Speaker 8: two championships, two finals. MVPs. Just me trying to imagine 585 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:10,719 Speaker 8: you going on first things first and not declaring he's 586 00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:13,239 Speaker 8: the best player in the world, you know, and I 587 00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:16,720 Speaker 8: know it would not happen, which is so fascinating because 588 00:35:16,760 --> 00:35:19,520 Speaker 8: that is exactly what Kobe did from two thousand and 589 00:35:19,560 --> 00:35:22,359 Speaker 8: eight to twenty ten. So yes, he was the best 590 00:35:22,360 --> 00:35:25,080 Speaker 8: player in the league. And I get Lebron historically is 591 00:35:25,120 --> 00:35:28,920 Speaker 8: better and which took that torch from him, but in 592 00:35:28,960 --> 00:35:31,040 Speaker 8: those three years, he was the best player in the league, 593 00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:33,400 Speaker 8: and you got to give him some love for that. 594 00:35:33,520 --> 00:35:35,759 Speaker 8: So that's a small little correction you gotta make. But 595 00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:38,359 Speaker 8: appreciate you having a big dog high on this list. 596 00:35:38,760 --> 00:35:40,000 Speaker 8: Rip to the black mamble. 597 00:35:41,440 --> 00:35:44,000 Speaker 2: Okay, So I want to comment on what Tye said there, 598 00:35:44,040 --> 00:35:46,239 Speaker 2: because what ty is referring to something I've said in 599 00:35:46,239 --> 00:35:48,480 Speaker 2: the past, I had not seen that video, which was 600 00:35:48,640 --> 00:35:54,360 Speaker 2: I have said the prestigious Make Believe Best Player Alive 601 00:35:54,440 --> 00:35:58,200 Speaker 2: title belt that it has only ever been held in 602 00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:02,640 Speaker 2: NBA history by the following people, Bill Russell and Wilt 603 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:07,680 Speaker 2: Chamberlain in the sixties, Kareem almost the entirety of the seventies, 604 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:12,680 Speaker 2: Moses Malone briefly late seventies to early eighties, Larry Bird 605 00:36:13,120 --> 00:36:18,280 Speaker 2: in the mid eighties, Magic Johnson after that, Michael Jordan 606 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:22,520 Speaker 2: obviously in the early nineties, a Keem Olajuan, then back 607 00:36:22,600 --> 00:36:26,640 Speaker 2: to Jordan. After Jordan that time, it was Shack, then Duncan. 608 00:36:26,760 --> 00:36:29,840 Speaker 2: This is the part ty gets upset about. Then Lebron 609 00:36:30,280 --> 00:36:34,200 Speaker 2: to Giannis. He argues that it went Duncan to Kobe 610 00:36:34,239 --> 00:36:37,520 Speaker 2: to Lebron. He makes the point he makes that from 611 00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:39,960 Speaker 2: eight to ten, the guy I have as the best 612 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:44,560 Speaker 2: player alive. Lebron won zero championships. Kobe won two of them. 613 00:36:44,880 --> 00:36:48,200 Speaker 2: I understand that that part of it. My issue is 614 00:36:48,560 --> 00:36:52,280 Speaker 2: I think Lebron became the best player in the NBA 615 00:36:52,400 --> 00:36:54,919 Speaker 2: in two thousand and seven at twenty two years old, 616 00:36:55,080 --> 00:36:58,440 Speaker 2: when he carried that team to the NBA Finals with 617 00:36:58,520 --> 00:37:01,719 Speaker 2: the forty eight special against Detroit. Now some would say, Nick, 618 00:37:01,760 --> 00:37:03,600 Speaker 2: your bias towards Lebron. I don't think I am, but 619 00:37:03,680 --> 00:37:06,360 Speaker 2: so be it. I will. The addendum I would have 620 00:37:06,440 --> 00:37:10,280 Speaker 2: is this, if Lebron didn't actually become the best player 621 00:37:10,280 --> 00:37:13,759 Speaker 2: in the league until twenty ten, then it would be 622 00:37:13,880 --> 00:37:16,879 Speaker 2: Kobe Bryant. Either way, there's a lot of guys on 623 00:37:16,920 --> 00:37:20,280 Speaker 2: our list, on our top fifty, in our top fifteen, 624 00:37:20,719 --> 00:37:24,879 Speaker 2: Durant Staph that also have not been best player alive. Hell, 625 00:37:25,239 --> 00:37:28,320 Speaker 2: there's I'm trying to I don't want to spoil anything. 626 00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:30,799 Speaker 2: I'm trying to think other guys that would be on 627 00:37:30,920 --> 00:37:34,960 Speaker 2: here was super Isaiah Thomas, the top fifteen guy, never 628 00:37:35,000 --> 00:37:38,320 Speaker 2: best player alive, So it's it wouldn't be bad company. 629 00:37:38,480 --> 00:37:41,880 Speaker 2: But I understand what Ty is saying. Also, though I 630 00:37:41,960 --> 00:37:44,719 Speaker 2: mentioned Duncan being the best player, we are also now 631 00:37:44,760 --> 00:37:47,759 Speaker 2: to the top five. We have not said Tim Duncan's name, 632 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:50,040 Speaker 2: and we just did Kobe's name, which means by definition, 633 00:37:50,120 --> 00:37:53,719 Speaker 2: I've Duncan ahead of Kobe. Duncan will be coming up 634 00:37:53,760 --> 00:37:57,680 Speaker 2: shortly on this list. It will cause massive consternation from 635 00:37:57,719 --> 00:38:00,719 Speaker 2: folks that I've Duncan ahead of Kobe. We'll discuss that 636 00:38:00,920 --> 00:38:03,879 Speaker 2: to wrap the show as another special episode of What's 637 00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:05,959 Speaker 2: Right with Nick Right? The fifty Guards Players Last fifty 638 00:38:06,040 --> 00:38:14,040 Speaker 2: Years continues right after this. All Right, welcome back in 639 00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:17,120 Speaker 2: What's Right with Nick Right? The special edition fifty Guarys 640 00:38:17,160 --> 00:38:19,359 Speaker 2: Players the Last fifty Years. We just gave you number 641 00:38:19,360 --> 00:38:22,360 Speaker 2: six Kobe Bryant, So that means the five people left 642 00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:24,399 Speaker 2: on the list, and I'll try to just say them 643 00:38:24,440 --> 00:38:29,239 Speaker 2: alphabetically would be Kareem Abdul Jabbar. I gotta think of 644 00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:33,239 Speaker 2: who they are and how the alphabet works, Lebron James, 645 00:38:34,719 --> 00:38:38,280 Speaker 2: Magic Johnson, uh No, I forgot how the alphabet works. 646 00:38:38,719 --> 00:38:43,120 Speaker 2: Michael Jordan, and Tim Duncan. Those are your five guys. 647 00:38:43,719 --> 00:38:46,680 Speaker 2: There is a lot of a hotly contested debate is 648 00:38:46,760 --> 00:38:49,480 Speaker 2: Kobe or Duncan. We have a caller that wants to 649 00:38:49,560 --> 00:38:51,279 Speaker 2: chime in on that and might give you a little 650 00:38:51,320 --> 00:38:54,279 Speaker 2: sneak preview into some of our Duncan stuff coming up 651 00:38:54,320 --> 00:38:57,480 Speaker 2: in the weeks ahead. Here's the caller, Heynick. 652 00:38:58,800 --> 00:39:01,520 Speaker 9: So you don't know me, but after I saw your 653 00:39:01,560 --> 00:39:04,400 Speaker 9: list that came out, I had to hit my rolodex 654 00:39:04,440 --> 00:39:06,359 Speaker 9: and find someone who did know you so that they 655 00:39:06,400 --> 00:39:10,000 Speaker 9: could deliver this video of me telling you how off 656 00:39:10,200 --> 00:39:14,480 Speaker 9: your rocker you are for ranking Tim Duncan ahead of 657 00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:19,200 Speaker 9: Kobe Bryant. Now, yes they both have five NBA championships, 658 00:39:19,200 --> 00:39:21,680 Speaker 9: so it's pretty close. But I just want to remind 659 00:39:21,719 --> 00:39:25,080 Speaker 9: you of the situation that Kobe was walking into. He 660 00:39:25,200 --> 00:39:28,880 Speaker 9: had to win that first three championships with Shaquille O'Neal, 661 00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:32,439 Speaker 9: who constant battles between who is number one of that team? 662 00:39:32,480 --> 00:39:36,400 Speaker 9: Whose team it was, you know, which ended in Shack leaving. 663 00:39:36,080 --> 00:39:36,600 Speaker 2: For the heat. 664 00:39:37,440 --> 00:39:40,319 Speaker 9: And then Kobe you know, was he done? Did he 665 00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:43,040 Speaker 9: need Shack? No, he didn't. What he did was he 666 00:39:43,080 --> 00:39:47,440 Speaker 9: won one with Andrew Binham and with Metal World Peace, 667 00:39:47,600 --> 00:39:50,320 Speaker 9: two of them as a matter of fact. So let's 668 00:39:50,320 --> 00:39:53,680 Speaker 9: compare that to Tim Duncan, who just kind of just 669 00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:57,400 Speaker 9: mosied himself into the league and won those but with 670 00:39:57,600 --> 00:40:01,080 Speaker 9: a well respected organization that rarely has any drama led 671 00:40:01,120 --> 00:40:03,759 Speaker 9: by the greatest coach of all time, Greg Popovich. So 672 00:40:04,440 --> 00:40:07,759 Speaker 9: let's look at that stability versus all the hurdles that 673 00:40:07,840 --> 00:40:10,440 Speaker 9: Kobe Bryant had to overcome to have the same amount 674 00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:11,440 Speaker 9: of championships. 675 00:40:12,040 --> 00:40:14,560 Speaker 2: Okay, listen, I'm not gonna use this time to tear 676 00:40:14,600 --> 00:40:16,239 Speaker 2: down Kobe. I was called Hi the sixth race player 677 00:40:16,239 --> 00:40:18,080 Speaker 2: the last fifty years. But that's some of the most 678 00:40:18,080 --> 00:40:21,839 Speaker 2: revisionist history I've ever heard. The idea that Kobe won 679 00:40:21,880 --> 00:40:25,480 Speaker 2: the two championships with Bainum and Metal World Peace and 680 00:40:25,520 --> 00:40:29,919 Speaker 2: did not mention Paalgasol's name is crazy. To say that 681 00:40:30,080 --> 00:40:33,440 Speaker 2: Duncan had this massive advantage of a great coach in 682 00:40:33,520 --> 00:40:37,520 Speaker 2: Greg Popovich, when Kobe's coach for all of his championships 683 00:40:37,560 --> 00:40:41,840 Speaker 2: was Phil Jackson is outrageous. And to act like going 684 00:40:41,880 --> 00:40:46,439 Speaker 2: to a team with Shaquille O'Neil was a detriment as 685 00:40:46,440 --> 00:40:50,600 Speaker 2: opposed to a guaranteed finals birth, which gave Kobe so 686 00:40:50,680 --> 00:40:53,200 Speaker 2: much to the experience, and as we just discussed how 687 00:40:53,239 --> 00:40:55,800 Speaker 2: great he was, particularly Oh one to O two finals. 688 00:40:56,040 --> 00:41:00,840 Speaker 2: It's just nonsense. They just total and utter revisionist history nonsense. 689 00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:03,680 Speaker 2: I'm not saying it's nonsense to say you think Kobe's 690 00:41:03,719 --> 00:41:08,400 Speaker 2: ahead of Duncan. I obviously disagree, but that those arguments 691 00:41:08,440 --> 00:41:11,080 Speaker 2: fall on deaf years. To me, Tim Duncan will be 692 00:41:11,200 --> 00:41:14,840 Speaker 2: showing up shortly in our series, and I think I 693 00:41:14,920 --> 00:41:18,440 Speaker 2: might be able to prove to America why having him 694 00:41:18,480 --> 00:41:20,919 Speaker 2: as one of the five best players of the last 695 00:41:21,000 --> 00:41:24,520 Speaker 2: fifty years is not an overreach at all. We'll talk 696 00:41:24,520 --> 00:41:27,080 Speaker 2: to you guys about that next week as we continue 697 00:41:27,120 --> 00:41:29,439 Speaker 2: our countdown of the fifty greatest players of the last 698 00:41:29,440 --> 00:41:34,320 Speaker 2: fifty years. On what's right