Basketball was and still is a big part
of my life – my youth, my early hopes, and my dreams. Not only did I follow and
watch the games of the best players both in the Philippines, and the United
States, I actually grew up playing and loving it.
Having
“carried the ball” for my high school team in Rosales, Pangasinan, Philippines
as its team captain, I also made the Pangasinan Provincial Team that competed
and won the then Central Luzon Athletic Association (CLAA) Regional Basketball
Championships.
When I came to the United States as an
AFS International Scholar, I was recruited to try out for the Huntington Beach
High School Varsity Team in California. Then Coach Elmer Combs told me that I
made the team but I had to attend all the practices including the entire
Christmas holidays.
Excited to
be the smallest (5’8”) but fastest player in the Varsity team, I discussed my
situation with my foster parents and the AFS Committee who were hosting my stay
in America. Unfortunately, plans had already been made for me during the
holidays, and that I had responsibilities to fulfill as “Ambassador of
Goodwill”.
My first exposure to NBA Basketball was
attending a Lakers game that featured Jerry West as the star. From then on
until today, I continued to root, cheer, and even bet for the Lakers.
Watching
Larry Bird’s Indiana team battle Magic Johnson’s Michigan in the NCAA
Finals that the latter won, I was happiest to find out later that Magic was
joining the Lakers and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. The “Showtime” Era began and
continued for many years as Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics renew their
battles against Magic and the Lakers. The recruitment of James Worthy by the
Lakers reinforced the Lakers’ dominance during the period.
NBA Basketball became a major
attraction as television rights proved to be very profitable for all parties –
the owners, the players, the networks, and even advertisers. Fans enjoyed and
grew exponentially.
It also
brought about the successful internationalization of the sport as the NBA’s
“Dream Team” led by Magic, Bird, and Jordan competed for The US at the
International Olympics. As expected, the team won the Gold Medal. More
importantly, the players also won the hearts and minds of the international
community.
Most of the basketball world
considers Michael Jordan as the greatest player ever! That’s why when
Laker Kobe Bryant surpassed him in the All-Time NBA Scoring List a few days
ago, one cannot help but admire the amazing feat of Kobe. Indeed, for him to
have made more points than the greatest player is greatness in itself.
But Kobe is
not just about beating Michael Jordan as a scorer like when he scored 81 points
which Jordan never did. He also established (or tied) NBA records that
remain unbroken today. Among them are:***
• Most All-Star Game points scored, career: 271
• Most All-Star Game field goals made, career: 111
• Most offensive rebounds in an All-Star Game: 10
• Most All-NBA Total Selections won, career: 16
• Most All-Defensive First Team honors won, career: 9 (tied with Michael
Jordan, Gary Payton, and Kevin
Garnett)
• Only player in NBA history with more than 30,000 points
and 6,000 assists; and
• Most three-point field goals made, one game: 12
He was the youngest player to score: 24,000 points: (31
years, 76 days); 25,000 points: (31
years, 151 days); 26,000 points: (32
years, 80 days); 27,000 points: (32
years, 160 days); 28,000 points: (33
years, 131 days); 29,000 points: (33
years, 199 days); 30,000 points: (34 years, 104 days); 31,000 points: (34
years, 185 days); and 32,000 points: (36 years, 87 days).
He was also the youngest player: to be
named to the NBA All-Rookie Team: (1996–97); to be named to the NBA
All-Defensive Team: (1999–00); to start a game: (18 years,
158 days);; to win the NBA Slam Dunk Championship: (18 years, 169 days); and to start an All-Star
game: (19 years, 169 days).
Of course, NBA Records show that Kobe Bryant is more known for
the following:
• 16-time NBA All-Star: 1998,
2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012,
2013, 2014
• 15 consecutive selections, 13 consecutive appearances (No
All-Star game in 1999 due to a league-wide lockout)
• Missing the 2010 and 2014 games due to injury
• 4-time NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2002, 2007, 2009, 2011 (shared the 2009 award with Shaquille
O'Neal)
• First team: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011,
2012, 2013
• Second team: 2000, 2001
• Third team: 1999, 2005
• First team: 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
• Second team: 2001, 2002, 2012
• Second team: 1997
• 17-time Player of the
Month: December 2000, November 2001, January
2003, March 2004, January 2006, April 2006, December 2006, March 2007, April
2007, February 2008, April 2008, December 2008, January 2009, December 2009,
March 2011, December/January 2012, February 2013
Basketball is a team sport. It takes
effective and efficient management and coaching to get several playing egos to
work as a team. It takes strategy and tactics to plan and execute the plays. It
takes resources and organization to recruit the right talents to create a
winning team. Indeed, it is a sport that requires both physical and mental
toughness!
Credit the LA Laker Team for having developed a successful
franchise. But it is also lucky to have recruited, helped develop, and maintained
a player with exceptional talents like Kobe Bryant who thrived and rose above
all else.
If Kobe gets to play 2-3 years more,
based on his record and barring no injuries, he could most likely catch up
to and surpass Karl Malone's and possibly Kareem Abdul Jabbar's
records.
For this year, winning the scoring title is a doable goal.
Regardless, his quest for basketball immortality is already achieved.
***(Data from References of Wikipedia)
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