KG vs. Kobe

[Lord_of_the17Rings]

Watching the NO/Lakers game right now and always find myself hating the way Kobe carries himself during games.  He has been stepping up to Chris Paul a few times already when Paul has just been making good clean hard plays (and schooled him with a crossover).

It just got me thinking about why KG has been such a lightening rod since he got to the C's. We all know about the anti-KG sentiment that has been going around these past few years.  But my question is why is KG so hated and Kobe doesn't seem to get the same criticism?

I thought Mark Jackson and Van Gundy did an awesome job of shooting down "Player X" during the game today.  Basically saying, KG is everything you want in a player.  Will do anything for his team, hates the opponent (as you should) and only cares about winning.

I feel like with Kobe, maybe he doesn't do as much talking as KG during the game (although some will say Kobe is one of the bigger trash talkers out there).  And in terms of supporting and doing anything for your team, I would say Kobe is the opposite.  When things aren't going his way, he has no problem throwing teammates under the bus.  (Loved his trashing of Bynum caught on a fan's phone a few years back).

In short, even when KG was on MN, I still found him to be so much more likable than Kobe.  I don't get why that sentiment doesn't seem to be shared by the majority of the NBA.

[Kiorrik]

KG and Kobe both received their fair amounts of criticism during their careers. Right now, it's KG who's getting it the most though, aye.

[Proveo]

I disagree; analysing their entire careers, my perception is that Kobe was much more hated by the public than KG. Garnett was an extremely popular and beloved player for most of his career.

I wouldn't care about that player X thing, it's made up by some writer. Most veterans in the league like KG, he's very popular amongst his peers except the younger kids.

[Kiorrik]

You're watching LAL / NO right now?

"Kobe sucks" chant going.

Ever heard that about KG?

[Lord_of_the17Rings]

You're watching LAL / NO right now?

"Kobe sucks" chant going.

Ever heard that about KG?

Fair point.  And I love hearing that chant.  But I would say that chant has more to do with the fact that the crowd understands Kobe is their best player and his ability to score will ultimately determine who wins.

[Kiorrik]

You're watching LAL / NO right now?

"Kobe sucks" chant going.

Ever heard that about KG?

Fair point.  And I love hearing that chant.  But I would say that chant has more to do with the fact that the crowd understands Kobe is their best player and his ability to score will ultimately determine who wins.

... a bit like KG in Minny? Hehe, sorry m8, I just think KG has been getting it right now because he's in the spotlight - he's on a winning team now. What you say doesn't matter when you're a loser: people don't listen to losers.

(should've put quotes around the word loser there, but you probably get the jist of it)

[GreenEnvy]

I've ALWAYS wondered what made Kobe so adored, even by Faker fans. I have NEVER seen an article or story about him that was remotely genuine.

Nothing about him paints him in a great light. I can understand Faker fans liking him because of his talent, but to be such unabashed homers is beyond me. They jock him so much.

I do not think he is a good person at all. Maybe I am wrong. I am not in the LA market. But I'm not in any market other than NYC and I hear great stories about tons of other players that make me understand the overwhelming love they get from their fans.

But with Kobe, NOTHING. Proven to be an adulterer/rapist, poor teammate (before and after Shaq), difficult to coach, quitter/sulker/whiner.

Everything about him seems staged. I remember a game against the C's when he had his family (THAT'S RIGHT, HIS WIFE AND KIDS) waiting for him at halftime in the tunnel where he kissed each of them, picked up a kid and carried them into the locker room. Who on Earth would do that?

He tries way too hard to be something that he isn't.


KG and Kobe are both two of the greatest players to ever play this game. But only KG is routinely talked about as a great person by his teammates and coaches. Screw the Player X comment. Screw CV and Noah. Screw Gentry. And, as always, screw Kobe.

[Lord_of_the17Rings]

I've ALWAYS wondered what made Kobe so adored, even by Faker fans. I have NEVER seen an article or story about him that was remotely genuine.

Nothing about him paints him in a great light. I can understand Faker fans liking him because of his talent, but to be such unabashed homers is beyond me. They jock him so much.

I do not think he is a good person at all. Maybe I am wrong. I am not in the LA market. But I'm not in any market other than NYC and I hear great stories about tons of other players that make me understand the overwhelming love they get from their fans.

But with Kobe, NOTHING. Proven to be an adulterer/rapist, poor teammate (before and after Shaq), difficult to coach, quitter/sulker/whiner.

Everything about him seems staged. I remember a game against the C's when he had his family (THAT'S RIGHT, HIS WIFE AND KIDS) waiting for him at halftime in the tunnel where he kissed each of them, picked up a kid and carried them into the locker room. Who on Earth would do that?

He tries way too hard to be something that he isn't.


KG and Kobe are both two of the greatest players to ever play this game. But only KG is routinely talked about as a great person by his teammates and coaches. Screw the Player X comment. Screw CV and Noah. Screw Gentry. And, as always, screw Kobe.

Haha..nice.  I wasn't going to get into the personal life stuff, but I can't disagree with you.  He is unlikable on and off the court.  Whatever he is or isn't guilty of, he absolutely seems to stage everything.  He reminds me a bit of A-Rod in that way, but with all of the other things you stated, it is not even close in terms of who comes off as the bigger bad word.

[JoT]

I read somewhere that a lot of players in the NBA especially the young players don't like Kobe. They don't like his attitude and people are seeing that he's not a threat like he used too. I read that even some of his teammates aren't too fond of him. Teams like OKC can smell the Lakers blood and now are not afraid of them like they used too and Kendrick helped that also. The person said KG, Tim Duncan and DWade respect him, but the many young players and even vets don't like him that much. Ray as quiet as it's kept from what I read isn't fond of Kobe, but he respects his game.

[Lord_of_the17Rings]

I read somewhere that a lot of players in the NBA especially the young players don't like Kobe. They don't like his attitude and people are seeing that he's not a threat like he used too. I read that even some of his teammates aren't too fond of him. Teams like OKC can smell the Lakers blood and now are not afraid of them like they used too and Kendrick helped that also. The person said KG, Tim Duncan and DWade respect him, but the many young players and even vets don't like him that much. Ray as quiet as it's kept from what I read isn't fond of Kobe, but he respects his game.

Interesting.  I could definitely see that.  Both opposing players and his own teammates.  Yeah, I remember something Ray said several years back when he was in Seattle but don't remember the exact statement.  Think it had to do with the whole CO thing.  If Ray is talking smack about someone you know they deserve it.

[JoT]

Everything about him seems staged. I remember a game against the C's when he had his family (THAT'S RIGHT, HIS WIFE AND KIDS) waiting for him at halftime in the tunnel where he kissed each of them, picked up a kid and carried them into the locker room. Who on Earth would do that?

I remember that and a lot of people thought that was staged. He was doing that after the rape charge to paint himself in the perfect family man spotlight.I'm from LA and it's hard to not say anything negative about Kobe because he's the best thing since slice bread to the fans. I can't stand him because he seems fake. KG is more real and no it's not because I like the Celtics, I've felt this way for a while way before he came or decided to leave Minnesota. I remember the reason why I even disliked the Lakers was because of them beating Kevin and seeing the sadness in his face.

[barefacedmonk]

Everything about him seems staged. I remember a game against the C's when he had his family (THAT'S RIGHT, HIS WIFE AND KIDS) waiting for him at halftime in the tunnel where he kissed each of them, picked up a kid and carried them into the locker room. Who on Earth would do that?

A father?

[Eja117]

If you follow the "America loves a winner and will not tolerate a loser" theory than Kobe has an advantage.

If you go by the "America hates a guy who gets accused of rape and then says "oops"" then Kobe gets more hate.

[GreenEnvy]

Everything about him seems staged. I remember a game against the C's when he had his family (THAT'S RIGHT, HIS WIFE AND KIDS) waiting for him at halftime in the tunnel where he kissed each of them, picked up a kid and carried them into the locker room. Who on Earth would do that?

I remember that and a lot of people thought that was staged. He was doing that after the rape charge to paint himself in the perfect family man spotlight.I'm from LA and it's hard to not say anything negative about Kobe because he's the best thing since slice bread to the fans. I can't stand him because he seems fake. KG is more real and no it's not because I like the Celtics, I've felt this way for a while way before he came or decided to leave Minnesota. I remember the reason why I even disliked the Lakers was because of them beating Kevin and seeing the sadness in his face.

That was THIS season or maybe last. I'd put money on it being the game in LA this past January though.



As big of a fan of ARod as I am, he and Kobe were similar as Lord_of_the17Rings mentioned. The difference is, the NYC media exposed ARod (lol) and basically forced him to change. He is now without a doubt a different person than he was when he came to the Yankees, or even 3-4 years ago. I remember when he opened up about his lack of a relationship with Jeter is when he seemed genuinely different.

Maybe Kobe is different now too, I don't know. But I know the media not only defends Kobe, they eat everything he says/does up.

[aporel#18]

If you follow the "America loves a winner and will not tolerate a loser" theory than Kobe has an advantage.

If you go by the "America hates a guy who gets accused of rape and then says "oops"" then Kobe gets more hate.

wow... TP