The Best 'High Schooler' ever to play in the NBA?

[BlueNGold]

Re: The Best 'High Schooler' ever to play in the NBA?

I voted LeBron. I'll be honest and say I'm biased since I'm a LeBron fan and a Kobe ***** so my opinion doesn't really matter on this topic, lol.

[DC]

Re: The Best 'High Schooler' ever to play in the NBA?

How can yall dudes say LeBron IS the best high schooler ever and then base your resoning on what he WILL do.

See how that doesn't make any sense?

[Dice]

Re: The Best 'High Schooler' ever to play in the NBA?

How can yall dudes say LeBron IS the best high schooler ever and then base your resoning on what he WILL do.

See how that doesn't make any sense?

It actually doesn't make sense. But I put him on the list because someone would have told me that I needed him on the list.

A lot of people are sleeping on Big Mo(Moses Malone). You look at his accolades, it comparable to Kobe's, who's currently leading the poll.

Moses Malone, 13-time all star, 3 time NBA MVP, 5 times 1st All NBA Team.
Kobe Bryant, 11- time All Star, 1 time NBA MVP, 7 time 1st All NBA Team.

Malone during his prime years competed against HOFers centers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Robert Parish. Kareem was still winning MVP's during Moses time and Parish was well in his prime. He also went against centers who weren't HOFers BUT still effective in Artis Gilmore, Jack Sikma and Bill Laimbeer. And even in his last all star season in 1989, he was competing against the future HOFers like Partick Ewing and Akeem(his name during that time) Olajuwon and holding his own against them.

And he was only 6'10", which at that time was short for a center. Guys like Kareem, Akeem and Parish were legit seven footers.

And lastly, Olajuwon credits his game to playing with Malone for a summer and helping him be the center he became to be.

[Rocky]

Re: The Best 'High Schooler' ever to play in the NBA?

It actually doesn't make sense. But I put him on the list because someone would have told me that I needed him on the list.

A lot of people are sleeping on Big Mo(Moses Malone). You look at his accolades, it comparable to Kobe's, who's currently leading the poll.

Moses Malone, 13-time all star, 3 time NBA MVP, 5 times 1st All NBA Team.
Kobe Bryant, 11- time All Star, 1 time NBA MVP, 7 time 1st All NBA Team.

Malone during his prime years competed against HOFers centers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Robert Parish. Kareem was still winning MVP's during Moses time and Parish was well in his prime. He also went against centers who weren't HOFers BUT still effective in Artis Gilmore, Jack Sikma and Bill Laimbeer. And even in his last all star season in 1989, he was competing against the future HOFers like Partick Ewing and Akeem(his name during that time) Olajuwon and holding his own against them.

And he was only 6'10", which at that time was short for a center. Guys like Kareem, Akeem and Parish were legit seven footers.

And lastly, Olajuwon credits his game to playing with Malone for a summer and helping him be the center he became to be.

I thought Moses Malone went to the ABA first.

[HMcCoy]

Re: The Best 'High Schooler' ever to play in the NBA?

Kobe's body of work is tough to dispute, but KG's having to toil on a bad franchise for a long time kinda skews things. Swap KG's Wolves for Kobes Lakers and I guarantee KG has 3+ rings and similar accolades.

KG has been a legitimate 2-way beast, a top rebounder, and one of the most versatile bigs in the history of the game, wheras Kobe is an all-time scorer but slightly overrated defender. Ultimately, Kobes ability as a closer and KG's lack therof is what separates them in my mind, but you could make a case for the Big Ticket.

[Dice]

Re: The Best 'High Schooler' ever to play in the NBA?

I thought Moses Malone went to the ABA first.

Yes he did. And during that time the ABA had players like Dr.J, George Gervin, Dan Issel, Artis Gilmore just to name a few.

He played in the ABA for 2 season until they merged with the NBA. And then in his second season in the NBA he won the MVP award in 1979 at the age of 23! The only other person to win the award at that age since then? Jordan in 1988.

[Brankles]

Re: The Best 'High Schooler' ever to play in the NBA?

Awesome. We can lump the Kobe vs TMac vs LeBron argument that's been going on for years all into one thread.

I'll say LeBron because right now he is better than Kobe has ever been and he's just entering into the prime of his career. He's never had the talent around him that Kobe has, so he doesn't have the rings, but he's a better and more complete basketball player than Kobe, and has been for at least 2 or 3 seasons.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: The Best 'High Schooler' ever to play in the NBA?

Awesome. We can lump the Kobe vs TMac vs LeBron argument that's been going on for years all into one thread.

I'll say LeBron because right now he is better than Kobe has ever been and he's just entering into the prime of his career. He's never had the talent around him that Kobe has, so he doesn't have the rings, but he's a better and more complete basketball player than Kobe, and has been for at least 2 or 3 seasons.

I agree with everything except the last statement.

LBJ surpassed Kobe only last year IMO. Prior to that James' perimeter game wasn't quite solid enough for me to say that he had surpassed Kobe.

But last year IMO it was blatant that James was the #1 overall player in the world. His defense, his ability to score in ANY way he wanted and obviously his playmaking skills were all better than Kobe's.

It will however be interesting to see if Kobe can regain that title though considering he has much more mileage than LBJ and Kobe was coming off a Finals' run and Olympics.

This pre-season Kobe looks like he has his MVP year legs back.. hopefully that means more driving and getting to the rack.

[Bornindamecca]

Re: The Best 'High Schooler' ever to play in the NBA?

Such a thinly veiled Kobe vs. LBJ discussion.

[Dice]

Re: The Best 'High Schooler' ever to play in the NBA?

Such a thinly veiled Kobe vs. LBJ discussion.

Yeah, I know. I'm pretty sure most of the people who voted for Kobe or LBJ haven't watched basketball before 1990.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: The Best 'High Schooler' ever to play in the NBA?

Yeah, I know. I'm pretty sure most of the people who voted for Kobe or LBJ haven't watched basketball before 1990.

Except in this case it wouldn't matter if this were true.

Kobe or LBJ are the right choices. End thread.

[Brankles]

Re: The Best 'High Schooler' ever to play in the NBA?

Yeah, I know. I'm pretty sure most of the people who voted for Kobe or LBJ haven't watched basketball before 1990.

Does that matter?
Only one player you listed actually played before 1990.

[TheGreatOne13]

Re: The Best 'High Schooler' ever to play in the NBA?

Kobe right now at this point in his career. I still dont think Lebron is going to win more championships than Kobe.

[Brankles]

Re: The Best 'High Schooler' ever to play in the NBA?

Kobe right now at this point in his career. I still dont think Lebron is going to win more championships than Kobe.

Is KG better than LeBron because he has more championships?

[AlexBrady]

Re: The Best 'High Schooler' ever to play in the NBA?

The only true franchise players on this list are Kobe Bryant, Lebron, and Dwight Howard (assuming he advances his post game). Moses was too selfish to be a franchise player. Kemp (for all his amazing talents) lacked the 'special something' to push his team over the top. McGrady always has been soft. Stoudamire is in it for himself. Garnett and O'Neal are chokers in the end game but Garnett has always been a much better defender and traffic cop. Rashard Lewis dissapeared during the NBA Finals and hasn't been found yet.