2006 NBA Champions: Kobe Bryant

Kobe! Kobe! He's our man! If he can't do it, nobody can!

You know I never was a fan of Kobe...

Maybe it was because of his school-boy nature or his shiny veneer, but throughout the first 4 - 5 seasons of his career he was a non-sequitur. He was a decent player on a great team, but to me he was a nobody. Even moreso because of his incessant quest to fill the shoes of MJ as the best player in the NBA while still dissassociating himself and his success from MJ in public opinion.

But then it happened...

No not that fateless day in Montana, or was it Colorado (I get them mixed up you know?). It was after the '01 - '02 and the Lakers won their third straight title with Shaq and Kobe (Kobe & Shaq) and people knew, though they still hadn't admitted it that Kobe was good. In fact he was better than good he was the best. Now that is an arguable statement but you had the bandwagooneers ready to travel across country on the 'Shaq Train', but everyone knew in the back of their heads could Shaq have done this by himself? The answer was no.

Now Kobe as a personality was no where near as likeable as Shaq -- and I know it seems as if I am rambling but bear with me, it a blog -- with his over-confident 'my daddy got me into the league' attitude and a 'sport-boy' demeanor to boot. You soon saw Kobe fall into a swagger fueled by self-confidence, and a hidden drive that made me start this blog. That drive is what I like to characterize as 'The True Point Guard'.

You see, Kobe hadn't fallen into the bullsh!t that most ballers fall into believing in the team to carry you over the hump, even my boy AI had been deceived, falling in love with Larry Brown while continuing down a self-destructive path that will most likely leave him without a championship. Kobe had begun to shine a light similar to Michael Jordan -- minus the self-deprecation -- the 'True Point Guard' mentality; where he actually believed and knew that he could take the whole struggle on his back with or without a 7'1" 350 lb center.

But the point of this post is: Is Kobe the last True Point Guard in the league? Shaq has never been the one who felt he could do it himself slothfully deferring to his teammates instead of focusing his skills to excel to a level no player has risen to. McGrady, who will shut down quicker that a '81 Yugo isn't even in question. Kevin Garnett, soon to be the quintessential dullard of the league may never figure it out. Iverson who seems to be content with being another passing superstar of the likes of Barkley, Ewing, and Wilkins. Duncan who may have what it takes but will he actually do what is necessary to dominate the sport. And then there is good ole LeBron who may just be the next candidate for a TPG position, but may be more coddled than any player in the league (he's in Cleveland, the kid got a Hummer while he was still in high-school).

But we have Kobe. He has taken the steps to not only put himself in the position to become the sole leader of a team likely to win something, anything, but at the same time be made a pariah if he wins nothing.

And I think Kobe is fine with that, and so am I.

Ladies and gentlemen! Your 2006 NBA Champions: Kobe Bryant!