Now I'm no Kobe fan but i will say he is a great Laker but for Shaq to declare he is probably the greatest Laker shows how big of a heart Shaq has as oppose to Kobe, I don't think Kobe would ever say that!

http://sports.yahoo.com/sportsminute

Shaq is trying to be magnanimous.

I'm a Laker fan and lukewarm on Kobe because of the whole fallout, though I'm much more sympathetic to him than I used to be (in large part due to Shaq).

I still think Magic is, and will be, the greatest Laker ever. He beat the best in what was arguably the greatest single decade in NBA history. The '83 Sixers, '80's Celtics, '89 Pistons . . . all great to all-time great teams. Showtime stood above them all. And Magic was the reason why.

Interesting, both Magic & Kobe benefited from having a center in the low post during their championship runs.

In Magic's case, Kareen for all five runs.

In Kobe's case, Shaq for 3 runs, then Pau (a foward-center) for the other 2 runs.

TonyVanDam said:

Interesting, both Magic & Kobe benefited from having a center in the low post during their championship runs.

In Magic's case, Kareen for all five runs.

In Kobe's case, Shaq for 3 runs, then Pau (a foward-center) for the other 2 runs.

Agreed. Very much so.

But before Magic arrived, the Lakers were a legendary franchise. When he arrived, they were loaded with talent. But in the 10 years that followed, he defined the Lakers, AND exorcised the Celtics demons. Twice. And he beat J's Sixers and Isaiah's Pistons along the way too.

Kobe arrived in LA under very similar circumstances, and he's a notch above Magic in terms of ability. But by accident of birth he didn't play in an era as dominant as Magic's. AND . . . Magic may have run off a coach, and even another star, but he never helped cause a split that resulted in the biggest wasted opportunity in sports history. He's got much more career baggage than Magic; so even if he did manage to win six-plus rings, I don't put him ahead of Magic.

Magic is the Lakers.

[Edited 12/4/11 13:59pm]