Kobe Bryant built his reputation on being a fearless warrior unafraid of the grind. LeBron James arrival in the place Kobe called home (Los Angeles) brought about much insecurity and doubt among Bryant's fan base initially. While James and Bryant are two of the NBA's all-time greats, they approach the game differently. Bryant would battle through any means necessary to get a win, while James navigates on cruise control until mashing the gas is necessary.
It's why when James passed Michael Jordan on the all-time leading scorers' list this week, the wheels may have churned in Los Angeles on the reception of the fanbase when (or if) he passes Bryant. James is currently 1,332 points behind the Laker legend, so it's a chance next season he will pass it. When James passed Jordan, the arena took the time to acknowledge it but didn't roll out a parade for the Akron, Ohio product. James displayed emotion but outside of that, that was all she wrote: the fans acknowledged it and moved on.
So if this moment happens next season in which James passes Bryant, how should the Laker fan base react?
We all love to live and judge things from the past tense. Chris Brown or Justin Timberlake never had a chance or will ever reach Michael Jackson status according to the masses. Same goes for the late legends The Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac. Whether J. Cole, Drake or Kendrick Lamar, neither will get the respect that B.I.G. or Tupac received until they are older or perhaps deceased, too.
This logic transcends into sports as well. Which is why some are still begrudged to place Tom Brady as the greatest above Joe Montana. Or believe that LeBron James is better than Michael Jordan. As usual, history always repeats itself.
In James' case, James eclipsing Bryant may heighten the emotional pull of the already-devoted Laker/Bryant fanbase. James and the Lakers have fell well-short of their expectations this season. While most Laker fans could generally not expect an NBA title, they did expect the Lakers to compete.
James was offset by an injury from a Christmas Day matchup against the Golden State Warriors and the Lakers never recovered. They currently sit 6.5 games out from the eighth spot in the playoffs. For a fanbase that's so high on Bryant, this season added fuel to the fire for their dedication to Bryant on how he played the game.
Of course, James shouldn't hang his head when he looks back at his career. He's a three-time NBA champion and four-time MVP: his accolades rival or perhaps surpass Bryant's achievements. But this season their approach to the game and leadership made the divide between the players more evident. James makes sure he stands out, while Bryant leads his team, but stands with. James is appreciated for what he's done, but Bryant is loved.
So how should the Laker fanbase react to James if he passes Bryant? With respect. There's more than one way to skin a cat, and James approach to the cat obviously paid off. His method also trailblazed the way for NBA players to better take care of their bodies. No, James isn't Bryant and probably never will be, but his ascension up the scoring ranks is an achievement that should be recognized.
But all of that depends on whether or not James is finally accepted in Lakerland. A big part of that comes with winning, and as we are witnessing with this season, will take time. But, if next season is better for James and his Lakers, then passing Kobe won't be such a bitter taste in Lakers fans mouth after all. Because Kobe personified winning and what it took to win. All it will take is for James to behave in the same manner.
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