A lot of people have taken Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan as their Greatest Of All Time for many valid reasons. For Los Angeles Clippers star James Harden, though, the late Kobe Bryant takes that spot for him and not His Airness.
Bryant first entered the NBA as the Charlotte Hornets 13th overall pick in the 1996 Draft, the same class that produced Ray Allen, Allen Iverson, and Steve Nash, among others. Shortly after, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac and stayed with the franchise ever since.
Four years after he was drafted, Phil Jackson was hired to coach him and NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal. This resulted in their first three-peat together from 1999 to 2002. However, the latter was traded by the front office to the Miami Heat in 2004, ending their partnership on the court.
Not one to shrink from a challenge, Bryant reinvented himself and made a total commitment to winning no matter what the circumstance. This resulted in a pair of championships in 2009 and 2010 with Pau Gasol as his running mate. In turn, the late Lakers legend influenced a whole generation of NBA players through his dedication and utmost passion for the game, including James Harden himself.
Los Angeles Clippers Star James Harden Says Kobe Bryant Is His GOAT, Not Michael Jordan
Just recently, Harden shared a lot of his thoughts in an interview, including who his GOAT is. In a video shared by HoopsHype on X, the Clippers star revealed that Bryant is his inspiration to play ball.
James Harden picks Kobe Bryant as his GOAT: “There was only one person who made fall in love with the game, and that’s Kobe.” pic.twitter.com/vNtqPCTsnH
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) June 4, 2024
Although Jordan has the better resume of the two, Bryant stands out due to how utterly dedicated he is to winning at all costs. A good example was when he sank two free throws after injuring his Achilles to help the Lakers win over the Golden State Warriors back in 2014. That moment, along with so many other iconic games, has elevated Bryant to an untouchable status among fans.
Harden’s revelation isn’t something new as most players these days have grown up watching Bryant rather than Jordan. In any case, the late Black Mamba is greatly missed and his impact on the game is still felt to this day after his untimely passing in 2020.
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