Kobe Bryant is the second best player since Michael Jordan to ever play the game. There is no single player in the entire NBA that has been able to accomplish what he has accomplished. He puts fear into the eyes of his opponents team and coaches and will torch even the best known defensive players the league can throw at him.

As of 2009 he has no equal, not even LeBron James. Care to know why?

There is not a more dangerous shooter in the entire league. When he gets hot he is able to get any shoot he wants off and with an extremely high percentage. I have watched opposing teams double and triple team him to no avail. I have seen him make the most difficult shots imaginable look like kids play. I have seen him score 19 points against double coverage in one quarter. When Kobe Bryant is one there is no stopping him. Just this year some of the best defensive players have guarded him and he was still able to consistently get his shot off and with high success. Shane Battier, Ron Artest, Dahntay Jones, and more recently Michael Pietrus are all excellent perimeter defenders who have had little to no success guarding Kobe Bryant in these playoffs. He has completely shredded them.

Bryant can get to the rim whenever he wants. He is not the slasher he used to be. Kobe Bryant used to live at the rim especially during the playoffs. He shot is so reliable and consistent now that he does not have to do that as often. Make no mistake that at certain times he is certainly able. He has all the acrobatic moves in his arsenal. The fact that he does not have to rely on driving to the basket as much as in the past has probably saved his career. Jordan developed a more reliable shot that saved his body as well. But getting to the rim and finishing his still his strong point. If you get up close to him to contest his jump shoot than he will drive right past you and end of with a dunk and your big man in foul trouble. Oh, and he is an excellent free throw shooter.

Kobe has solved one of his perceived weakest points of his game in years past and that is his play making ability. He averages six assists a game and has proved himself to be unselfish with the basketball which was not always the case before. His court vision is amazing for a shooting guard. He always is looking to pass throughout the game and take over only when he feels his team needs him to be more aggressive. He has really come a long way in this regard.

His rebounding and defense is top notch especially when you consider his offensive responsibilities. He has never been a slouch on defense since he came into the league back in 1996. Say what you want about Kobe but he never gives up on a play and has always defended well. He is the reason why the Lakers won three championships in the early 2000s. The Lakers were a great defensive team and Kobe paired with Derek Fisher was a big part of that.

Kobe Bryant came into the league from high school and all he had was his work ethic and raw athleticism. He has molded and worked on each part of his game over the years. Give the Lakers organization a lot of credit for scouting, developing, and encouraging Kobe. They have been great matches and have brought basketball back to life.

Kobe Bryant has proven himself. He can and has won championships without Shaq. Any discussion not putting Bryant right behind Michael Jordan is dumb. What more can he do. He is the best player playing the game since Air Jordan and will continue to be up there until James, Wade, or someone else takes it away from him.