Kobe Bryant is the best player in the entire NBA right now. In 2009 we have all since his greatness and even the fans that dislike Bryant have to admit that there is nothing he cannot do.

He has proven himself beyond all reasonable doubt that he is the closest a player can ever get to Michael Jordan. He has fully distinguished himself among his peers and after this season any argument that he needs Shaquille ONeal to win a championship needs to be squashed.

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.

Several years ago his playmaking skills were in question. People complained that he failed to get his teammates involved. He was a lot like Allen Iverson. He could score a lot of points but never made his teammates better. Well, thats over now. He has not only shown himself to be a willing passer later on in his career but an exceptional one at that. His court vision has been amazing the last two years. He now looks to set up his teammates even when he can easily score at will. Its a mark of a true leader.

He has always been a good defender and rebounded. This has never been a weak point for him. Considering his offensive responsibilities he is a great defender. He always dives for loose balls and never gives up on any plays. He and Fisher solidify any back court.

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.

I for one am no fan of the Lakers. In fact I loathe them. Everything seems to always go perfect for the city of Angels. They always get great players for nothing and the dice always seem to be in their favor. Nevertheless they always make for good basketball games and have developed the second best player ever to walk the earth. At this point in time it just cannot be denied.