NBA

[bodiddley]

Bo, what all-time great wasn't the man on his own team?

Kareem?  Stockton?  Kobe, until recently.

But who's to say that it won't become LeBron's team and he won't be da man.
LBJ might be the man by dint of excellence or by default.
Wade is reckless and injury prone.

If you play great and set incredible records, you are an all-time great.
Who knows how this will play out?
LeBJ's leg might fall off before Christmas for all we know.

[rembee]

Kareem?  Stockton?  Kobe, until recently.

Kareem won a chip (or two?) in Milwaukee and was already considered a great before joining the Lake show (where I don't think he won a championship before Magic.  Could be wrong).  Would have been the equivalent of James winning a ring in Cleveland first before going to Miami, which I think would have changed the view of his legacy considerably.

Stockton was great, one of the all time great point-guards, but no one would consider him on a list of Best Ever.

Kobe, of course, has two championships minus Shaq. 

But who's to say that it won't become LeBron's team and he won't be da man.

Well, that’s what I'm saying.  I think it will still be Wade's team. 

But I've been wrong before.

[Gintaras]

Stockton was great, one of the all time great point-guards, but no one would consider him on a list of Best Ever.

http://www.nba.com/history/50greatest.html

[bodiddley]

Kareem got a title in his 2nd season with Oscar.
Otherwise his team did very well, lost one other Final appearance.
In his 6th and final year, the Bucks finished under .500.
Left town at 28.
Not too different than LBJ, except 2 finals appearances and one win.
Of course, LBJ started at 19, so wasn't as dominant as Kareem from Year 1.

Dr. J lost in 3 NBA Finals as the Man.
Then won one title with Moses Malone as the Man.

I just don't think there is only one path to glory.
Maybe we have a new paradigm.
I think it's interesting that players are calling the shots and no longer pawns of the owners.

[Gintaras]

More recently, the teaming of Shaq (at his peak) and Kobe was a rather blatant power play, as was enticing Shaq to Miami, Phoenix and Cleveland, but alas the big guy seems at the end of his rope.  These kinds of pairings, or in Miami's case trippling, are not unusual.  Again, it was the big song and dance LBJ made out of his free agency that called so much attention to his decision.

[Kam]

Shaq didnt come to LA to play w Kobe.

Having a big 2 or big 3 isn't unusual.

Colluding to create one is.

[whiskeypriest]

Boy, it looks like Lorenzen Wright has decided to go swimming with Bison Dele.  Hope not.