Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships from 2000-2002, and their loss in the 2004 NBA finals led to O'Neal's departure from the team, in the following the 2003-2004 season. Bryant had to rebuild his image while becoming the cornerstone of the Lakers. He led the NBA in scoring during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons, setting numerous scoring records in the process. In 2006, Bryant scored a career-high gaining eighty-one points against the Toronto Raptors, the second highest points scored in a single game in NBA history; because of this achievement he was given the Most Valuable Player Award. After losing in the 2008 NBA Finals, Bryant led the Lakers to two consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010 and was named NBA Finals MVP on both
I promised myself never to let it happen again. The next day I turned on the T.V and to my surprise the Raptors were playing. A wonderful situation to test my new “will power”. Just then my evil sister walked by, this time with one of her girlfriends. I recognized her, the best female basketball player that played for Jarvis.
Geraldine Cortez Mrkt 649 Prof. Perttula Word Count: 3,332 (Don’t forget to watch out for breaks!) The Air Jordan Legacy Air Jordan also known as Jordans was first established in 1985 by the basketball player Michael Jordan. “Basketball legend Michael Jordan was one of the greatest sportsmen in history, and his superhuman jumping ability inspired one of the most coveted sub-brands ever: The Nike Air Jordan” (Hogg). Michael Jordan first entered the league in 1985 being selected to join the Chicago Bulls. Michael Jordan had a remarkable beginning when joining the draft because he excelled in basketball in college and in the Olympics in 1984.
James and Bryant are extremely great basketball players who have some challenges yet also excelled in different ways. LeBron James was born in Akron, Ohio on December 30, 1984. He was the only child of Gloria James, who gave birth to him when she was only sixteen years old. Gloria struggled to provide for LeBron and this caused them to move several times during his childhood. LeBron lived with a foster family for a couple years during
The Heat won the series and went on to the NBA Finals to face LeBron’s good friend Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both Durant and LeBron did not have a championship at this time, which made it even more of a competition to win a championship. In game four, LeBron was taken off the court because he was experiencing leg cramps with five minutes left on the clock. Even then, noticing his team needed him LeBron stumbled back on the court and shot his last 3 pointer of the night in order to take the lead and win the game. In game five, he had his first triple double of the post season to help take the series and his first NBA Championship.
“It was a fine moment, standing there sweaty in my T-shirt and bunkers, with this beautiful woman hugging me, and me remembering her spearmint kisses that first night on the basketball bus.” This quote is after Perry helps Tracy, a young girl who was driving too fast around Jabowski’s Corner and was in fatal shape. Perry and the rest of the EMTs did as much as they possibly could until a helicopter came to take Tracy to a larger hospital thirty minutes away. The locals could only do so much, and then it was time to let the “professionals” do the rest. After the accident Perry walked past a long row of cars that were backed up due to the accident. As Perry walks thinking to himself about what just happened a lady jumps out of her car and yells Michael’s name.
The two players have many similarities and differences when it comes to the sport of basket ball. Players have earned basketball finals MVP, they both have been NBA rookie of the year, and both athletes play the same position in the game (small forward). Michael has never lost an NBA finals championship game, Lebron has lost 1 finals championship
Kobe was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and lived in the upper class suburbs on the outskirts of Philadelphia. His father was an NBA player himself for a couple of years until Kobe and his family moved to Italy so that his father could play professional basketball there. Kobe lived in Italy for a number of years until his family moved back to Philadelphia after Kobe’s’ father retired from the game of basketball. Unlike Jordan, Kobe was an instant starter as a freshman for his high school team and ended up winning a State Championship his senior year. Kobe was so good that he decided not to go to college and instead went straight to the NBA after his final year of high school.
He was able to come back late that season and in the playoffs scored a record 63 points in a first-round game against the Celtics. The Bulls were swept by Larry Bird and the Celtics, but Michael averaged 43.7 points per game in the series. Again Michael and the Bulls were swept out of the playoffs by the Celtics in the 1986-87 season, but the front office of the Bulls had finally started drafting desperately needed role players for their young star. Jordan won every major award including MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and All-Star MVP in the 1987-88 season, but would fall short to Coach Chuck Daly and the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs, and would do again the following two seasons. Coach Daly designed a game plan known as the “Jordan Rules”, which called for playing him aggressive and physical, also double-teaming his as often as possible.
He has become one of the most recognized people in the entire world. (http://www.africanaonline.com/michael_jordan.htm) Already having his popularity soar in the United States since being drafted into the National Basketball Association, Michael’s worldwide popularity began at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. He and his teammates were dubbed the “Dream Team,” as all of the players were NBA all-stars and destined hall-of-famers. Coming off his second consecutive NBA championship, the world began to take notice of his talents and marketability. His second trip to the Olympics would be his last Olympic performance and undoubtedly his greatest.