If the Los Angeles Lakers can somehow pull off a title run this year, Kobe Bryant will be considered (among those who know the game) one of the top 5 players to ever play the game!

You heard Jason Terry talk about it earlier in the week, about Kobe Bryant winning a title without Shaq. Taking this young and inexperienced team to a title would be by far Kobe Bryant’s greatest accomplishment. Jason Terry, predicted also like I am that if Kobe Bryant leads this team to a title this year, you can place him up there with the top 5 NBA players of all time!

This has been the most competitive conference (the western conference) in NBA history. The Lakers were riddled with injury all season long before making the Pau Gasol trade. And yet the Lakers still ended up being the best team in the West.

The Defending Champs Stand in the Way
Kobe Bryant is going to however lead his team through the defending champs and perhaps the team of the decade. But doing so will only strengthen his case even more as one of the best of all time. This is a Spurs team that a Shaquille O’neal team could not defeat over the past several years. A Kobe Bryant team will be different.

The only All-Star on the Roster
One of the most amazing and overlooked facts, is the fact that Kobe Bryant is the only current All-Star player on the Lakers roster. Winning a title with a roster with only 1 All-Star player would truly be an accomplishment.

If Kobe Bryant can pull off a championship this year, you can expect Kobe Bryant to win at least 2 more in his career. Still only 30 years of age, Kobe has some great years ahead of him. Expect many Kobe Bryant haters to start to become fans. Just like it was with Michael Jordan as he started winning championships. The excuse will be gone that Kobe Bryant could not win a championship without Shaq.

And my last prediction of all. Kobe Bryant’s game will rise to another level (believe it possible or not) if he wins a championship this season. And that my friends, is a scary possibility for the rest of the league!