Los Angeles Lakers fans won’t be happy that Paul Pierce compared Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the late great Kobe Bryant in the opening episode of the Starting 5 on Netflix. The Hall of Famer said the reigning MVP is like a “Kobe low-key”. Pierce noted their shiftiness, footwork, fakes, and mid-range mastery as to why he was like the 18-time All-Star, but LA fans know the comps are extremely premature.
If anyone knows, it should be Pierce. Kobe won five rings during Pierce’s career, including the Lakers defeating his Celtics in the NBA Finals in 2010. Bryant is LA’s GOAT and one of the five best players in NBA history.
SGA has a long way to go to match that resume. The 27-year-old just won his first championship and MVP honors. He needs four rings to match Kobe and 15 more All-Star appearances. Even without the longevity, SGA produced one legendary season in his first seven. Kobe was already a 3-time NBA champion by that stage.
Lakers fans can’t believe Paul Pierce compared SGA to Kobe Bryant
LA supporters will never forget Kobe. They hope Luka Doncic turns into a fraction of the superstar Bryant was for the Lakers. Kobe played his entire 20-year NBA career with one franchise and was legendary. Nobody could stop him, which helped Bryant win even when his teammates were subpar.
The Lakers made the playoffs in 16 of the first 17 seasons with Kobe on their roster. They only missed in 2005. It included five championships, seven trips to the NBA Finals, and an annual realistic shot at winning the title. Bryant was an insane worker and pushed everyone around him to be great.
SGA cannot match that legacy. He has made the playoffs four times in seven years, but the Thunder weren’t serious title challengers until last season. That takes nothing away from Gilgeous-Alexander’s game. He was a deserving MVP and led the Thunder to a championship. Full credit to him, but one magical season doesn’t put him in the Kobe conversation.
SGA clearly took moves from Kobe and Michael Jordan to add to his game. It has helped him become an unstoppable scorer. If he keeps it up over the next decade, fans will seriously be comparing him to Bryant, but it is far too soon to make that leap in 2025.
Kobe Bryant is the Lakers' GOAT, and thousands of players have tried to model their games after the Hall of Famer. Gilgeous-Alexander is leading the reigning champions. If he can turn the Thunder into a dynasty, LA fans will cool off. There is still much work to be done to reach those heights.
The Starting 5 on Netflix features SGA, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Jaylen Brown, and Tyrese Haliburton as they navigate the 2024-25 season. The documentary gives an inside look at their lives away from the court. LeBron James was featured on season one, and the new season is still a must-watch for Lakers fans. Even if Paul Pierce tried to ruin it for them.