One of the reasons why so many Americans like to watch sports is because there are so many stories of people who overcame problems or even physical handicaps to do great things.
In the NBA, many have praised the story of LeBron James, who is 20 years into an amazing career that has seen him win four world championships, four regular season MVPs, and two Olympic gold medals while becoming the NBA’s all-time top career scorer.
Not too long ago, Kobe Bryant had a transcendent career of his own. He played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 seasons and became a worldwide star.
Some people have said that James’ story, from his youth to the present, is the best in the history of basketball. But Kendrick Perkins, a former big man who now works for ESPN, thinks Bryant’s story is even better.
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As a member of the Boston Celtics, Perkins got to play against Bryant in the NBA Finals in 2008 and 2010. This gave him a chance to see part of Bryant’s story up close.
Bryant and James’s stories are as different as apples and oranges. Bryant grew up with a lot of advantages because his father was a former NBA player. This let him focus on his skill from the time he was a toddler and gave him a comfortable upbringing that most Americans can only dream of.
He even spent some of his formative years in Italy, which gave him a wider view of the world and helped him learn the basics of the game.
Even before 2003, many of his fans disliked him very much or even hated him for many different reasons. These reasons went from what people thought was his arrogance to the fαct that he had so much success at such a young age, like when he won three straight NBA titles in his early 20s.
Fans today might not remember or know that the Black Mamba used to be the most hated sport in America.
James, on the other hand, was raised by a single mother and came from a poor family. He was more athletic than almost everyone in history. Because of this, he got so much attention that he could have caused a Category 5 storm before he turned 18.
But he has lived up to the hype, and even though he is 38 and has a lot of wear and tear, he could still add to his impressive list of accomplishments in the coming years.
What kind of story do you like best? Overcoming problems as a professional to reach even higher heights and realize one’s destiny, or growing up poor and hoping to be the best thing since sliced bread?