In reading an article, Wade stated that in the post-Jordan era, from a strict and essential perspective, only LeBron James and Kobe Bryant can truly be considered as superstars. In my mind, James and Kobe are on par with Jordan as historical top-tier figures.
I completely agree with this viewpoint. From his rookie days to the present, James has given fans a sense of dominating the world. Before the age of 35, James was capable of anything, performing various tomahawk dunks, breakthroughs, and high-difficulty blocks, essentially able to soar through the air and move freely. However, since turning 35, he has indeed been gradually declining, with a less efficient scoring rate than before. Yet, his assists have been increasing, averaging as high as 9 per game this season. To date, James has won a total of 4 championships, 4 MVP awards, 4 Finals MVP awards, and is the all-time leading scorer in history. These achievements are the most impressive, and currently, he is the only player in the league to have achieved such statistics.
Let's talk about influence. Without James in the NBA Finals, viewership rates drop below 60 percent. However, when James is in the Finals, NBA viewership rates soar above 75 percent, and even regular-season viewership rates are high. Moreover, he has consistently invested in basketball projects for charity and owns his own basketball school, providing free tuition and accommodation for children who dream of playing basketball. He has donated a staggering amount of approximately 134milliontocharity,whileearningonly237 million in his 15 years in the NBA. This clearly shows that James is a respected superstar.
Kobe, from the start of his career in the 96 season until his retirement in the 16 season, played for 20 seasons during which he presented fans with numerous exciting games. He evolved from an inconspicuous role player to the face of the league, embodying a true rags-to-riches story. Throughout his career, Kobe won 5 championships, 2 Finals MVP awards, and 1 regular-season MVP award. In Kobe's mind, championships were always his ultimate pursuit. Recalling various thrilling games, Kobe's moments play out vividly in our minds.
The spirit Kobe embodied has undoubtedly influenced an entire generation. During their youthful years, he provided them with the power of a role model, influencing their growth. As they became pillars of society, they shone in their respective fields, and through them, Kobe's spirit was passed on to the next generation, which is why Kobe's influence remains so immense today. Additionally, it cannot be denied that Kobe's ability to influence a generation was also due to the NBA's commercial star-making operations. In each era, the NBA shapes a superstar to influence a generation, thereby continuously expanding its own influence. This is also why the NBA surpasses other major American leagues overseas.