“I hope to see him there. I think he deserves to be there. He’s going to retire as one of the NBA’s greatest players.
“He’s done, even beyond his play on the floor, he’s played as great a role as anyone in international expansion of the game. Right now, I’d say in China, there’s still Kobe and everyone else. I think because he was such a hit there when he was there with the national team for the Beijing Olympics, and I know he’s made so many trips to China over the course of his career in the NBA. I think the same thing in Indiana and Africa and Latin America and of course Europe, where he grew up.
“He’s just one of those great global ambassadors of the NBA. And I hope in the same way that Dikembe Mutombo now is a global ambassador of the NBA that we find a way to keep Kobe involved. So, we’ll what the fans and the coaches decide, and then, we’ll go from there.”
I'd have to agree with Kelly Dwyer that "deserves" isn't really the right word, given his play this season. It's appropriate in the context of his career achievements of course, so I'd kind of agree that "belongs" is more the correct word, but nitpicking the terminology aside, I get the argument for Kobe having one last send-off at this year's All-Star game.
As noted in Dwyer's article, Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are the obvious parallels here, though both were performing better than Kobe is right now. I don't think it would be inappropriate if Kobe wasn't selected for the All-Star game, based on the fact that other players this season are far more worthy of the nod. Consider that Shaquille O'Neal is also an all-time great and future Hall of Famer, but as his career wound down and he was no longer performing at an All-Star level, he wasn't making the team based on what he'd done in the past, and what he'd meant to the league. Then again, had he not retired with one season left his contract, or had he announced his retirement in a similar manner to Kobe, perhaps it would've been considered, too.
I'm not as cynical towards the All-Star game as a lot of people seem to be, and despite its problems, I do think it still has a prestige and tradition to uphold. Within that tradition though, there's room for sentiment, and tributes. If Kobe does get named to the All-Star team, I for one won't pout and declare it RUINED FOREVER!, but it's going to stand out as a very generous "legacy" selection. When it comes down to it, I feel the spot should go to someone more deserving of it based on their play right now, but if it comes to pass, so be it. As I said, I do believe there is room for sentiment in the All-Star festivities. It'd be really on the nose if they gave him the All-Star MVP after a terrible game, though.
