Well, that's not given though Hafta..... Lakers could say thing, if Magic had not retired Coz of his HIV illness, Lakers would have won more championships, and thus limiting Chicago's chances....Truth of the matter is, Bulls had a nice run, and they won 6.......and this topic is in no way degrading MJ's performance.....It is just a mere attempt to realize how good Kobe is.....Becoz of the Colorado incident, and the collision of triangle Ego among Shaq, Phil and Kobe, its only Kobe who has been critisized, and that too UNFAIRLY ! I think it was Shaq who broke the Lakers...otherwise, when he went to Miami in 04, he said he had high respect for Phil Jackson. Recently, Shaq called out Phil and says his relationship with Phil is over with...simply because Phil said Shaq was the laziest player when he was with the Lakers......what does that tell you?? I think the legacy of a player is not fully appreciated until he/she retires, and so is the case with respect to Kobe. Just like we don't compare Magic against MJ, when its all said and done, Kobe will be in a spot of his own...and other players will be compared against him, not vise versa....