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"No. It was inevitable."

This was Kobe Bryant's response when recently asked if it will mean anything to him to pass Shaquille's O'Neal place on the all-time scoring list. In some ways, this can be taken as little more than a matter-of-fact statement. Bryant's been putting up 20-30 points a night throughout the overwhelming majority of his career, a campaign now 16 seasons strong. Sustained excellence for so long does in fact make these achievements feel like a matter of "when" rather than "if." In that respect, Kobe was presenting the facts, and little more.

But contextually, this milestone represents more than just yet another player exhaling Bryant's dust as he climbs the list. Passing Shaq was inevitable in Bryant's mind, and on every level, before he was old enough to drink a beer. And this doesn't just apply to The Diesel, but any other past or future NBA Hall of Famer. It's a mindset that defines Kobe. It also famously helped lay the foundation for a push-and-pull between the big man and wunderkind respectively imported and drafted by Jerry West as championship run building blocks. This vision resulted in three consecutive titles, but not without enough infighting and drama to fuel the entire run of "The Young and the Restless."

At the core of their issues was a mutual belief in themselves as the Lakers' best player. This consistently divided front made it seemingly impossible for fans and media to accept them as a duo of equal importance, even in the face of spellbinding teamwork and the obvious ways they complemented each other. Similar to today's political landscape or "Aniston vs. Jolie," taking sides became a national -- and seemingly mandatory -- pastime. And most fans and media jumped on "Team O'Neal." Shaq was older (if not necessarily more mature and certainly every bit a pain in the butt as Kobe could be). He was more established. He was also a big man like no other the league had ever seen, while Kobe was the latest wing player forced to play "Is the next MJ?" Phil Jackson typically -- and publicly -- sided with O'Neal as a means of maintaining order in a veteran locker room leaning in that direction to begin with. And yes, the Lakers' offense was in fact built around Shaq.

Do these factors offset entirely how Kobe's presence created more freedom for O'Neal to operate, and countless games closed out by the younger, springer guard with the more reliable free throw stroke? In the real world, of course not. But the world of sports debates are typically framed in black and white terms, which is their beauty and curse. On one hand, "pick one or other other" naturally lends itself to passion, the essential ingredient to every great barroom or barbershop discussion. On the other, nuance, gray areas and context typically have no use here. The goal is to make an "all or nothing" case, and more often than not, Kobe received bupkis.

By the time the time O'Neal was shipped to Miami, the narrative of those championship teams "belonging to Shaq" was basically written in stone. Even with three rings decorating his fingers, Kobe was being asked to prove he could win a championship. And back-to-back titles as a team's undisputed leader still hasn't resulted in popular sentiment awarding Bryant greater "possession" of his first three. Even as someone who blurred the lines between first and second option more than any player in recent NBA history, Kobe remains the "sidekick" in most storybooks. For some, he's just short of a dude along for the ride. Narratives, if allowed to stand for long enough, have a way of becoming history, even if the math is a little fuzzy.

But here's the thing. Even if history persists where those teams "belonged" to Shaq, Kobe owns something larger and perhaps just as impressive.

The Laker franchise.

To whatever degree it can be owned by a player, Kobe does, and more so than anybody besides perhaps West or Magic Johnson. By the time Bryant hangs up his sneakers for good, he'll possibly end up the most "Laker" Laker of any great who ever wore the uniform. And there are a lotta greats who've been a part of this organization. Including Shaquille O'Neal, whose career in purple and gold was pretty exceptional. His number will eventually, and deservedly, be retired, and his time in L.A. will never be forgotten. But his Laker career nonetheless won't resonate in franchise history the same way Kobe's undoubtedly will. That's something Bryant can take to the bank. Even if Shaq gets more credit until the end of time for those three championships, he'll never be remembered the same way as Bryant, despite his best efforts to dominate their co-opted spotlight.

In this sense, it's fitting Bryant passed O'Neal in the first half of tonight's game, the go-ahead bucket a long catch-and-shoot deuce off Matt Barnes' feed. Bryant was never big on waiting behind O'Neal to begin forging his iconic career. Should anybody have expected a leisurely pace while passing him in career achievement?

Why drag out the inevitable any longer than necessary, you know?

It's been a tough 24 hours for milestones recorded by Moses Malone. Monday, his record for consecutive double-doubles since the NBA-ABA merger (51) was eclipsed by Kevin Love. The Wolves forward managed the same tally in one season, while Malone stretched his feat over the course of two. Tuesday, Malone found himself lapped by Kobe Bryant after contact from Joe Johnson beyond the arc sent The Mamba to the line for three free throws, all good.

And with that, another rung on the ladder reached.

For Kobe, the connection to Malone -- who played for the Sixers of Bryant's boyhood backyard -- is obvious. Before Bryant turned heads in 1996 with his jump straight from Lower Merion High School to the Lakers by way of Vlade Divacs' rights, Malone demonstrated such a move truly feasible. Yes, Kobe was the first high school guard drafted, but Kevin Garnett had been taken the year before him, Tracy McGrady the year after, plus five more youngsters before the decade concluded. The following decade began with Darius Miles taken third overall.

Kobe's situation was hardly commonplace, but the wheels of a revolution were already in motion. When Malone braved these largely uncharted waters in 1974 upon being selected in the third round of the ABA draft by the Utah Stars, he might as well have been from another planet.

Similar to the way Jerry West famously insisted on acquiring Bryant by hook or crook as a high schooler, the Stars brass had to aggressively work to land the services of Malone, who'd actually signed a letter of intent with the University of Maryland. Safe to say, the relentless pursuit was worth the effort. In both cases, effort was also never on short supply.

As a 17-year old wunderkind, Kobe's "eat, sleep and play basketball" attitude, plus his unfazed reaction to the NBA world, threw Laker veterans for a loop. Malone similarly dove headfirst into basketball, and let it be immediately known he wasn't about to get pushed around by his older teammates.

From a 1974 Sports Illustrated article by Pat Putnam:

"There is the matter of toughness," says [Stars coach Bucky] Buckwalter, grinning. "They know he's young and a lot of guys have really laid it on him, trying to intimidate him. Elbows, knees, grabbing, shoving, the whole bag. And he's given it right back. That kid doesn't back up an inch. I knew what was going to happen, so I told our guys to go after him right from the first day of practice. We had to find out. They used to kid him by calling him 'the rookie.' Then one day after a rough workout he walked into the locker room and told them, 'You guys can keep on calling me a rookie, but I'm the toughest damn rookie you ever saw.' "

As a 19-year old barely removed from the halls of Petersburg High School in Virginia, Malone's teeth as an all-time great scorer were cut in slow form. Putnam's article acknowledged the rookie's talent, but mostly on defense and the glass. Whatever points scored took a back seat as a priority and, from the author's vantage point, a skill set:

"[Malone] is scoring, but not all that often, and hardly ever when he is away from the basket. His hands could be better and he does not always remember to move on offense, which means he will play whole halves and not touch the ball offensively more than four times."

When Kobe Bryant passed Hakeem Olajuwon last January on the all-time scoring list, it wasn't just a climb up the ladder. It marked the start of quest to slay giants. With the exception of a certain two-guard compared to Bryant roughly every six seconds, the remaining targets are all big men. Kareem. Malone (Karl). Wilt. Shaq. Malone (Moses). And now Elvin Hayes, brushed aside by a floater banked off glass at Nick Collison's expense.

Two all-time greats, with commonalities beyond their ability to fill up a bucket. Like Bryant, Hayes was no stranger to controversy over the course of his career, and according to his NBA.com bio, several issues ran parallel with problems plaguing Kobe at some point.

Hayes had a horrible reputation for clashing with coaches (including Tex Winter, who certainly knows a thing or two about Kobe's strong willed nature). Upon getting traded to the Washington Bullets, his relationship with Wes Unseld (who beat Hayes for 1969 Rookie of the Year honors) was productive enough to secure a 1978 championship, but the two didn't get along away from the hardwood. Kinda reminds you of two L.A. superstars between 1996 and 2004, but with more hardware. The war of words between Kobe and Shaq sometimes got ugly. Hayes had harsh things to say about Unseld, along with most of his teammates, whom he often alienated throughout his career. The guy had a habit of blasting shortcomings in a way that made Kobe's 2007 Radio Tour look tame. Hayes could be obstinate at times seemingly for the sake of it, which detractors have certainly said about Kobe over the years. Ditto the criticisms about shooting too much.

Of course, the comparisons between The Big E and The Black Mamba don't form entirely parallel lines. Hayes never really shook his problematic reputation. Bryant reinvented his.

Kobe did more than simply bury the hatchet with Phil Jackson. He built an exceptionally strong relationship. Hayes doesn't seem the type who could eventually becomes confidants with a coach who described him as "uncoachable" in a book.

Kobe's "Black Swan" comments about Pau Gasol struck some as a bit of a dig, but there's no denying the uptick in El Spaniard's performance after this conversation, one of many this season where Kobe has taken time to remind his power forward how great he can be. He's championed Lamar Odom as an All-Star. He's taken Shannon Brown under his wing. Matt Barnes and Raja Bell were recruited, despite high profile dust ups. He's not a perfect leader, but there's no denying his evolution. Likewise, Kobe will never be everybody's universal cup of tea to play with, but he's now an easier teammate to relate towards.

Greatness isn't simply about talent, but how talent is applied. Year by year, Kobe and this reality enjoy a bettered coexistence.

Another game, another legend passed on the NBA all-time scoring list by Kobe Bryant.

This time, a breakaway dunk created off his own steal against Donte Greene meant leapfrogging to the eighth spot past Hakeem Olajuwon, the two-time champion whose "Dream Shake" and other post moves dizzied countless defenders. As Bryant continues northward into more rarefied air, there will no doubt be an appreciation for each legend passed. (Yes, even a certain center and ex-teammate Bryant is guaranteed to pass at some point next season.) Basketball is a sport steeped in rich history, and no NBA player is more of a student of that lore than The Mamba.

In the case of Olajuwan, however, Bryant was quite literally his student.

During the 2009 offseason, Kobe reached out to Olajuwon for a tutorial on low post excellence. As the Nigerian big man explained to Brian and me while appearing on our podkast in May 2010, his first reaction was to wonder why.

"I told him, 'You've got all the moves already. You don't need any more!' recounted Olajuwon with a laugh. "He said, 'Well, I'm always in the post. I love the post.' Just like all the big guys like to play like a guard and the guards like to play like the big guys. It's always the opposite, you know?"

But this session wasn't simply a matter of vicarious living through another position. It was a matter of necessity. True, Bryant has been hailed by many as the most complete offensive player in the game. He's also no stranger to the painted area, with an enviable arsenal of moves at his disposal. But there's a difference between being good in the post and great. Or even great and excellent. If there was another level to reach, Kobe was determined to get there.

"I can see why he needs the post moves," admitted Olajuwon, "Because as you get seasoned and get older in the league, you can get the points much easier in the post and not waste all that energy outside. I was so impressed of his understanding of the game to know that if he had the post moves, that would really expand his game and be a complete player."

PODCAST
Andy and Brian speak with Hall of Fame big man Hakeem Olajuwon about the art of footwork, his summer tutoring Kobe Bryant and how soccer made him a better basketball player. Not surprisingly, The Dream also destroys while playing pickup ball.Podcast

With that goal in mind, the Hall of Fame big man took the future honoree under his wing and shared wisdom. "When we worked on the moves, we would talk about the technical points," recounted Olajuwon. "The secret to those moves. This move would set up the next move. Each move is the foundation for the next move."

"I learned a great deal, obviously," recalled Bryant during Thursday's practice in El Segundo. "Just the details of the post game. Recognizing double teams, how to deal with those. Hakeem is incredibly smart. For him to take the time to welcome me into his home and show me different things is a tribute to his greatness."

Greatness typically not only recognizes greatness, but what it takes to get there. Thus, Kobe's hunger to perfect his craft wasn't lost on Olajuwon. He described seeing Bryant utilize those lessons as "the greatest joy," but as much pride was expressed in the guard's refusal to remain satisfied.

"To see a guy at that level already still looking to improve his game, that says a lot about him," Olajuwon said. "His desire to be the best. He's already the best and he wants to improve."

Especially if wisdom is imparted by an unparalleled source.

"In my opinion, he's the greatest post player ever," Bryant said. "With all due respect to (Kevin) McHale, Hakeem was phenomenal."

With a pump-faked drive from the arc, a stop on a dime between the circles, some ridiculous hang time, and a baby J off glass, Kobe Bryant continued his climb up history's ladder. Tuesday witnessed him cracking the all-time NBA scoring list's top 10 at the expense of Dominique Wilkins. Tonight, he reached a single digit rank, nudging Oscar Robertson to the side. And note to Hakeem Olajuwon: Don't get too comfy. The guard you famously tutored during the summer of 2009 on the fine art of post footwork will repay the favor by leaving you in his dust before the month ends.

It's interesting that Kobe would go from passing Wilkins, a player often dismissed (fairly or not) as a scoring/dunking reel without the substance, to Oscar, the polar opposite in perception. After all, we're talking about a player whose 1961 season featured a triple-double on average. 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, 11.4 assists: That was a typical day at the office for the Big O, described in his NBA.com bio as "player against whom all others labeled "all-around" are judged, and he may remain the standard forever."

For all the attention typically focused on Bryant's ability to fill a basket, like Oscar, his ability to affect the game in all facets is what truly makes him special. At the top of his craft and concentration, Kobe's game has no weaknesses. Still, when I asked Phil Jackson if he found a commonality in their all-around games, he felt the difference in eras made the skill sets difficult to compare:

"It's just a different game. He took a position that just a lot of time was just to back down a guard. There wasn't the ability to double team in those days. That meant you had the big guard that he was, weighing 220, 225, he could back a guard down to where he wanted to and turn around shoot or make a play out of it. In this day and age, guys come and double, so it's not gonna happen. It's a totally different game. But Oscar could control the game from where he was. He played a lot of the game with his back to the basket. He was still a set up guard in a lot of ways."

Kobe seconded Jackson's assessment of the unique size mismatch while watching footage of Robertson with ESPN.com's Jackie MacMullan:

Robertson, said Bryant, is "like looking at LeBron James years ago. Same build. Stronger than anybody else."

But as McMullen revealed, Kobe's bag of tricks includes a little bit from The Big O:

As images of Oscar flickered on the screen, Bryant offered his own play-by-play: "He's coming down, isolating, now it's a glitch and a pump fake. Freeze the defender then raise up and shoot it anyway. I use that all the time."

That move isn't the only way Robertson reminds Jackson of Kobe.

"Winning-wise," explained Phil. "Oscar was a very competitive player. A very verbal player. He used to send his players around where he wanted them to go and direct traffic a lot as a player."

Other ties between the two? Robertson was co-captain of the gold medal winning 1960 Olympic team with Jerry West, who brought Bryant to the Lakers by trading for his 1996 draft rights. Plus, Robertson took home league MVP honors one time (1964), which feels crazy in retrospect even taking into account the domination by Chamberlain and Russell.

In the meantime, Kobe's prospects for another trophy aren't dead, but the odds arguably favor him wrapping up a career honored just once. It's certainly a hard notion to wrap your head around, but the road for such peculiarities was paved by the legend Bryant just passed.

After the game, Kobe's reaction to the achievement was predictably low key, but that shouldn't be mistaken for indifference. "It's a great honor," smiled Bryant. "Obviously, Oscar, I patterned so much of my game after his. Jerry. Michael. Those big guards. It means a lot."

I asked Kobe what elements of his game were specifically modeled after Robertson's:

"I took his baseline jumper. He was known for putting his body on smaller guards, taking them down to the short portion of the baseline and raising over them. That's something I took from him."

I'll go out on a limb and predict Laker fans will recognize that particular move.