Rank Kobe's Best Years in Order.

[Duncan21formvp]

Rank Kobe's Best Years in Order.

What was his best year, 2nd best year, 3rd best year, etc

[Dragonyeuw]

Rank Kobe's Best Years in Order.

What was his best year, 2nd best year, 3rd best year, etc

2003
2006
2008( MVP year)
2007
2009
2001
2010
2002
2005
2004
2011
2000
1999
1998
1997

Why 2003? Because for my money this was his peak of offense, defense, and athleticism. 30 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2.2 steals. Should have been MVP that year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwsUZztJuhw

[ImmortalD24]

2007/2006
2006/2007
2003
2008
2009
2001
2002
2010

[ShaqAttack3234]

1.2008
2.2006
3.2007
4.2009
5.2003
6.2001
7.2010
8.2002
9.2004
10.2011
11.2005
12.2000
13.1999
14.1998
15.1997

[DaPerceive]

1.2008
2.2006
3.2007
4.2009
5.2003
Same top 5, different order though.

1. tie between 08 and 07
2. which ever was inferior between 08 and 07
3. 09
4. 06
5. 03

I am not that impressed by 06 Kobe and that is because he still had maturity problems in my opinion. A lot of people say 06 Kobe was the best version of Kobe but I strongly disagree with that. He was clearly better in 07 and 08 and in my opinion he was also better in 09 but I certainly would understand if someone believed Kobe was better in 06 than he was in 09.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

2006
2003
2007
2008
2001
2009
2010

and so on...

[triangleoffense]

This thread sucks without stats.

[ShaqAttack3234]

Same top 5, different order though.

1. tie between 08 and 07
2. which ever was inferior between 08 and 07
3. 09
4. 06
5. 03

I am not that impressed by 06 Kobe and that is because he still had maturity problems in my opinion. A lot of people say 06 Kobe was the best version of Kobe but I strongly disagree with that. He was clearly better in 07 and 08 and in my opinion he was also better in 09 but I certainly would understand if someone believed Kobe was better in 06 than he was in 09.

2006 and 2007 Kobe are close. Kobe did play with a more team-oriented approach early in 2007 and then went on the scoring streaks later in the season.

But I don't think that Kobe changing his approach in 2007 had as much to do with his own maturity as the situation. Phil told Kobe prior to 2005-2006 he'd have to carry the team until the rest of the players caught up and learned the triangle. We saw Kobe go to a different approach in the playoff vs Phoenix and almost beat them.

He was also coming off knee surgery in 2007 and less explosive to start the season. That's another reason why I pick 2006 Kobe. His defense was also better in 2006 than 2007. He didn't consistently give 100% at that end either season, but I saw a lot more defensively from Kobe in '06 than '07.

[Odinn]

1. 2006
2. 2008
3. 2009
4. 2007 or 2003
5. 2007 or 2003

[Yung D-Will]

Kobe in 08 was the best Kobe I ever saw. Period.

[Jacks3]

2006
2007
2008
2003
2009
2001
2010
2002
2004
2005
2011
2000

In 03 dude put up 30/7/6/2/1/55% TS (+3.1)/26 PER/13.2 WS/20 40+ point games/4 50+ point games and made 1st-Team All-NBA,1st Team-Defense,was 3rd in MVP voting...and it's not even one of his top 3 seasons.

No wonder he's top 10 ever.

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

[The_Yearning]

Kobe 2009 is my favorite. Played with such swagger and hunger. Even in the regular season he played with a chip on his shoulder. I still remember that regular season game where he made a clutch shot vs. the Spurs and did the Sam Cassel balls dance... The Lakers ended up losing that game when Fisher missed the last shot... Bryant was ballistic.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

2006
2007
2008
2003
2009
2001
2010
2002
2004
2005
2011
2000

In 03 dude put up 30/7/6/2/1/55% TS (+3.1)/26 PER/13.2 WS/20 40+ point games/4 50+ point games and made 1st-Team All-NBA,1st Team-Defense,was 3rd in MVP voting...and it's not even one of his top 3 seasons.

No wonder he's top 10 ever.

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

30ppg, crazy midrange...but 38% from 3PT? Gotta give him props there, Jacks. :applause:

[Jacks3]

:cheers:

[Dragonyeuw]

Personally for me, 2003 Kobe was the best. Better defensively than in 2006,or 2008, while still putting up 30ppg with Shaq averaging 27. Imagine what his scoring numbers would have been like without Shaq there. 2006 level? Quite possibly, and he put up 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Give me 2003 Kobe.

[Jacks3]

Too bad Shaq or the new rules had nothing to do with his efficiency.

01: +3.4
02: +2.4
03: +3.1
04: +3.5
05: +3.4
06: +2.4
07: +3.9
08: +3.6
09: +2.5

:pimp:

[D-Wade316]

2008-2009
2000-2001
2007-2008
2005-2006

[barnett114]

Jacks3 has burned through his 33rd account on RealGM defending his boyfriend Kobe :lol:

[IGOTGAME]

2005-2006. When Kobe was the best combination of skill and athletism. The rest of the teammate stuff was just based on the circumstances. This Kobe was the best player.

[305Baller]

Personally for me, 2003 Kobe was the best. Better defensively than in 2006,or 2008, while still putting up 30ppg with Shaq averaging 27. Imagine what his scoring numbers would have been like without Shaq there. 2006 level? Quite possibly, and he put up 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Give me 2003 Kobe.

30 is nothing to sneezeat, but Shaq had something to do with those numbers, obviously. The great big man will always help guard numbers.

Without Shaq, i figure 26-28 ppg

[Legends66NBA7]

Jacks3 has burned through his 33rd account on RealGM defending his boyfriend Kobe :lol:

Link? Who was he this time?

[D-Wade316]

Jacks3 has burned through his 33rd account on RealGM defending his boyfriend Kobe :lol:
:lol The dude has been consumed by Kobe

[Jacks3]

30 is nothing to sneezeat, but Shaq had something to do with those numbers, obviously. The great big man will always help guard numbers.


Not really. Both Kobe and Wade had ther numbers hurt by playing with Shaq. That's why their best years were without Shaq. ****king idiot.:facepalm

[Jacks3]

Kobe without Shaq in 03--Probably somewhere around--

32-33 PPG/8 RPG/7 APG/2 SPG/1 BPG/55% TS.

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

[barnett114]

Link? Who was he this time?


:lol The dude has been consumed by Kobe


All of his accounts are

Loki24
Jay24
John25
John28
Renji24
Jordan24
Gordan24
Eagle24
Eagle25
Loki25
Walt34
Sergio25
Leo24
danny24
JustinJ
Godbe24
jobbee
Joe25
coolio24
Lite24
gion24
Goki24
Carde24
accant24
jamio
grande
Nove24
koolio24
nane24
Kaya24
Come Back 24
Torio24
Scrizz

[D-Wade316]

All of his accounts are

Loki24
Jay24
John25
John28
Renji24
Jordan24
Gordan24
Eagle24
Eagle25
Loki25
Walt34
Sergio25
Leo24
danny24
JustinJ
Godbe24
jobbee
Joe25
coolio24
Lite24
gion24
Goki24
Carde24
accant24
jamio
grande
Nove24
koolio24
nane24
Kaya24
Come Back 24
Torio24
Scrizz
:eek: The mods must be finding it too easy detecting what is Jacks3's new account/s.

[Mr. I'm So Rad]

30ppg, crazy midrange...but 38% from 3PT? Gotta give him props there, Jacks. :applause:

Yeah that was the season he really added range on his jumper. The season before he only shot 25% from 3 but he didn't even take 2 a game.

In my opinion: Top 5

2008 (My favorite version of Lord Godbe. He could have easily had another 30 ppg season but he didn't need to. His defense was great too. His leadership and playmaking were at an all time high. He had the team success too go along with it as well)

2006 (Just sheer dominance. Completely unstoppable)

2007 (A combination of 2006 and 2008 with the insane scoring towards the end of the season as well as the playmaking, game management in the beginning of the season)

2003 (The year Lord Godbe first started having his scoring outbursts he's known for. He led his team in scoring for the first time and his skill and athleticism coincided like never before or after.)

2001 (The year he became a true superstar and asserted himself as a top player. He took on so many responsibilities on the floor and did them all at an elite level. Played excellently in the playoffs. The fro added the nice flair too.)

[barnett114]

:eek: The mods must be finding it too easy detecting what is Jacks3's new account/s.

He makes it too easy.

[305Baller]

Kobe without Shaq in 03--Probably somewhere around--

32-33 PPG/8 RPG/7 APG/2 SPG/1 BPG/55% TS.

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

Bow to your master.

[SyRyanYang]

Kobe without Shaq in 03--Probably somewhere around--

32-33 PPG/8 RPG/7 APG/2 SPG/1 BPG/55% TS.

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

More than 32 point? Definitely
More Assists without Shaq? No freaking way

[NumberSix]

Kobe

[32Dayz]

More than 32 point? Definitely
More Assists without Shaq? No freaking way

More Points? Umm... no.

Without Shaq Kobe would be a 48-52% TS Player in the early 00's.

Check this out.

Shot Attempts / FG Attempts
Kobe Bryant
01-03 = 5031
08-10 = 4971

Kobe's highest FGA Season was in 03 (after 06).

He is lucky the Hand-Checking rules were put into place or his Career TS% would be around 52% maybe 50% if he never played next to a Dominant Big like Shaq.

[32Dayz]

Best Years...

1. 09
2. 06
3. 08
4. 03
5. 07

Something like that.

[Dragonyeuw]

30 is nothing to sneezeat, but Shaq had something to do with those numbers, obviously. The great big man will always help guard numbers.

Without Shaq, i figure 26-28 ppg

He played some of that season without Shaq, and his scoring didn't suffer, if memory serves. In fact, didn't some of that 9 game 40 streak occur without Shaq in the lineup? Can't recall exactly, been a while. But Kobe without Shaq was easily scoring 30+ that season.

[32Dayz]

He played some of that season without Shaq, and his scoring didn't suffer, if memory serves. In fact, didn't some of that 9 game 40 streak occur without Shaq in the lineup? Can't recall exactly, been a while. But Kobe without Shaq was easily scoring 30+ that season.

Yeah.. and the team went like 2-11 without Shaq even with Kobe having those big scoring nights.

Empty numbers.

The facts are Kobe took even more Shot-Attempts with Shaq then he did without him. The only reason his scoring and specifically his effeciency rose was directly due to the rule changes around 05 (hand checking)

While playing with Shaq may not have greatly boosted his Volume it definitely boosted his efficiency greatly and aided his development.

[Dragonyeuw]

Yeah.. and the team went like 2-11 without Shaq even with Kobe having those big scoring nights.

Empty numbers.

The facts are Kobe took even more Shot-Attempts with Shaq then he did without him. The only reason his scoring and specifically his effeciency rose was directly due to the rule changes around 05 (hand checking)



I wasn't talking about the team's record without Shaq. I was talking about Kobe's scoring ability that year, and how much of it can be reasonably attributed to Shaq's presence.

If you want to discuss what the team did without Shaq record-wise, that's a different conversation.

[AlphaWolf24]

Yeah that was the season he really added range on his jumper. The season before he only shot 25% from 3 but he didn't even take 2 a game.

In my opinion: Top 5

2008 (My favorite version of Lord Godbe. He could have easily had another 30 ppg season but he didn't need to. His defense was great too. His leadership and playmaking were at an all time high. He had the team success too go along with it as well)

2006 (Just sheer dominance. Completely unstoppable)

2007 (A combination of 2006 and 2008 with the insane scoring towards the end of the season as well as the playmaking, game management in the beginning of the season)

2003 (The year Lord Godbe first started having his scoring outbursts he's known for. He led his team in scoring for the first time and his skill and athleticism coincided like never before or after.)

2001 (The year he became a true superstar and asserted himself as a top player. He took on so many responsibilities on the floor and did them all at an elite level. Played excellently in the playoffs. The fro added the nice flair too.)


pretty good...but 2001 Kobe was already a full fledged superstar and arguably the best player in the NBA.

[32Dayz]

pretty good...but 2001 Kobe was already a full fledged superstar and arguably the best player in the NBA.

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

No one thought Kobe was even half as good as Shaq in 01 including every resident of California.

No one thought Kobe was better then Duncan in 01.

He Finished 9th in MVP Voting behind

Shaq
Duncan
Garnett
Iverson
TMac
Jason Kidd
Karl Malone
Webber

Best Player in the NBA... lmfao.

He was probably Top 5 that year if you include the playoffs but he sure as hell wasn't better then Shaq or Duncan and its not even remotely close.

[32Dayz]

lol at the fvck ni99as hatin on Gawdbe

No one is "hating" but to say he was the best player in the league that year when you have Prime Duncan/Shaq in the same league is a sign of pure retardation.

Kobe at his best was never in the same solar system as those two in their Primes.:facepalm

[RRR3]

You Kobe stans need to stop calling him "godbe". It's disturbing

[D-Wade316]

You Kobe stans need to stop calling him "godbe". It's disturbing
Stop hating on Gawdbe :lol

[woshiftren]

kobe's prime is 2002-2006,
2011's kobe way past his prime

[Jacks3]

Damn. It's amazing how many incredible seasons this guy has had.

2001: 29/6/5/2/56% TS (+4%) in the RS.
2nd-Team All-NBA
2nd-Team All-Defense
29/7/6/2/56% TS in the PS on the G.O.A.T post-season team.
NBA Championship

2003: 30/7/6/2/1/55% TS (+3%) in the RS.
1st Team All-NBA
1st Team All-Defense
9 straight 40+ point games
13 straight 35+ point games
#1 rebounding guard in the league
6 triple-doubles
Averaged 40+ PPG for entire month
Averaged 34/7/6/2/60% TS over last 40 games

2006: 35/5/5/2/56% TS (+2.5%)
1st-Team All-NBA
1st-Team All-Defense
Averaged 40+ PPG in two different months.
4 straight 45+ point games
4 straight 40+ point games
81 pts
62 pts in three quarters
27 40+ point games
8 50+ point games
2800+ points on the season
Tied #1 in PER
#2 in APM
#1 in offensive RAPM

2007: 32/6/5/2/58% TS (+4%)
1st-Team All-NBA
1st-Team All-Defense
Averaged 40+ PPG for entire month
4 straight 50+ point games
2 60+ point games
20 40+ point games
10 50+ point games
Averaged 37/6/6/2/59% TS post All-Star Break
3rd in MVP Voting


That's not even mentioning all his other awesome seasons--00,02,04,08,09,2010--incredible!

No wonder he's the best player of his era. :bowdown: :bowdown:

[pauk]

1. 2005-06

*gap*

2. 2006-07
3. 2002-03
4. 2007-08
5. 2008-09
6. 2004-05
7. 2009-10
8. 2000-01
9. 2001-02
10. 2003-04
11. 1999-00
12. 2010-11
13. 1998-99
14. 1997-96
15. 1996-97

[pauk]

Damn. It's amazing how many incredible seasons this guy has had.

2001: 29/6/5/2/56% TS (+4%) in the RS.
2nd-Team All-NBA
2nd-Team All-Defense
29/7/6/2/56% TS in the PS on the G.O.A.T post-season team.
NBA Championship

2003: 30/7/6/2/1/55% TS (+3%) in the RS.
1st Team All-NBA
1st Team All-Defense
9 straight 40+ point games
13 straight 35+ point games
#1 rebounding guard in the league
6 triple-doubles
Averaged 40+ PPG for entire month
Averaged 34/7/6/2/60% TS over last 40 games

2006: 35/5/5/2/56% TS (+2.5%)
1st-Team All-NBA
1st-Team All-Defense
Averaged 40+ PPG in two different months.
4 straight 45+ point games
4 straight 40+ point games
81 pts
62 pts in three quarters
27 40+ point games
8 50+ point games
2800+ points on the season
Tied #1 in PER
#2 in APM
#1 in offensive RAPM

2007: 32/6/5/2/58% TS (+4%)
1st-Team All-NBA
1st-Team All-Defense
Averaged 40+ PPG for entire month
4 straight 50+ point games
2 60+ point games
20 40+ point games
10 50+ point games
Averaged 37/6/6/2/59% TS post All-Star Break
3rd in MVP Voting


That's not even mentioning all his other awesome seasons--00,02,04,08,09,2010--incredible!

No wonder he's the best player of his era. :bowdown: :bowdown:

i would been a huge fan if he just gave a damn about passing / facilitating / playing the right way (JORDAN DID THAT!)...... and also if he was actually EFFICIENT (once again like Jordan).... around 50% FG perhaps... then i wouldnt mind the chucking at all... since most of the shots are going in he will be doing the right thing....

i just dont like that mindset of his....... when the shots are going in for him he is extremly entertaining to watch.... but when they are not (which is much more often) he STILL continues to jack those shots up and be like 10 of 40 and so on and ignore his teammates..... he doesnt give a damn..... he is a actually a good passer, but he REFUSES... its his selfishness.... i just dont like it.............. JORDAN WAS NOT LIKE THAT!

Kobe has only managed to copy Jordans moves (not even close to the same efficiency) offensively...... but he has NOT managed to come even close to everything else..... JORDAN was actually an All-Round player.... much more like a OSCAR ROBERTSON......... he played PG-SG-SF thru out his career... at one point he even started PG for an entire season being more like Magic Johnson (with scoring ability) in 1988-89..... thats when he had 7 triple doubles in a row or something.... in the Finals in 1991 he averaged 11 assists a game... he always played the right way...

[Bigsmoke]

06
08
03

u can fill in the rest.

[oolalaa]

My favourite version of kobe was 08/09.

This was the first year he really embraced his teammates and became the leader we all thought he could be.

Although he obviously had lost a little athleticism, he made up for it with some shiny new post moves, aswell as an increased understanding of how and when he should use his teammates and when he should 'take over'. He still could still score big when called upon though - his 61 point onslaught against the knicks was testament to that...


1. 08/09
2. 09/10
3. 00/01
4. 02/03
5. 07/08
6. 06/07
7. 05/06
8. 04/05
9. 10/11
10. 01/02
11. 99/00
12. 03/04
13. 98/99
14. 97/98
15. 96/97

[D.J.]

Imo:


-2003
-2006
-2007
-2009
-2008

[knightfall88]

2008 or 2009. Post season results is a huge factor for me.

2008
2009
2003
2010
2006
..
.
.

[DaPerceive]

2006 and 2007 Kobe are close. Kobe did play with a more team-oriented approach early in 2007 and then went on the scoring streaks later in the season.

But I don't think that Kobe changing his approach in 2007 had as much to do with his own maturity as the situation. Phil told Kobe prior to 2005-2006 he'd have to carry the team until the rest of the players caught up and learned the triangle. We saw Kobe go to a different approach in the playoff vs Phoenix and almost beat them.

He was also coming off knee surgery in 2007 and less explosive to start the season. That's another reason why I pick 2006 Kobe. His defense was also better in 2006 than 2007. He didn't consistently give 100% at that end either season, but I saw a lot more defensively from Kobe in '06 than '07.
How exactly was Kobe's defense better in '06 than in '07? Care to give any examples or statistics and what not? I didn't see a difference. Kobe in '08 and in '03 were Kobe's best defensive seasons though and I think his defense in '06 and '07 were pretty much the same.

I pick Kobe in '07 over Kobe in '06 not just because he played more selflessly but also because he was more efficient. I felt like a lot of Kobe's scoring in '06 was kind of sloppy whereas Kobe's scoring in '07 was just better and more aesthetically pleasing.

[RazorBaLade]

i would been a huge fan if he just gave a damn about passing / facilitating / playing the right way (JORDAN DID THAT!)...... and also if he was actually EFFICIENT (once again like Jordan).... around 50% FG perhaps... then i wouldnt mind the chucking at all... since most of the shots are going in he will be doing the right thing....

i just dont like that mindset of his....... when the shots are going in for him he is extremly entertaining to watch.... but when they are not (which is much more often) he STILL continues to jack those shots up and be like 10 of 40 and so on and ignore his teammates..... he doesnt give a damn..... he is a actually a good passer, but he REFUSES... its his selfishness.... i just dont like it.............. JORDAN WAS NOT LIKE THAT!

Kobe has only managed to copy Jordans moves (not even close to the same efficiency) offensively...... but he has NOT managed to come even close to everything else..... JORDAN was actually an All-Round player.... much more like a OSCAR ROBERTSON......... he played PG-SG-SF thru out his career... at one point he even started PG for an entire season being more like Magic Johnson (with scoring ability) in 1988-89..... thats when he had 7 triple doubles in a row or something.... in the Finals in 1991 he averaged 11 assists a game... he always played the right way...

how can, on average, one extra missed shot per game be the difference between jordan is super efficient omg and kobe is a chucker that cant shoot well?

its..literally.. one missed shot per game.. or counting primes only; its like half a shot per game.

[ShaqAttack3234]

Averaged 34/7/6/2/60% TS over last 40 games

Slight correction, it was actually 33/6/5/2, 57 TS% over the last 40. Still amazing, though, particularly for 2003. Equally impressive is that the Lakers went 31-9 in those games and that the 35 and 40 point streaks came right after Phil made Kobe the number 1 option or gave him more freedom offensively. It does sort of make you wonder what he was capable of with the green light. Even going back to 2000, his skill set and athleticism made his ability appear far superior to other 21-23 ppg scorers. I would guess that as the first option, he'd have been capable of 25-27 ppg even back then.


How exactly was Kobe's defense better in '06 than in '07? Care to give any examples or statistics and what not? I didn't see a difference.

Well, Kobe at least seemed to pay more attention to his defense in 2006. He mentioned wanting to improve at that end after 2005 when his defense really fell off and Phil had made comments on it. He did at least have some performances where he shut down elite scorers like Ray Allen and Vince Carter and he was quicker in '06. I don't remember many impressive defensive games from Kobe in '07 and remember more where he was lit up than '06. Tex Winter also called him out on his defense in '07. It was probably his worst defensive season of his prime outside of maybe 2005, even though I think it was one of his better seasons overall.


Kobe in '08 and in '03 were Kobe's best defensive seasons though and I think his defense in '06 and '07 were pretty much the same.

I disagree, 2000 was Kobe's best defensive season, followed by 2001.


I pick Kobe in '07 over Kobe in '06 not just because he played more selflessly but also because he was more efficient. I felt like a lot of Kobe's scoring in '06 was kind of sloppy whereas Kobe's scoring in '07 was just better and more aesthetically pleasing.

Well, I can't argue with that if that's what you saw. Personally, I didn't really see that.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

How was Kobe more 'aesthetically pleasing' in 2007 than in 2006 or 2003? He was far quicker (and more slim) those years. For half of 2007 he was a step slow because of the knee surgery in the off-season.

And people gotta stop with the whole 'Kobe matured' in 2007 (or in 2008) crap. He just got better teammates. He really didn't mature until the beginning of the 2009 season..where he became a great leader and teammate.

I'll reiterate again...

2006 - best version of Kobe hands down. When you factor in both regular and postseason play..defense too, it's gotta be. Outscoring an NBA Finalist in 3 quarters by himself? 81 points? 40ppg in the month of January?

2008 - probably his best all-around season. I still don't think 2006 Kobe would have folded like the '08 version did vs. Boston.

followed by 2003, 2007, and 2001.

[DaPerceive]

Well, Kobe at least seemed to pay more attention to his defense in 2006. He mentioned wanting to improve at that end after 2005 when his defense really fell off and Phil had made comments on it. He did at least have some performances where he shut down elite scorers like Ray Allen and Vince Carter and he was quicker in '06. I don't remember many impressive defensive games from Kobe in '07 and remember more where he was lit up than '06. Tex Winter also called him out on his defense in '07. It was probably his worst defensive season of his prime outside of maybe 2005, even though I think it was one of his better seasons overall.
Actually yeah. I started to do a bit more thinking and reminiscing about Kobe's '06 season and he actually did have some games where he was tremendous defensively.




I disagree, 2000 was Kobe's best defensive season, followed by 2001.
I meant to say Kobe's best defensive seasons as the #1 on his team. Unless you believe Kobe was the #1 in those 3-peat years.



Well, I can't argue with that if that's what you saw. Personally, I didn't really see that.
Statistically speaking, Kobe had a better TS%, eFG%, and FG% in '07 than he did in any of his other seasons as the #1 on his team.

Kobe Bryant's offensive production in '05-'06: 35.4 ppg, 4.5 apg, 12.2/27.2 FG/FGA ratio, .450 FG%, .559 TS%, .491 eFG%.

Kobe Bryant's offensive production in '06-'07: 31.6 ppg, 5.4 apg, 10.6/22.8 FG/FGA ratio, .463 FG%, .580 TS%, .502 eFG%

Kobe averaged more ppg in '05-'06 but he was clearly less efficient. He had to take about 4-5 fga more a game just to score about 3.5-4 more ppg in '05-'06 and he averaged less assists too. Was there really a difference between Kobe's teammates in '05-'06 to '06-'07? Probably not, the only difference was that Kobe learned how to play more selflessly and decided to get his teammates involved.

Kobe's '06-'07 season was clearly his best offensive season though. I would say that his '07-'08 season was better and his best season because he finally learned how to play selflessly and with that he played tremendous defense on a consistent night to night basis. He simply put it altogether in '07-'08.

People usually say that Kobe was the best player in the league from '06-'08. If we were to evaluate these three years this is what would I say about his weaknesses in each of those seasons.

'05-'06 - Did not play very team oriented
'06-'07 - Did not play consistent defense
'07-'08 - Put it altogether and not only was he a great scorer, but played team-oriented basketball and consistent defense.

[ShaqAttack3234]

How was Kobe more 'aesthetically pleasing' in 2007 than in 2006 or 2003? He was far quicker (and more slim) those years. For half of 2007 he was a step slow because of the knee surgery in the off-season.

Actually, 2003 was when Kobe first bulked up and was about as big as he's been, but was also probably at his athletic peak.


And people gotta stop with the whole 'Kobe matured' in 2007 (or in 2008) crap. He just got better teammates. He really didn't mature until the beginning of the 2009 season..where he became a great leader and teammate.

:oldlol: How did Kobe change in 2009? He played a similar style in 2008(only better). His team clearly improved, though. Gasol played better and tougher, he had Bynum(not great in the playoffs, but at least some added size) and Ariza played very well for them.


2008 - probably his best all-around season. I still don't think 2006 Kobe would have folded like the '08 version did vs. Boston.

I'm not sure how Kobe "folded" against Boston. He could've played better, but he went up against an all-time great defense who were able to focus on him due to the lack of help Kobe got in that series.


Actually yeah. I started to do a bit more thinking and reminiscing about Kobe's '06 season and he actually did have some games where he was tremendous defensively.

I had to go back and revisit his '06 season and pay more attention to his defense. I did that a while ago because '06 was the season I watched the least basketball of the last decade, and I remember getting more caught up in his scoring because some of the feats were hard to believe.


I meant to say Kobe's best defensive seasons as the #1 on his team. Unless you believe Kobe was the #1 in those 3-peat years.

As the number 1 option? Yeah, I'd say those were his 2 best defensive seasons. But by 2001, he was scoring more than most first options anyway, he scored more than everyone not named Iverson, Stackhouse and Shaq.


Statistically speaking, Kobe had a better TS%, eFG%, and FG% in '07 than he did in any of his other seasons as the #1 on his team.

Kobe Bryant's offensive production in '05-'06: 35.4 ppg, 4.5 apg, 12.2/27.2 FG/FGA ratio, .450 FG%, .559 TS%, .491 eFG%.

Kobe Bryant's offensive production in '06-'07: 31.6 ppg, 5.4 apg, 10.6/22.8 FG/FGA ratio, .463 FG%, .580 TS%, .502 eFG%

Kobe averaged more ppg in '05-'06 but he was clearly less efficient. He had to take about 4-5 fga more a game just to score about 3.5-4 more ppg in '05-'06 and he averaged less assists too. Was there really a difference between Kobe's teammates in '05-'06 to '06-'07? Probably not, the only difference was that Kobe learned how to play more selflessly and decided to get his teammates involved.

There is a noticeable difference in volume of shots, though, which has to be factored in when talking about efficiency.

He showed that same ability to get his teammates involved in the '06 playoffs vs Phoenix, but it wasn't what he was asked to do during the regular season, and the result was the Lakers overachieving during the regular season.

As far as Kobe's teammates? Well, Walton and Odom were both playing the best basketball of their careers before injuries in '07, and it was the second year that core was together, but given all of the injuries and the limited talent level, they overachieved just as much, if not more in '07.

But the Lakers were 39-38 with Kobe in '07 and 45-30 with him in '06, a pretty significant difference. And once Odom started playing consistently in the second half of '05-'06, the Lakers were on pace for 50+ wins, and it wasn't Kobe's scoring that was holding back Odom either since Kobe scored more in the second half than the first half.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

:oldlol: How did Kobe change in 2009? He played a similar style in 2008(only better). His team clearly improved, though. Gasol played better and tougher, he had Bynum(not great in the playoffs, but at least some added size) and Ariza played very well for them.

He didn't have to put on an act for starters. If you remember, at the beginning of the 2007-08 season, there was a rift between Kobe and the general management (even with the fans). Kobe wanted to be traded. Up until Pau Gasol came, all of that 'better teammate' crap was a facade. In 2009 though, he played with more drive than ever. He was hell-bent to prove he could lead his team to a title as 'the man'. From start-to-finish Kobe took all the negatives turning around his approach. Dude only scored 26ppg that season iirc. Like you said, similar to '08, but better.



I'm not sure how Kobe "folded" against Boston. He could've played better, but he went up against an all-time great defense who were able to focus on him due to the lack of help Kobe got in that series.

He shot 40%, blew a 20pt lead at home, was blown out in an elimination game. I don't see 2006, a better scoring version, being held to 40% shooting against the Celtics. Moreover; I don't see how circa '06 and Pau Gasol don't dismantle Boston. A healthy Ariza and Bynum would have been nice for LA too.

[ShaqAttack3234]

He didn't have to put on a farce. If you remember, at the beginning of the 2007-08 season, there was rift between Kobe and the general management. Kobe wanted to be traded. It wasn't until Pau Gasol came that he was genuinely happy..and became a better teammate. In 2009, he played with more drive than ever. He was hell-bent to prove he could lead his team to a title as 'the man'. From start-to-finish Kobe took all the negatives turning around his approach. Dude only scored 26ppg that season iirc. Like you said, similar to '08, but better.

Kobe's trade demands didn't seem to have any negative effect on the team. The Lakers were overachieving early before they even got Gasol. Kobe seemed as motivated as ever in 2008. He lost that weight, focused more on defense than he had in years, still seemed like he had the ability to average 32-33 ppg if he wanted to, but didn't. I've never seen him manage games better than he did during that season. And that was the season that I saw his teammates benefit more from his presence and play than any other season. Virtually all of the role players and shooters had career seasons, or close to it, and I credit that to Kobe's play. The game seemed to come easier to him than ever and through the first 3 rounds of the playoffs, he carried the Lakers putting up 32/6/6, 51 FG%/61 TS%.


He shot 40%, blew a 20pt lead at home, was blown out in an elimination game. I don't see 2006, a better scoring version, being held to 40% shooting against the Celtics. Moreover; I don't see how circa '06 and Pau Gasol don't dismantle Boston. A healthy Ariza and Bynum would have been nice for LA too.

Shooting 41% with that Celtic defense focusing on you is understandable. I expected more considering his unbelievable play through the first 3 rounds, but it's easy to see why he struggled. And given how Pau played, I don't see any version of Kobe dismantling Boston with Pau playing like that.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Kobe's trade demands didn't seem to have any negative effect on the team. The Lakers were overachieving early before they even got Gasol. Kobe seemed as motivated as ever in 2008. He lost that weight, focused more on defense than he had in years, still seemed like he had the ability to average 32-33 ppg if he wanted to, but didn't. I've never seen him manage games better than he did during that season. And that was the season that I saw his teammates benefit more from his presence and play than any other season. Virtually all of the role players and shooters had career seasons, or close to it, and I credit that to Kobe's play. The game seemed to come easier to him than ever and through the first 3 rounds of the playoffs, he carried the Lakers putting up 32/6/6, 51 FG%/61 TS%.

I'm not saying 2009 Kobe was better than he was in 2008; I do think he was more motivated because of that Finals loss though. He was more wise and had a full-offseason to work with Pau and his teammates who weren't healthy the year previously. The Lakers benefited tremendously, look at the results.

Far from a fan of Kobe's personality, but I've seen most of the guy's career and I'm telling you, Kobe wouldn't shoot 41% from the field against the 2008 Boston Celtics had he been as agile or mobile as he once was in 2006. Had Kobe been surrounded with the same supporting cast he was in '08 and '09, he'd do everything you're giving him credit for, but better, faster, and more consistently. People forget Kobe was the only viable offensive weapon in 2006. He had no one who could take defensive pressure off of him (Odom had his nights but he was still pretty raw and inconsistent).

It's sort of like A.I with the Sixers. The moment he was surrounded with players that could score, his shooting percentages, decision making and overall basketball IQ went up.

[Scholar]

Top 5:
5. 2009
4. 2007
3. 2008
2. 2006
1. 2003