Kobe/Harden - VERY SIMILAR PLAYERS

[StrongLurk]

Let me clarify, Harden will never surpass Kobe in my eyes. However they are kind of similar offensive players in the regular season production wise.

First 10 years in the league "regular season".

Harden - 24.2/5.2/6.2 (3.6 TOV) on 44/36/86, 34.1mpg, 24.2 PER
- was a bench player for the first couple of years, peaking in 10th year.

Kobe: 23.9/5.1/4.5 (2.9 TOV) on 45/34/83, 35.7mpg, 23.2 PER
- was a bench player for the first couple of years, peaking in 10th year (2006).

Both are crazy shot makers and the best SGs in the league. If Harden wasn't such a flopper and inconsistent in the playoffs then he'd be viewed in a MUCH higher light. Kobe also had some playoffs where his play dropped off from the regular season, but not as often as Harden.

[tpols]

Theyre not similar at all. Kobe lurked in the midrange and played in a heavy ball,movement offenses while harden plays I so dribble spam 3, layup, or FTs.

[LAmbruh]

Harden is far more efficient at scoring and playmaking than Kobe


If starting a franchise right now, most would take Harden first. Less baggage and can do more with less

[Smook A.]

Similar players in terms of numbers, sure. Their play styles are really different, though. Harden's a better playmaker, a better 3 point shooter, and overall more efficient as well (TS%). Kobe had arguably the best mid-range jumpshot ever next to MJ

[3ball]

Not that similar:

Bryant[COLOR="White"]k[/COLOR] 2006 - 35.4 and 3.1 turnovers.. league ppg 97
Harden 2019 - 36.6 and 5.1 turnovers.. league ppg 111

So not that similar

And teams score 15 more ppg today than 06', so Kobe would score 5 more today based on his 06' portion (35% of his team's pts)

[tpols]

I didn't realize team ppg were so different... 111 to 97? That's a massive difference. Kobe scored way more proportionally. While his squad sported a top 10 assist rank and hardens is 28th. That's with Chris Paul, Eric Gordon and capela compared to smush, kwame, and odom. That's actually incredible.

[Gus Hemmingway]

Good to see Kobe getting compared to players in his rightful tier (Drextlers, Hardens, West's, etc)

[Smook A.]

Not that similar:

Bryant[COLOR="White"]k[/COLOR] 2006 - 35.4 and 3.1 turnovers.. league ppg 97
Harden 2019 - 36.6 and 6.7 turnovers.. league ppg 111

So not that similar

And teams score 15 more ppg today than 06', so Kobe would score 5 more today based on his 06' portion (35% of his team's pts)

5.1 turnovers, not 6.7 Where in the world did you get that number?

[LeCola]

For stats they are similar but;

Kobe was great on defence, Harden is not.

Harden can play PG and controll-direct his teams offence, Kobe could not.

Kobe was Jordan's copy, Harden is unique. At the end, Kobe is better than Harden but Harden is 30 years old and it could change in years.

[Gus Hemmingway]

I didn't realize team ppg were so different... 111 to 97? That's a massive difference. Kobe scored way more proportionally. While his squad sported a top 10 assist rank and hardens is 28th. That's with Chris Paul, Eric Gordon and capela compared to smush, kwame, and odom. That's actually incredible.

And despite the assist rank, Harden has his team in much better playoff contention. Incredible indeed

[3ball]

5.1 turnovers, not 6.7 Where in the world did you get that number?

Whoops, I was looking at per 100 possessions

5.1 is the right number

Harden's high turnovers is why his offensive efficiency and player efficiency rating fall below the goat standard for 35+ scorers (88' MJ), despite nipping MJ in true shooting efficiency (61% to 60)

[StrongLurk]

Again, I said "production-wise".

People kind of overrate younger Kobe a little because they only think of peak Kobe...but Kobe in his first 10 seasons wasn't as crazy as people think.

[And1AllDay]

Harden is far more efficient at scoring and playmaking than Kobe


If starting a franchise right now, most would take Harden first. Less baggage and can do more with less

Imagine Harden with Shaq Good god all mighty

4 chips straight no doubt

[LoneyROY7]

Harden's career numbers since he came to Houston are reDICKulous.

[And1AllDay]

Bean missed playoffs in prime in 2005
Harden is 10/10 never missed the playoffs in his career

so theres that