Is Kobe Bryant really worth $27.8 million?

[One Love]

Yes... The bigger question is, "what will Kobe do after ext season when his contract expires"... I think he will play year by year at $20 million (like MJ did but MJ got $30 million)...

[Doormatt]

From a business side no. He has fans across the globe.. On the court yes he's overpaid but not by massive amount.

wait what. from a business side he is probably underpaid, considering how much revenue he generates for the lakers. on the court, if were comparing him to other superstars, then hes obviously overpaid as hes making the most money while not being the best anymore (probably not even top 5).

[LAKESHOW]

honestly, some of us have a short-term memory. Who in their right minds was gonna buy a ticket during the smush parker/Kwame brown days? Those years, he literally kept the fans in their seats for the franchise, when no way in hell those folks wouldve came back with a KOBE-less team. I think we also had Devean George and Chris mihms to boot. YIPPEEE. That wouldve been fun.

But at this time, in the glasses of today, it is alot of money. But he kept the franchise goin, until we were able to reload and gain 2 more titles. And now? We pay him for this 2 year stint, then have him stay on for a minimal check, or let him ride off into the sunset into retirement. Especially now, with our team ready to reload around a new cast of stars. Did it with Wilt, Kareem, Magic, Shaq, and now Kobe. We will continue to do so with the next set of stars...Pay him, and send him off into the sunset! Then very soon we hang his jersey in the rafters and move onto the next set of LAKER stars.

[Stebo_SSK]

Are people really questioning Kobe's contract and how much he is a worth? Are we too bored this offseason lol.

[madmaxmedia]

I would argue his ROI on the court is at least pretty good (if not great), and much better than a lot of max contracts out there.

You would have to really do a league-wide analysis of higher level contracts to properly place his contract. I mean just off the top of my head there are plenty of Joe Johnsons and Amare Stoudamires out there, but obviously there are a lot of high salary players with really high ROI too. But 'on the court', I think his contract is more than fine.

Forgetting the 'business side', if the Lakers had the option at the end of last season of dropping Kobe from the payroll, I think it's pretty obvious they would still choose to keep him- and this is strictly from a basketball perspective. Roughly speaking I would say that means he is worth his contract.

[Mamba Venom]

Is Kobe Bryant really worth $27.8 million?

Lakers signed a $20,000,000,000 TV deal. Kobe has been making Laker fans for 17 years. Magic also contributed a ton to helping the the Lakers amas more viewers than the lowest 16 teams combined (source Forbes).

Lakers also have more viewers than the Knicks #2 and the Bulls #3 combined.