Did Kobe peak the highest of his era’s 2 guards?

[ceiling raiser]

I think you can argue this. I actually might side with the Bean here. Other contenders:

• Wade - Close but I think 01 was a higher level.
• TMac - Honestly I was never super impressed. Noisy efficiency numbers.
• Manu - Per minute sure, you can argue it. But Kobe could play bigger minutes.
• Allen - This one isn’t super close to me. I think Kobe was better on both ends.
• Iverson - Added due to popular request (i view him as a PG)

What do you all think? Anybody I’m forgetting? I think Kobe is one of the best two guards of the 2000s.

[sigueina]

Kobe 2001 playoffs where great and the 2006 season (81 Pts)is where T.Mac, Allen, Wade and Manu are not close.

[picc]

Playing chess now, huh?

[Onlytimewilltel]

, this is Kobe vs Wade for peak. How is Manu and Ray Allen in this convo? I got Wade first for peak, then Kobe then Tmac (Wade and Kobe close, t-Mac more behind obviously). Many and Ray shouldn’t be in this convo.

[LAL1947]

I think Kobe is one of the best two guards of the 2000s.

Kobe wasn't just one of the best two-guards for the 2000s... he was the best two-guard. He was also the best player of the decade between 2001 and 2010. Some might argue Tim Duncan but they'd be wrong. A simple ring check of the 2000s says Kobe won 4 titles in this decade while Duncan won 3 titles (and it should have only been 2, but the Spurs robbed the Suns in 2006-07). There are some disingenuous peeps who will then try to throw shade on "rangz counting", as they know they have no argument against this.... but Duncan had as many years (if not more) in the 2000s when he had a better overall roster than Kobe, so why the heck should I not count rings?

#WithMyNitpickingOutOfTheWay

When you say "Allen", do you mean Ray Allen or Allen Iverson?

To rank the peaks of the guys you listed...

1) Kobe
2) T-Mac
3) Wade

Kobe has the best skills/talent and BBIQ of all these players you named. He was always one step ahead of the others, figuratively. T-Mac was close to Kobe but unfortunate injuries did T-Mac in. Putting Wade over Kobe is like trying to put Tatum over Luka at this moment IMO. And the athleticism and defense difference between Wade-Kobe is much narrower than it is between Tatum-Luka. Luka is also figuratively one step ahead of others he competes against (except maybe Jokic).

These convos have been rehashed so many times over the years though, that I've long since given up trying to understand this... to each their own, I guess.

[prophet_of_rage]

Iverson doesn't exist?

Sent from my SM-N970W using Tapatalk

[LarsV8]

Peak? No.

His peak was not all that high, compared to other all time greats.

Wade / Tmac peaked higher.

Kobe's greatness was more about his longevity of greatness, not his peak greatness.

[Raps in 4]

I think Wade peaked higher, but he also flamed out quickly.

[Matt15]

Kobe peaked the highest. Second is Wade and then T-Mac.

[JayMKE]

Maybe Wade at his peak was close but yeah probably Kobe

[Statlanta]

I think 2008 is a level above 2001 Iverson, 2005 Ginobili, 2006 Wade, and 2003 McGrady

[rate_]

Wade peaked highest among SGs for sure. This topic has been beaten to death, and the box score & impact metrics say it’s Wade comfortably

[gorz]

,Not only did kobe peak the highest he is the best player from 2000-2010.

[thebigbird]

,Not only did kobe peak the highest he is the best player from 2000-2010.

He wasn’t the best player at any point during that span, let alone over the entire decade.

[NYKnickerbocker]

Wade definitely had the highest peak of the bunch. But that only lasted maybe 1.5 seasons lol

[BobbyPortisEyes]

What do you all think? Anybody I’m forgetting? I think Kobe is one of the best two guards of the 2000s.

Gilbert Arenas, Jerry Stackhouse and Ricky Davis


Why do you keep doing this? This is a neurological disorder

[bbalnation]

Peak? No.

His peak was not all that high, compared to other all time greats.

Wade / Tmac peaked higher.

Kobe's greatness was more about his longevity of greatness, not his peak greatness.

2002 was great for him statistically. He was #2 in the league in PPG, and #1 in total points. His team lost to the eventual champion Spurs that year, led by Tim (29/17/4.6, on 42.6% FG, 77.4% FT in 5 games against the Lakers)

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2003_per_game.html#per_game_stats::pts_per_g

2005 was his scoring peak:

35.4/4.5/5.3 on 45/34.7/85%
12.2 out of 27 FG
2.3/6.5 3PG

These were the other league leaders in points.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2006_per_game.html#per_game_stats::pts_per_g

2006 wasn't too shabby either.
https://www.espn.in/nba/stats/player/_/season/2007/seasontype/2

2008-2011 were pretty great, relative to his peers.
https://www.espn.in/nba/stats/player/_/season/2012/seasontype/2

Imo, between 2000-2011: Kobe was a 2 way player. He had speed, size and/or strength for his position. He committed defensively for a lot of those years (stats can confirm this) and continued to improve his high understanding of team and individual defensive concepts relative to his peers.

His team made the Playoffs every year between 1999-2011, except for 2004.

7 Finals
3 as a 1st option
4 as a 2nd option

5 championships
2 as a 1st option
3 as a 2nd option

[hardenASG13]

,Not only did kobe peak the highest he is the best player from 2000-2010.

He wasn’t the best player at any point during that span, let alone over the entire decade.

Agree, it was Shaq, then briefly Duncan/Wade and then Lebron from 08 on.

[Flash4thewin]

If we are talking about peak, their is no question Wade wins it. Kobe has a longer duration period.

Also remember Kobe in todays social media world would get destroyed. His draft stunt, breaking the locker room decorum about being a snitch. That’s not even touching his rape charges and the millions he paid to settle. Do that today ouch.

[theforumblue]

after wade and harden who cares which one of the other SGs barely make top 25 all time?