What would Peak Kobe average in today’s NBA?

[Matt15]

Say Peak Kobe replaced DeMar DeRozan on the Bulls what do you think his averages would look like?

[No-more-rings]

On those bulls? Probably something like 34/7/5 60 ts% I would guess.

[giordunk]

Peak Kobe wasn't that long ago...

Peak Kobe implies an MVP season type performance, so if you look at James Harden's MVP season around 36-7-7 then it would be something similar with Kobe.

[HeartBreakKid]

I mean it would depend on how much he shoots.

[rand]

I mean it would depend on how much he shoots.

Yeah this is the key, and where OP's hypothetical of Kobe replacing DeMar comes into play. At his scoring peak in 2006 the Lakers were so talent poor that Kobe was pressed into playing 41 MPG and consumed the 3rd highest usage of all-time, 38.7%. In Kobe's MVP year just two seasons later, with a lot more offensive capacity on the roster, those numbers dropped to 38.9 MPG and 31.4% usage. The level of offensive talent on these Bulls is comparable to (if not better than) the 2008-2010 Lakers. I'm guessing Kobe would be handling about 38 MPG and 32% usage on Chicago, though some of the lost possessions from reduced minutes would be recovered from higher pace, and his efficiency should get a marginal boost between the eras, to around 59-60% TS.

On the Bulls, I'd say Kobe would average about 30-31 PPG. But if Kobe were on a team today with a lot less offensive talent in place of their lead scorer, like the Kings or Knicks, his PPG would go up maybe to 33-34 PPG. If he were on a team which was comparably offensive talent poor to the 2006 Lakers like one of the bottom feeders, his scoring average might exceed his historical peak of 35.4 PPG, depending on how much the increased pace of the modern game would dictate a drop in minutes. No one today plays the 41 MPG Kobe played in 2006.

[Somegothnerd]

06 Kobe would average 40/6/5/2/60% TS. Easily.

[AussieBuck]

soooo Kobe is just going to be randomly better than he ever was just because?

[70sFan]

I don't think Kobe scoring average would increase that much (if at all). I agree he would be a bit more efficient due to different style of play and slightly different officiating.

The biggest difference is that his passing ability would be utilized more in modern game. It wouldn't necessarily make his assist averages higher, but it would be noticeable. Kobe was excellent passer who rarely had opportunity to make a full use of it. I think that would change.

[McBubbles]

06 Kobe would average 40/6/5/2/60% TS. Easily.

I say closer to 37/7/6 on 58TS%

Increased pace + offensively friendlier environment = about a 2 point increase on the same rTS%.

Increased pace + increased long rebounds from more 3's being taken = 7 a game.

Increased pace = extra assist. Despite the conventional " X only gets so many assists because they're surrounded by shooters" wisdom I think 3 point volume actually decreases assist numbers. It's a more efficient shot but it goes in less often than 2's which. Although you could say the spacing that 3's provide would allow for more assists around the rim but the numbers we have from assist leaders have been steadily decreasing for awhile now so I'm not sure if that's the case.

[feyki]

06 Kobe translates 38/5 with %60 TS and 123 ORtg, 08 Playoffs Kobe translates 34/6,5 with %65 TS and 128 ORtg while having all defensive team level defensive impact(if it's any concrete in the 2021 ).

[NbaAllDay]

Every ATG gets such a bump in their stats when ported into the future but always dropped when ported back.

[RCM88x]

40/7/7 on 60% TS because they don't play defense in today's league

[Jaivl]

06 Kobe would average 40/6/5/2/60% TS. Easily.

Only 40/6/5/2/60% TS???

Good joke, hater. Try 47/10/12/3/67% TS.

Freaking casual.

[KobesScarf]

I mean it would depend on how much he shoots.

Yeah this is the key, and where OP's hypothetical of Kobe replacing DeMar comes into play. At his scoring peak in 2006 the Lakers were so talent poor that Kobe was pressed into playing 41 MPG and consumed the 3rd highest usage of all-time, 38.7%. In Kobe's MVP year just two seasons later, with a lot more offensive capacity on the roster, those numbers dropped to 38.9 MPG and 31.4% usage. The level of offensive talent on these Bulls is comparable to (if not better than) the 2008-2010 Lakers. I'm guessing Kobe would be handling about 38 MPG and 32% usage on Chicago, though some of the lost possessions from reduced minutes would be recovered from higher pace, and his efficiency should get a marginal boost between the eras, to around 59-60% TS.

On the Bulls, I'd say Kobe would average about 30-31 PPG. But if Kobe were on a team today with a lot less offensive talent in place of their lead scorer, like the Kings or Knicks, his PPG would go up maybe to 33-34 PPG. If he were on a team which was comparably offensive talent poor to the 2006 Lakers like one of the bottom feeders, his scoring average might exceed his historical peak of 35.4 PPG, depending on how much the increased pace of the modern game would dictate a drop in minutes. No one today plays the 41 MPG Kobe played in 2006.

The level of offensive talent on these Bulls is comparable to (if not better than) the 2008-2010 Lakers.

Lol no. Pau & Odom>>>>Lavine, Vucevic and Lonzi

[Black Feet]

I mean it would depend on how much he shoots.

Yeah this is the key, and where OP's hypothetical of Kobe replacing DeMar comes into play. At his scoring peak in 2006 the Lakers were so talent poor that Kobe was pressed into playing 41 MPG and consumed the 3rd highest usage of all-time, 38.7%. In Kobe's MVP year just two seasons later, with a lot more offensive capacity on the roster, those numbers dropped to 38.9 MPG and 31.4% usage. The level of offensive talent on these Bulls is comparable to (if not better than) the 2008-2010 Lakers. I'm guessing Kobe would be handling about 38 MPG and 32% usage on Chicago, though some of the lost possessions from reduced minutes would be recovered from higher pace, and his efficiency should get a marginal boost between the eras, to around 59-60% TS.

On the Bulls, I'd say Kobe would average about 30-31 PPG. But if Kobe were on a team today with a lot less offensive talent in place of their lead scorer, like the Kings or Knicks, his PPG would go up maybe to 33-34 PPG. If he were on a team which was comparably offensive talent poor to the 2006 Lakers like one of the bottom feeders, his scoring average might exceed his historical peak of 35.4 PPG, depending on how much the increased pace of the modern game would dictate a drop in minutes. No one today plays the 41 MPG Kobe played in 2006.

The level of offensive talent on these Bulls is comparable to (if not better than) the 2008-2010 Lakers.

Lol no. Pau & Odom>>>>Lavine, Vucevic and Lonzi

Lmao you can’t be serious, if you took out Lavine that sentence makes sense otherwise you have no idea what your taking about.

[Jaqua92]

34/5/5/2 46/36/87

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[Hook_Em]

06 Kobe would average 40/6/5/2/60% TS. Easily.

Harden/KD were better offensively and never averaged 40. So no.

[Stalwart]

Kobe would average whatever he wanted to. On a decently talented team like the Bulls I think Kobe would be more focused on getting the team to gel more than he would be trying to put up huge numbers. If you adjust for inflation I see him putting up 32 or 33ppg with 6 or 7 assists and rebounds per game.

If he was on a crap team amd wanted to go full 2006 then I see him getting up to 36 or 38ppg.

[No-more-rings]

06 Kobe would average 40/6/5/2/60% TS. Easily.

I say closer to 37/7/6 on 58TS%

Increased pace + offensively friendlier environment = about a 2 point increase on the same rTS%.

The league average ts% was 57.2 in 2021, this year it's probably at least as high. Kobe was +2.3 in 2006, +3.9 in 07, and +3.6 in 2008. Maybe I'm nitpicking, but I'm pretty certain he'd do better than 58 ts% based on that. They aren't perfect estimates, but I feel pretty good with the 60 ts% I mentioned, though honestly he could do even better depending on how well his 3 holds up on an increased volume.

[HeartBreakKid]

06 Kobe would average 40/6/5/2/60% TS. Easily.

I say closer to 37/7/6 on 58TS%

Increased pace + offensively friendlier environment = about a 2 point increase on the same rTS%.

The league average ts% was 57.2 in 2021, this year it's probably at least as high. Kobe was +2.3 in 2006, +3.9 in 07, and +3.6 in 2008. Maybe I'm nitpicking, but I'm pretty certain he'd do better than 58 ts% based on that. They aren't perfect estimates, but I feel pretty good with the 60 ts% I mentioned, though honestly he could do even better depending on how well his 3 holds up on an increased volume.

The league average is lower this year than last.