Peaks: Highest Reasonable ranking for Kobe?
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2025 6:49 pm
Peak only, what would you say is the highest reasonable ranking for Kobe? Does he have a case for top 10?
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Matt15 wrote:Peak only, what would you say is the highest reasonable ranking for Kobe? Does he have a case for top 10?
ceoofkobefans wrote:not gonna talk about this much because hate the vast majority of kobe discourse on this forum but the highest I would reasonably put kobe's peak is probably 7th (just ahead of hakeem) or 8th (just ahead of steph) but i usually put him between 9-12 (lumped in with jokic magic and bird) maybe you could talk me into 5th or 6th over wilt or duncan but thats a tough argument and would take a lot of convincing to where I wouldn't say it's *reasonable*
Primedeion wrote:Anchored the #1 offense in the league. Far and away the best player on of the best teams ever. #2 in minute-adjusted RAPM. ATG postseason. ATG Finals against one of the best defenses ever. GOAT level skill set. Etc, etc.
Yeah, it's easily among the dozen best peaks ever.
TheGOATRises007 wrote:Primedeion wrote:Anchored the #1 offense in the league. Far and away the best player on of the best teams ever. #2 in minute-adjusted RAPM. ATG postseason. ATG Finals against one of the best defenses ever. GOAT level skill set. Etc, etc.
Yeah, it's easily among the dozen best peaks ever.
That's a bold take.
Even if you think Kobe provided more value than Shaq, suggesting the gap is ginormous seems incredibly off-base.
TheGOATRises007 wrote:Primedeion wrote:Anchored the #1 offense in the league. Far and away the best player on of the best teams ever. #2 in minute-adjusted RAPM. ATG postseason. ATG Finals against one of the best defenses ever. GOAT level skill set. Etc, etc.
Yeah, it's easily among the dozen best peaks ever.
That's a bold take.
Even if you think Kobe provided more value than Shaq, suggesting the gap is ginormous seems incredibly off-base.
Primedeion wrote:TheGOATRises007 wrote:Primedeion wrote:Anchored the #1 offense in the league. Far and away the best player on of the best teams ever. #2 in minute-adjusted RAPM. ATG postseason. ATG Finals against one of the best defenses ever. GOAT level skill set. Etc, etc.
Yeah, it's easily among the dozen best peaks ever.
That's a bold take.
Even if you think Kobe provided more value than Shaq, suggesting the gap is ginormous seems incredibly off-base.
I'm talking about the 09 Lakers... Advanced team metrics have them top 15 OAT and extremely comparable to teams like the 87 Lakers.
This is a team that completely dominated the league and yet they're hardly talked about.
They won 65 gms with a 7.3 SRS and won a great conference by ten games. They were one of the best "healthy/full-stregth" teams ever:
2008 Lakers: +9.7
2009 Lakers: +9.0
And they were utterly dominant in the post-season:
The 09 Lakers rank sixth all-time in leverage-adjusted playoff SRS
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-year-of-the-warriors/
https://fivethirtyeight.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/neil-warriors-2-0617.png?w=575
Ahead of teams like the 1992 Bulls, 87 Lakers, 08 Celtics, and 1997 Bulls.
Seventh all-time in ELO blend
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/after-all-that-the-warriors-arent-even-the-second-best-team-ever/
Ahead of teams like the 92 and 91 Bulls, 83 Sixers, 14 Spurs, and 72 and 87 Lakers.
The best NBA teams ever (according to Elo). The 09 Lakers ranked eighth all-time in overall ELO.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-warriors-are-in-the-goat-debate-but-they-blew-their-chance-to-end-it
The 09 Lakers are higher than teams like the 92 Bulls, 91 Bulls, 83 Sixers,2014 Spurs, etc
The 09 Lakers had the sixth greatest peak ELO Rating in NBA histroy at 1790.0:
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/last-years-warriors-werent-the-best-ever-but-this-years-might-be/
They completely dominated in the post-season:
Their post-season adjusted SRS of 12.7[/b] was the sixth highest since 1984: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-year-of-the-warriors
Here they're ahead of teams like the 85 Lakers, 87 Lakers, 08 Celtics, and 97 Bulls.
The 09 Kobe/Pau/Odom was one of the absolute the most dominant trio we have on record. [b]The Kobe/Pau/Odom 09 trio (+17.5 in 3739 possessions) was the one of the very best we have recorded.
The 09 Lakers were also very arguably the best passing team in the league. Their team passer rating was #1 in the league and #61 all-time: http://www.backpicks.com/2018/07/15/nba-passer-ratings-since-1978/
They rank #11 on Sansterre's extremely in-depth look of the best teams in history: viewtopic.php?f=64&t=2012241
[img]?s=19[/img]
No I don't think he peaked at 22 years old.
One_and_Done wrote:Primedeion wrote:TheGOATRises007 wrote:
That's a bold take.
Even if you think Kobe provided more value than Shaq, suggesting the gap is ginormous seems incredibly off-base.
I'm talking about the 09 Lakers... Advanced team metrics have them top 15 OAT and extremely comparable to teams like the 87 Lakers.
This is a team that completely dominated the league and yet they're hardly talked about.
They won 65 gms with a 7.3 SRS and won a great conference by ten games. They were one of the best "healthy/full-stregth" teams ever:
2008 Lakers: +9.7
2009 Lakers: +9.0
And they were utterly dominant in the post-season:
The 09 Lakers rank sixth all-time in leverage-adjusted playoff SRS
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-year-of-the-warriors/
https://fivethirtyeight.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/neil-warriors-2-0617.png?w=575
Ahead of teams like the 1992 Bulls, 87 Lakers, 08 Celtics, and 1997 Bulls.
Seventh all-time in ELO blend
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/after-all-that-the-warriors-arent-even-the-second-best-team-ever/
Ahead of teams like the 92 and 91 Bulls, 83 Sixers, 14 Spurs, and 72 and 87 Lakers.
The best NBA teams ever (according to Elo). The 09 Lakers ranked eighth all-time in overall ELO.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-warriors-are-in-the-goat-debate-but-they-blew-their-chance-to-end-it
The 09 Lakers are higher than teams like the 92 Bulls, 91 Bulls, 83 Sixers,2014 Spurs, etc
The 09 Lakers had the sixth greatest peak ELO Rating in NBA histroy at 1790.0:
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/last-years-warriors-werent-the-best-ever-but-this-years-might-be/
They completely dominated in the post-season:
Their post-season adjusted SRS of 12.7[/b] was the sixth highest since 1984: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-year-of-the-warriors
Here they're ahead of teams like the 85 Lakers, 87 Lakers, 08 Celtics, and 97 Bulls.
The 09 Kobe/Pau/Odom was one of the absolute the most dominant trio we have on record. [b]The Kobe/Pau/Odom 09 trio (+17.5 in 3739 possessions) was the one of the very best we have recorded.
The 09 Lakers were also very arguably the best passing team in the league. Their team passer rating was #1 in the league and #61 all-time: http://www.backpicks.com/2018/07/15/nba-passer-ratings-since-1978/
They rank #11 on Sansterre's extremely in-depth look of the best teams in history: viewtopic.php?f=64&t=2012241
[img]?s=19[/img]
No I don't think he peaked at 22 years old.
Advanced metrics say the OKC Thunder were the greatest team of all-time last season. Do you agree with that?
EmpireFalls wrote:What does the CEO of Kobe fans view as his peak season? That is perhaps more interesting than his rank.
Cavsfansince84 wrote:I think its reasonable to have it top 15 off the top of my head but.. that is only if the person doing the ranking is using a heavy emphasis on team success/playoffs for peak years and is consistent with it. Otherwise, I don't think he has much of a case for top 15. Even comparing him to 06 Wade idk if he should be higher.
One_and_Done wrote:Primedeion wrote:TheGOATRises007 wrote:
That's a bold take.
Even if you think Kobe provided more value than Shaq, suggesting the gap is ginormous seems incredibly off-base.
I'm talking about the 09 Lakers... Advanced team metrics have them top 15 OAT and extremely comparable to teams like the 87 Lakers.
This is a team that completely dominated the league and yet they're hardly talked about.
They won 65 gms with a 7.3 SRS and won a great conference by ten games. They were one of the best "healthy/full-stregth" teams ever:
2008 Lakers: +9.7
2009 Lakers: +9.0
And they were utterly dominant in the post-season:
The 09 Lakers rank sixth all-time in leverage-adjusted playoff SRS
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-year-of-the-warriors/
https://fivethirtyeight.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/neil-warriors-2-0617.png?w=575
Ahead of teams like the 1992 Bulls, 87 Lakers, 08 Celtics, and 1997 Bulls.
Seventh all-time in ELO blend
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/after-all-that-the-warriors-arent-even-the-second-best-team-ever/
Ahead of teams like the 92 and 91 Bulls, 83 Sixers, 14 Spurs, and 72 and 87 Lakers.
The best NBA teams ever (according to Elo). The 09 Lakers ranked eighth all-time in overall ELO.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-warriors-are-in-the-goat-debate-but-they-blew-their-chance-to-end-it
The 09 Lakers are higher than teams like the 92 Bulls, 91 Bulls, 83 Sixers,2014 Spurs, etc
The 09 Lakers had the sixth greatest peak ELO Rating in NBA histroy at 1790.0:
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/last-years-warriors-werent-the-best-ever-but-this-years-might-be/
They completely dominated in the post-season:
Their post-season adjusted SRS of 12.7[/b] was the sixth highest since 1984: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-year-of-the-warriors
Here they're ahead of teams like the 85 Lakers, 87 Lakers, 08 Celtics, and 97 Bulls.
The 09 Kobe/Pau/Odom was one of the absolute the most dominant trio we have on record. [b]The Kobe/Pau/Odom 09 trio (+17.5 in 3739 possessions) was the one of the very best we have recorded.
The 09 Lakers were also very arguably the best passing team in the league. Their team passer rating was #1 in the league and #61 all-time: http://www.backpicks.com/2018/07/15/nba-passer-ratings-since-1978/
They rank #11 on Sansterre's extremely in-depth look of the best teams in history: viewtopic.php?f=64&t=2012241
[img]?s=19[/img]
No I don't think he peaked at 22 years old.
Advanced metrics say the OKC Thunder were the greatest team of all-time last season. Do you agree with that?
falcolombardi wrote:
I am fine with kobe as a top 15 peak albeit i think you sell him a bit short (and i surprise myself a bit by "defending" kobe who i am used to troll about because of his stans being super annoying)
He was a great offensive engine who was overated defenseively but was not a targetable weakness (like say, nash), his game sustained well in the post season relative to most, had demostrable success pairing with talented big men and synergizing with them
Like i probably dont put him top 10 but i wouldnt disagree with someone ranking him highly as a resilient playoffs scorer/passer and ranked him above like, bird or garnett based in said playoffs resiliency even if his regular season efficiency is somewhat uninspiring
If the peaks project had not gone the bambi mother way i woukd see myself putting him 11-13 most likely
falcolombardi wrote:One_and_Done wrote:Primedeion wrote:
I'm talking about the 09 Lakers... Advanced team metrics have them top 15 OAT and extremely comparable to teams like the 87 Lakers.
This is a team that completely dominated the league and yet they're hardly talked about.
They won 65 gms with a 7.3 SRS and won a great conference by ten games. They were one of the best "healthy/full-stregth" teams ever:
2008 Lakers: +9.7
2009 Lakers: +9.0
And they were utterly dominant in the post-season:
The 09 Lakers rank sixth all-time in leverage-adjusted playoff SRS
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-year-of-the-warriors/
https://fivethirtyeight.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/neil-warriors-2-0617.png?w=575
Ahead of teams like the 1992 Bulls, 87 Lakers, 08 Celtics, and 1997 Bulls.
Seventh all-time in ELO blend
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/after-all-that-the-warriors-arent-even-the-second-best-team-ever/
Ahead of teams like the 92 and 91 Bulls, 83 Sixers, 14 Spurs, and 72 and 87 Lakers.
The best NBA teams ever (according to Elo). The 09 Lakers ranked eighth all-time in overall ELO.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-warriors-are-in-the-goat-debate-but-they-blew-their-chance-to-end-it
The 09 Lakers are higher than teams like the 92 Bulls, 91 Bulls, 83 Sixers,2014 Spurs, etc
The 09 Lakers had the sixth greatest peak ELO Rating in NBA histroy at 1790.0:
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/last-years-warriors-werent-the-best-ever-but-this-years-might-be/
They completely dominated in the post-season:
Their post-season adjusted SRS of 12.7[/b] was the sixth highest since 1984: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-year-of-the-warriors
Here they're ahead of teams like the 85 Lakers, 87 Lakers, 08 Celtics, and 97 Bulls.
The 09 Kobe/Pau/Odom was one of the absolute the most dominant trio we have on record. [b]The Kobe/Pau/Odom 09 trio (+17.5 in 3739 possessions) was the one of the very best we have recorded.
The 09 Lakers were also very arguably the best passing team in the league. Their team passer rating was #1 in the league and #61 all-time: http://www.backpicks.com/2018/07/15/nba-passer-ratings-since-1978/
They rank #11 on Sansterre's extremely in-depth look of the best teams in history: viewtopic.php?f=64&t=2012241
[img]?s=19[/img]
No I don't think he peaked at 22 years old.
Advanced metrics say the OKC Thunder were the greatest team of all-time last season. Do you agree with that?
Regular season wise? Yes pretty damn easily among the top contenders
Team literally walked to 68 wins while missing a top player for most of the season, and had more time ahead by +15 that trailing by any amount