Better defender - Karl Malone or Kobe Bryant

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Better defender - Karl Malone or Kobe Bryant 

Post#1 » by migya » Wed Aug 9, 2023 2:10 pm

Who was the better defender for peak and career - Malone or Kobe?
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Re: Better defender - Karl Malone or Kobe Bryant 

Post#2 » by Jaivl » Wed Aug 9, 2023 2:25 pm

Peak: Malone
Career: Malone

The career one is not even remotely close IMO.
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Re: Better defender - Karl Malone or Kobe Bryant 

Post#3 » by 70sFan » Wed Aug 9, 2023 2:31 pm

Malone and I don't find it close.
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Re: Better defender - Karl Malone or Kobe Bryant 

Post#4 » by Gibson22 » Wed Aug 9, 2023 3:52 pm

Yes, Malone. Maybe kobe is slightly highrer position/size relative but as far as real value it's not close at all
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Re: Better defender - Karl Malone or Kobe Bryant 

Post#5 » by rk2023 » Wed Aug 9, 2023 4:04 pm

Bryant at the peak of his defensive powers (99-00), Malone in a career sense
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Re: Better defender - Karl Malone or Kobe Bryant 

Post#6 » by One_and_Done » Wed Aug 9, 2023 9:45 pm

Jaivl wrote:Peak: Malone
Career: Malone

The career one is not even remotely close IMO.

Pretty much this.
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Re: Better defender - Karl Malone or Kobe Bryant 

Post#7 » by Cavsfansince84 » Wed Aug 9, 2023 10:10 pm

Malone's willingness to be physical on a night to night basis was really a strong part of his defense. Plus his general mean/dirty streak was a rim deterrent even if he didn't block many shots.
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Re: Better defender - Karl Malone or Kobe Bryant 

Post#8 » by penbeast0 » Wed Aug 9, 2023 11:06 pm

Karl Malone has the advantage of being a big. Kobe is probably better for a 2 in his early seasons than Malone for a 4. As time went on, though, this disappeared.
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Re: Better defender - Karl Malone or Kobe Bryant 

Post#9 » by Im Your Father » Thu Aug 10, 2023 12:06 am

So like for these big vs small defensive comparisons is it a question of defensive value, or defensive value over replacement.

I can see the argument for Kobe in the latter, but obviously the former will be difficult for a guard vs an above average big.

I think Kobe at his peak was a better defensive 2 than Malone was a 4, but for many years both based on attitude and also offensive load, he was a neutral to negative defender at least during the regular season.

That being said, I think if I'm building an elite defense, Malone isn't really the archetype I'd look for at PF.
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Re: Better defender - Karl Malone or Kobe Bryant 

Post#10 » by migya » Thu Aug 10, 2023 5:26 am

I think Malone overall was a better defender in both but Kobe is getting underrated a bit here. He may not be as good as all those defensive team selections but he was among the best SG defenders in his prime.

This leads to the conclusion that Malone was a better player overall for career and likely prime. I rate him higher than Kobe and just outside the top ten.
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Re: Better defender - Karl Malone or Kobe Bryant 

Post#11 » by Jaivl » Thu Aug 10, 2023 7:38 am

migya wrote:This leads to the conclusion that Malone was a better player overall for career and likely prime. I rate him higher than Kobe and just outside the top ten.

Woah, woah, chill. That's not the question being asked, at all. Kobe is leaps and bounds ahead as an offensive player.
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Re: Better defender - Karl Malone or Kobe Bryant 

Post#12 » by One_and_Done » Thu Aug 10, 2023 9:01 am

Karl Malone was a better player.
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Re: Better defender - Karl Malone or Kobe Bryant 

Post#13 » by Primedeion » Thu Aug 10, 2023 9:12 am

Kobe peaked higher. Second best defensive guard in the league at his best (01). Malone was more consistent.
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Re: Better defender - Karl Malone or Kobe Bryant 

Post#14 » by therealbig3 » Thu Aug 10, 2023 1:36 pm

Jaivl wrote:
migya wrote:This leads to the conclusion that Malone was a better player overall for career and likely prime. I rate him higher than Kobe and just outside the top ten.

Woah, woah, chill. That's not the question being asked, at all. Kobe is leaps and bounds ahead as an offensive player.


Trying to equate K. Malone and Kobe Bryant as offensive players is laughable to me, but I keep seeing it happen, this isn’t the first thread that’s done that, despite the thread title.

Kinda knew this was going to be a “well if K. Malone is better defensively, then isn’t he better overall because his offense was nearly as good and he played longer!” thread, because the answer for the OP is obvious and nobody really debates that.
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Re: Better defender - Karl Malone or Kobe Bryant 

Post#15 » by migya » Thu Aug 10, 2023 4:49 pm

therealbig3 wrote:
Jaivl wrote:
migya wrote:This leads to the conclusion that Malone was a better player overall for career and likely prime. I rate him higher than Kobe and just outside the top ten.

Woah, woah, chill. That's not the question being asked, at all. Kobe is leaps and bounds ahead as an offensive player.


Trying to equate K. Malone and Kobe Bryant as offensive players is laughable to me, but I keep seeing it happen, this isn’t the first thread that’s done that, despite the thread title.

Kinda knew this was going to be a “well if K. Malone is better defensively, then isn’t he better overall because his offense was nearly as good and he played longer!” thread, because the answer for the OP is obvious and nobody really debates that.



Defensively it doesn't standout as obvious as Kobe got so many defensive selections.

Nothing showing that Kobe was a better offensive player. Malone's foul drawing ability stands out probably more than anything else between them.
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Re: Better defender - Karl Malone or Kobe Bryant 

Post#16 » by therealbig3 » Thu Aug 10, 2023 6:04 pm

migya wrote:
therealbig3 wrote:
Jaivl wrote:Woah, woah, chill. That's not the question being asked, at all. Kobe is leaps and bounds ahead as an offensive player.


Trying to equate K. Malone and Kobe Bryant as offensive players is laughable to me, but I keep seeing it happen, this isn’t the first thread that’s done that, despite the thread title.

Kinda knew this was going to be a “well if K. Malone is better defensively, then isn’t he better overall because his offense was nearly as good and he played longer!” thread, because the answer for the OP is obvious and nobody really debates that.



Defensively it doesn't standout as obvious as Kobe got so many defensive selections.

Nothing showing that Kobe was a better offensive player. Malone's foul drawing ability stands out probably more than anything else between them.


Ball handling? Passing? Creating off the dribble? PnR passing? Outside shooting? Shot creation? Gravity?
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Re: Better defender - Karl Malone or Kobe Bryant 

Post#17 » by migya » Fri Aug 11, 2023 1:04 pm

therealbig3 wrote:
migya wrote:
therealbig3 wrote:
Trying to equate K. Malone and Kobe Bryant as offensive players is laughable to me, but I keep seeing it happen, this isn’t the first thread that’s done that, despite the thread title.

Kinda knew this was going to be a “well if K. Malone is better defensively, then isn’t he better overall because his offense was nearly as good and he played longer!” thread, because the answer for the OP is obvious and nobody really debates that.



Defensively it doesn't standout as obvious as Kobe got so many defensive selections.

Nothing showing that Kobe was a better offensive player. Malone's foul drawing ability stands out probably more than anything else between them.


Ball handling? Passing? Creating off the dribble? PnR passing? Outside shooting? Shot creation? Gravity?


Passing is close between the two. Pnr Malone is one of the best ever and he pulled the defense like few.

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