Kobe in his prime?

[Sofa King]

Is Kobe currently in his prime of his career or did that just pass him? Jordan was coming and going back to basketball at Kobe's age while still winning championships. But Kobe has way more games under his belt and I don't think Kobe will play baseball anytime soon (well maybe soccer.)

Kobe SHOULD have another good 3-4-5 years left to be at his best and then we'll see his numbers decline. Hopefully there will be championships in those years.

[Slava]

There's no reason for Kobe to not be good until he retires. All the hardwork in the offseason has to come to something right?

Anyways I don't expect a player that depends so much on post ups and fadeaways to decline until he faces a severe injury.

[magic1fan]

it's really hard to tell with someone as good as kobe. when he was putting up crazy numbers he was dogged for not involving everyone. now his numbershave taken a little hit,and he is declining to some. people seem to forget that he was still third in scoring,and he still had the single highest scoring game of the season i think in new york. kobe's skillset could take him another 7-8 years imo as a 20ppg scorer. he doesn't need to jump through the roof,to get his. he doesn't bull his way to the basket.

[Dr Aki]

well his knees arent what they used to be

but hey, hes in the natural evolution of a basketballer: athletic freak no longer, hes prolonged his career by acquiring skills and minimising his injuries

when he can no longer defend quick SGs, all he does is bulk up and try to defend SFs

hes in his prime now, superstar til hes 34, allstar level til hes 38 (later years mainly outta respect and popularity like MJ, kareem)

[Gerald3Wallace]

50 year old kobe would still be beast..

seriously though, kobe is the hardest working player in the league, i still think he can probably average 24+ points a game till hes probably 36

[TylersLakers]

Next 3 years: Same Kobe as always. He'll pace himself more and more, but you'll see the flashes just about every game. 25-28 PPG.

3 years after that: He'll be much more of a facilitator, he won't be nearly as explosive as now or in the past, but coming down the stretch, he'll still be a number one guy for us. 17-22 PPG, 5-8 APG.

He'll adjust his game as he gets to 34-37 years of age.

[EHL]

He'll start declining about the same time KG started to this season, about 33 or so. KG being the best comparison due to the age he entered the league as well as minutes played on his body.

I wonder if there are still people left that think mileage means more than age. KG, Moses Malone, and several other HS players should have already put that to bed by now you'd think.

[Buckeye-NBAFan]

3 years after that: He'll be much more of a facilitator, he won't be nearly as explosive as now or in the past, but coming down the stretch, he'll still be a number one guy for us. 17-22 PPG, 5-8 APG.

When Jordan got old, he became less involved in the offense, not more. And his apg went down. If Kobe never averaged 8 apg before, and he isn't now with the ball in his hands often and the most offensively talented team in the league around him, he isn't going to average more assists later in his career. That's just not his game.

[Mamba Venom]

The main thing is the Lakers owe it to the fans and Kobe to NEVER trade him even when he is past his prime. I don't want to see them pushing him out the door until he is at least 38. I don't care about rebuilding earlier... keep this group together and don;t botch the fans memories and disrespect the players and fans like the way 2004 went down...

Bynum will want the team and at some point the Lakers will be tempted but you know what don't do that to this core let Gasol Kobe and Odom retire together 4 or 5 championships from now as the best ever.

[KObe Bryant]

He's in his prime and I think it'll be until he's 34 or 35. He could still win one or two MVP's in 5 years. I

[magic1fan]

3 years after that: He'll be much more of a facilitator, he won't be nearly as explosive as now or in the past, but coming down the stretch, he'll still be a number one guy for us. 17-22 PPG, 5-8 APG.

When Jordan got old, he became less involved in the offense, not more. And his apg went down. If Kobe never averaged 8 apg before, and he isn't now with the ball in his hands often and the most offensively talented team in the league around him, he isn't going to average more assists later in his career. That's just not his game.

kobe is still getting 5 dimes while he is able to score at will. as his scoring declines it is not outrageous to think he could put up three more assists a game.

[kevin_405]

Kobe has already reduced going to the basket.. Most of his scoring is coming from post ups which are a low physical risk, low turnover , high percentage shot.. plus also any double teams are easier to handle..

This should keep Kobe active and probably injury free at top level for another 3-4 years.

[Erik Eleven]

Kobe has already reduced going to the basket.. Most of his scoring is coming from post ups which are a low physical risk, low turnover , high percentage shot.. plus also any double teams are easier to handle..

This should keep Kobe active and probably injury free at top level for another 3-4 years.

qft

I think his decline will start to gradually show itself within three years or so. If healthy, he can stay effective until he's 40. Once his career is over, I bet you all he's going to be a coach — a good one, too.

[magic1fan]

Kobe has already reduced going to the basket.. Most of his scoring is coming from post ups which are a low physical risk, low turnover , high percentage shot.. plus also any double teams are easier to handle..

This should keep Kobe active and probably injury free at top level for another 3-4 years.

qft

I think his decline will start to gradually show itself within three years or so. If healthy, he can stay effective until he's 40. Once his career is over, I bet you all he's going to be a coach — a good one, too.

i don't know about coaching. he seems to head strong for that. he will not tolerate weak players,and since 95% of the league is weak that would not be a good match imo...

[kevin_405]

Would be a jordanesq failed attempt.. i think he would do better as a color commentator..

Coaching needs man management skills not Kobes strong point.. It took him so long to play a team game.. Look at the number of enemies he has made so far in his career...

To be a good coach u need a Jason Kidd like temperament.. a complete opp of Kobe...

Kobe has already reduced going to the basket.. Most of his scoring is coming from post ups which are a low physical risk, low turnover , high percentage shot.. plus also any double teams are easier to handle..

This should keep Kobe active and probably injury free at top level for another 3-4 years.

qft

I think his decline will start to gradually show itself within three years or so. If healthy, he can stay effective until he's 40. Once his career is over, I bet you all he's going to be a coach — a good one, too.

i don't know about coaching. he seems to head strong for that. he will not tolerate weak players,and since 95% of the league is weak that would not be a good match imo...

[kobeaki]

3 years after that: He'll be much more of a facilitator, he won't be nearly as explosive as now or in the past, but coming down the stretch, he'll still be a number one guy for us. 17-22 PPG, 5-8 APG.

When Jordan got old, he became less involved in the offense, not more. And his apg went down. If Kobe never averaged 8 apg before, and he isn't now with the ball in his hands often and the most offensively talented team in the league around him, he isn't going to average more assists later in his career. That's just not his game.

that is only worthy as an opinion....the knock on kobe when shaq left was HE COULD NOT PASS, COULD NOT SHARE...(nevermind the peeps that said that didnt watch him actually play with shaq)...

but he has adjusted his game, he has become a very respectable passer/sharer of the the rock...

so it is certainly possible that he could presume that role , and grow it as he ages, even more so, it is highly probable, as the dude has had to reinvent himself a couple of times already...

[crazytown]

Jordan lengthened his career by mastering the fadeaway jumpshot. Kobe's going to need to do the same as it's obvious he's nowhere near as explosive as he once was.

[KobeFan]

What!?!? Kobe is going to be elite until he's 40, he still has 5 MVPs and at least that many championships left in him. He's KOBE BRYANT! the franchise owes it to us to keep a $20+M leach on the payroll while the team suffers through several mediocre seasons -- letting him go is a slap in the face to those of us who are Laker fans!

Kobe has been in decline for the last couple of seasons -- and will continue to see a diminished role until he finally hangs them up. Next year will be his 14th NBA season -- many of those seasons playing late into the playoffs -- all of those minutes add up.

Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant are equally as valuable to the franchise right now, and Gasol will be more valuable going forward given his youth.