Is Kobe really an inefficient scorer?

[Original Baller]

I always hear this and I guess if you repeat something enough times people will begin to believe it. So I looked up the numbers to see if it was true. What easier way to find out if its true than comparing Kobe to everyone's favorite efficient scorer.....Michael Jordan.

***GASP***

DISCLAIMER: This is not a Kobe vs. MJ thread. I hereby proclaim Jordan the GOAT and swear that I am not insulting the name of our messiah by mentioning him in the same breathe with a mere mortal like Kobe Bryant.




Kobe Career FG%: 45.5%
Jordan Career FG%: 49.7%

By the look of this it seems as though maybe the talk is true about Kobe being an inefficient scorer. 4% seems like a sizable margin. But a closer look at the advanced shooting numbers kinda makes the difference in shooting efficiency not as sizable as it looks initially.

Kobe Career TS%: 55.7%
Jordan Career TS%: 56.9%

If 1.2% makes the difference between an efficient scorer and an inefficient scorer then my god is that a fine line.

Here are some other legends who might be inefficient scorer because they tow the line a little to closely.

West Career TS%: 55.0%
Oscar Career TS%: 56.4%
Bird Career TS%: 56.4%
Chamberlain Career TS%: 54.7%
Duncan Career TS%: 55.3%
LeBron Career TS%: 56.2%
Garnett Career TS%: 54.8%
Olajuwon Career TS%: 55.3%
Erving Career TS%: 55.8%

If Kobe is the line that can't be crossed then I guess that makes West, Chamberlain, Duncan, Garnett, and Hakeem also inefficient scorers. With all those other legends being also a razor's blade away from being inefficient scorers as well.

Interesting how all of them basically hover around 55-57%.

[Jimmy76]

has anyone really suggested he is?

he chucks at times and has some bad games but he's a pretty efficient overall

youd hear iverson compariosn if he wasnt efficient

not as efficient as Jordan but Jordan is at the top in this category

[jaypo]

It's not his scoring efficiency that's a problem. Historically, it has been his shot selection. From his days with Shaq to the last friggin' series he played! Teammates and coaches have always questioned his shot selection.

[Bgil]

not as efficient as Jordan but Jordan is at the top in this category

No he isn't. Jordan fans like to give you that impression by constantly comparing his stats obtained in a far less defensive era (and one requiring virtually no floor stretching/three point shooting) to the current era but there were lots of wings in MJ's era that shot as good or better percentages. Dantley, Magic, Kiki Vandeweghe, Alex English, Byron Scott, and James Worthy to name a few.

[disoblige]

Kobe eFG is only .488



His TS% only skyrockets because the NBA bails him with free throws. He is the face of the NBA.

[Ripp]

Scoring efficiency is nice, but Kobe creates offense for the rest of his teammates. Hyperefficient guys who consume offense only, rather than creating it aren't as valuable..

[Jimmy76]

Scoring efficiency is nice, but Kobe creates offense for the rest of his teammates. Hyperefficient guys who consume offense only, rather than creating it aren't as valuable..

he doesnt really excel at this is the things, he's pretty good but he isnt making number 2 sg ever and hof based on his playmaking

Kobe's talent is scoring

[Bgil]

Scoring efficiency is nice, but Kobe creates offense for the rest of his teammates. Hyperefficient guys who consume offense only, rather than creating it aren't as valuable..

he doesnt really excel at this is the things, he's pretty good but he isnt making number 2 sg ever and hof based on his playmaking

Kobe's talent is scoring

I think the key is his ability to adjust his game to teammates. If the Lakers were to structure their team to make Kobe the most efficient scorer then they'd put him in the post and have the other players spread the floor for him. Not unlike what the Bulls did for MJ.

When Gasol was out you saw Kobe playing some of the best basketball of his career from the low block. Gasol comes back and Kobe goes back to his perimeter/floor stretching/initiating spot.

[Dr Aki]

Scoring efficiency is nice, but Kobe creates offense for the rest of his teammates. Hyperefficient guys who consume offense only, rather than creating it aren't as valuable..

he doesnt really excel at this is the things, he's pretty good but he isnt making number 2 sg ever and hof based on his playmaking

Kobe's talent is scoring

fairly sure hes not referencing kobe's playmaking skills, (which are still top shelf for a shooting guard), but the fact he draws so much attention as a offensive player, it creates spacing and open/good looks for others within the confines of the triangle offense

[JackFinn]

What easier way to find out if its true than comparing Kobe to everyone's favorite efficient scorer.....Michael Jordan.

And what a more convenient way than including Michael's numbers till the age of 39.

[disoblige]

[BrooklynBulls]

Kobe Career TS%: 55.7%
Jordan Career TS%: 56.9%

If 1.2% makes the difference between an efficient scorer and an inefficient scorer then my god is that a fine line.

Jordan's career TS% is dragged down significantly by his stint with the Wizards. That wasn't really Jordan.

Jordan's Bulls Career TS%: 58.0

That turns 1.2% into 2.3%.

But that's not the entire story: despite Jordan having a higher usage (33.5 versus 31.3), he has a turnover percentage that's significantly lower.

Jordan's Bulls Career TO%: 9.3
Kobe's Career TO%: 11.4

This indicates that in 100 plays, Kobe would turn it over 2 more times than Jordan. That's a fairly significant number.

That's regular season. In the postseason, the difference between Jordan and Kobe's TS% is almost exactly the same, ditto the TO rate. Although Jordan's usage is much higher than Kobe's.

That's why when you watched Jordan, shot selection rarely seemed a problem "to the eyes." When you watch Kobe, it's a more common problem.

That's it.

[Donald Kaufman]

Need more Kobe/MJ threads.

[Bgil]

While looking at Kobe's page on basketball-reference.com one thing jumps out at me...

This **** created his own nickname and got it to stick.

[Jordan23Forever]

lol @ Kobe fans. So desperate.

Also, how about we take them from age 21-31 rather than for their careers, which includes numerous past-prime seasons for MJ.

[MasterRyu]

Kobe could really improve his effiiciency if he doesn't take those "KOBE" shots (hand in your face, dead ball -leaner, triple teamed, random three). Also, if he plays off the ball more, I can see him cracking 50% easily. Kobe is just making it hard for himself by playing the way he is.

If you take a look at guys like KG, he only takes money shots really. The wide open 20 footers and the 10 feet fadeways. Those are near-guaranteed for him. Kobe just loves to be dramatic.

I think once Kobe's finger is healed and fixed for good that we'll see a faster Kobe in terms of ball handling and a deadlier shooter. He should really go through with that surgery this offseason.

[Jordan23Forever]

In fact here, let me do it for you:

Taking them both through age 21-30 (eliminates poor early years for Kobe and later past prime years for MJ):

Kobe: 55.8% TS (percent above league avg: +2.9% ; peak above league avg: +3.9%)
Jordan: 59.1% TS (percent above league avg: +5.4% ; peak above league avg: +7.7%)

As you can see, the difference is significant, even when (perhaps especially when) we compare it to their respective league averages. And this is despite Kobe averaging 4.5 fewer ppg than Jordan over the same span (32.5 ppg vs. 28.0 ppg) and Jordan being the sole focus of every defense he ever faced, as compared to Kobe, who had Shaq who was the focus of the defense for 5 seasons. A 4.5 ppg/3.3% TS disparity is quite large when comparing players at this level (i.e., you're not comparing a 12 ppg/53% TS player to a 17 ppg/56% TS player here). And again, Jordan didn't have anyone to help alleviate defensive pressure like Kobe did.

[Volcano]

I think the key is his ability to adjust his game to teammates.

I thought that was one of his major weaknesses. In the Olympics, you had games where some players would be really effective for a game. For example, in one game, every time Wade would get the ball, he'd drive in for an easy lay-up..he was like 7 for 8. Yet, you still saw Kobe taking the most shots, missing and taking contested jumpers. Why would you do that when you have such good teammates doing better than you?

For the Lakers, I thought he tended to take the same type of shots once his team got better, just less of them. He provides attention to make it easier for his teammates to operate, but it works the other way around too. Yet, his shooting percentage seems around the same despite going from terrible to great teammates.

[That Nicka]

here we go

[JordansBulls]

He is inefficient when comparing him to MJ, but when comparing him to Tmac or Iverson he is not.

Also let's not forget that since 2003 Kobe has shot a worse FG% than his team average every year.
Jordan on the Bulls shot a better FG% than the team average every year.