Was Kobe Bryant ever the best player in the league?

[AnaheimRoyale]

No.

The dude played in a time where other guys were much more impactful players: Shaq, Duncan, Lebron, even KG. But he was still a top 15 talent all-time, there was just never a year when he was "the best", and his 08 MVP is widely discredited as a lifetime achievement award.

[HurricaneKid]

Has the best player in the NBA EVER played ona .500 team?

are you really this ignorant of NBA history ?

good god, would it kill a you guys to know what you're talking about once in a while ? jeez.

After my coffee this morning a **** out more basketball knowledge than you have obtained in your lifetime.

[Black Feet]

From 06-10 he was consensus best player in the league

[Lightning25]

Maybe 06. But LeBron's been better since 07-08

I don't see much of an argument for Lebron those two seasons. He was just a worse overall player than Kobe was in ... '08.

Oh good, you were just trolling. No argument?!??

28.3/6.3/5.4 on .459.
30.0/7.9/7.2 on .484.

Christ, the difference between them, 1.7ppg, 1.6reb, 1.8asst would make a guy a decent amount of money.

What were the post-season stats? Or do you only want to ignore that because Kobe's was much better?

It kind of helps that LeBron played like 40 mpg in the regular season too that season while Kobe wasn't. Kobe also had a superior record than LeBron that season but I don't see you bringing that up.

[Mamba Venom]

Never when Kobe was scoring 81, he wasn't that good. In 2008 when the media said he was clearly the best player on the Redeem team and it was like watching a varsity kid play against JV, it was because the other best players in the world were not from the USA.

[SadKingsFan]

He won an MVP and was robbed of a second one.

!!!!

Do you all hate Kobe that much? Wtf. What a dumb question. KG was the best player in the league
in 08?! The delusions

[AnaheimRoyale]

RPOY project doesn't lie, not that much, and not when the majority of voters were Laker fans. Kobe just never was that good. He should be getting compared to guys like Barkley, not Lebron, Duncan and Shaq.

[AnaheimRoyale]

RPOY project doesn't lie, not that much, and not when the majority of voters were Laker fans. Kobe just never was that good. He should be getting compared to guys like Barkley, not Lebron, Duncan and Shaq.

[SadKingsFan]

From 06-10 he was consensus best player in the league

Took SMUSH freaking Parker, Kwame and Luke Walton to the playoffs In the WESTern conference. 45 wins ... Who else? Kobe.

And wtf is RPOY or whatever the hell? Stop it. Win shares and all that mess you all discuss, is SO extra and irrelevant sometimes. Use your eyes and watch these games. Kobe's footwork, Mid range jumpshot and ball handling ability in his prime>>>> Lebrons anything

And that's before we even get to the clutch factor.

[Dupp]

Anyhow I'd say Kobe was the best from 2006-2008 then LeBron took over from there

This is also my view.

[Grumpy Heat Fan]

Never when Kobe was scoring 81, he wasn't that good. In 2008 when the media said he was clearly the best player on the Redeem team and it was like watching a varsity kid play against JV, it was because the other best players in the world were not from the USA.

Son. Dwyane Wade was the MVP of the Redeem Team. Clearly, you didn't watch the Olympics then. I think I even remember Wade winning the MVP vote for the Redeem Team.

and LeBron's been the best since 2008-2009

[Ice Trae]

durrrrrrr....

[primecougar]

Never when Kobe was scoring 81, he wasn't that good. In 2008 when the media said he was clearly the best player on the Redeem team and it was like watching a varsity kid play against JV, it was because the other best players in the world were not from the USA.

Son. Dwyane Wade was the MVP of the Redeem Team. Clearly, you didn't watch the Olympics then. I think I even remember Wade winning the MVP vote for the Redeem Team.

and LeBron's been the best since 2008-2009

Oh really because I remember the team won Bronze without Kobe and if it weren't for his clutch play in the gold medal game they would've got silver.

Kobe either scored or assisted on the last 17 points. He hit the clutch 4 point play as well.
Keep telling your self that wade was the MVP. All the Nba stars said they learned a lot of from Kobe during that time

[carpediem]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71pR09mF2qU[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZbAh1wPoNI[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_hJuAyQkpI[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyhX2YMgNvs[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVEk7V7sqyA&feature=related[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liKW_fyV-UQ&feature=related[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sTlxfIEx2I&feature=related[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gsYi0CJvm0[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBqL2ikTgGY[/youtube]

lots of people on this forum think they're more knowledgeable about basketball than the ones above

[HurricaneKid]

I don't see much of an argument for Lebron those two seasons. He was just a worse overall player than Kobe was in ... '08.

Oh good, you were just trolling. No argument?!??

28.3/6.3/5.4 on .459.
30.0/7.9/7.2 on .484.

Christ, the difference between them, 1.7ppg, 1.6reb, 1.8asst would make a guy a decent amount of money.

What were the post-season stats? Or do you only want to ignore that because Kobe's was much better?

It kind of helps that LeBron played like 40 mpg in the regular season too that season while Kobe wasn't. Kobe also had a superior record than LeBron that season but I don't see you bringing that up.

Your very last post said one guy isn't responsible for record. Now that is he only response you have? Your consistency is laughable.

And LOL at LeBron played 40 and Kobe didn't! Kobe played 39mpg.

Playoffs:
28.2/7.8/7.6
30.1/5.7/5.6

You realize all we have heard from Kobe fans for years is "Da 5 Ringz". Now when we ask when he was the best you point to two seasons when he led them to B2B 7 seeds and no playoff series wins. Seems an appropriate time to point out that LeBron has zero 1st round exits.

[Bertrob]

lots of people on this forum think they're more knowledgeable about basketball than the ones above

Just because you're an NBA player doesn't mean your word is iron when it comes to rating players

[ISB]

I think Duncan/KG were better than Kobe 2003-2008, and Lebron was better 2009 and beyond.

[Not Bias]

05-06 to 09-10

[Lightning25]

Your very last post said one guy isn't responsible for record. Now that is he only response you have? Your consistency is laughable.

I just find it funny how record counts when it works against Kobe but when it works for Kobe, you ignore it like you do right now when comparing Kobe-LeBron in 2008.

And LOL at LeBron played 40 and Kobe didn't! Kobe played 39mpg.

Playoffs:
28.2/7.8/7.6
30.1/5.7/5.6

Let me add the FG% in that, Kobe shot 48% in the '08 playoffs, LeBron shot 41% in the playoffs. Then factor in how Kobe went up against superior competition while LeBron played against the Wizards and it's pretty easy to figure out why LeBron's pts/asts/rbs were higher. They both played against the Celtics though and Kobe performed much better.

You realize all we have heard from Kobe fans for years is "Da 5 Ringz". Now when we ask when he was the best you point to two seasons when he led them to B2B 7 seeds and no playoff series wins. Seems an appropriate time to point out that LeBron has zero 1st round exits.

I'm sure Kobe would win every 1st round series if he played against the Wizards for 3 straight years like LBJ did in '06-'08 even if Kobe had the teammates he had in '06 and '07.

[MannyRam99]

05-06 to 09-10