Why do people say Kobe has great longevity?

brianjohnson123 · Post #1 » by **brianjohnson123** » Thu May 23, 2013 4:59 am

I've heard a lot of people say Kobe Bryant has great longevity. How exactly has he had great longevity? Since 2009 he clearly hasn't been the player he used to be. Actually it isn't even close whatsoever. so idk why people say that.

The Explorer · Post #2 » by **The Explorer** » Thu May 23, 2013 5:04 am

Because he's been playing at a high level for about 16 years. Not many people do that.

Post #3 » by **Doctor MJ** » Thu May 23, 2013 5:04 am

brianjohnson123 wrote:I've heard a lot of people say Kobe Bryant has great longevity. How exactly has he had great longevity? Since 2009 he clearly hasn't been the player he used to be. Actually it isn't even close whatsoever. so idk why people say that.

Because he's been in the NBA longer than you've been following basketball.

nunemouse · Post #4 » by **nunemouse** » Thu May 23, 2013 5:06 am

Numbers say otherwise to your "he hasnt been same since 2009".

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... nko01.html

PCProductions · Post #5 » by **PCProductions** » Thu May 23, 2013 5:06 am

Saying he hasn't been the same player as he used to be is both true and very misleading. Obviously people worsen after their prime. The point is that Kobe has held up TREMENDOUSLY for his age. Just look at his contemporaries: T-Mac, Arenas, Marbury, Vince Carter, etc... Kobe is still a bonafide top 10 player in the league while of his peers can barely hold a job.

The Explorer · Post #6 » by **The Explorer** » Thu May 23, 2013 5:09 am

Doctor MJ wrote:
brianjohnson123 wrote:I've heard a lot of people say Kobe Bryant has great longevity. How exactly has he had great longevity? Since 2009 he clearly hasn't been the player he used to be. Actually it isn't even close whatsoever. so idk why people say that.

Because he's been in the NBA longer than you've been following basketball.

How do you know how long he's followed basketball?

brianjohnson123 · Post #7 » by **brianjohnson123** » Thu May 23, 2013 5:12 am

ok his numbers are good, but numbers don't tell the whole story. He can't drive, or finish around the basket like he used to

Regulio · Post #8 » by **Regulio** » Thu May 23, 2013 5:15 am

Kobe is up there with the best in terms of longevity. It is very rare to keep such high level of play for so long.
You may not like his style, decision making, lazy attitude on defense these past seasons, but he is still an exceptional player, once in a generation talent.

An Unbiased Fan · Post #9 » by **An Unbiased Fan** » Thu May 23, 2013 5:15 am

brianjohnson123 wrote:I've heard a lot of people say Kobe Bryant has great longevity. How exactly has he had great longevity? Since 2009 he clearly hasn't been the player he used to be. Actually it isn't even close whatsoever. so idk why people say that.

How many players have a span of 14 years where they are Top 5 caliber?

Regulio · Post #10 » by **Regulio** » Thu May 23, 2013 5:17 am

brianjohnson123 wrote:ok his numbers are good, but numbers don't tell the whole story. He can't drive, or finish around the basket like he used to

why does it matter if his efficiency and volume is very similar to the time he was able to do these things?
it is completely normal to expand your game in other areas to compensate when you physically decline and are not able to rely on your athleticism alone anymore.

Post #11 » by **Doctor MJ** » Thu May 23, 2013 5:19 am

The Explorer wrote:
Doctor MJ wrote:
brianjohnson123 wrote:I've heard a lot of people say Kobe Bryant has great longevity. How exactly has he had great longevity? Since 2009 he clearly hasn't been the player he used to be. Actually it isn't even close whatsoever. so idk why people say that.

Because he's been in the NBA longer than you've been following basketball.

How do you know how long he's followed basketball?

It's not meant as a statement of absolute fact.

sp6r=underrated · Post #12 » by **sp6r=underrated** » Thu May 23, 2013 5:21 am

He was a legit all-star in 1999 and that was 14 years ago.

The Explorer · Post #13 » by **The Explorer** » Thu May 23, 2013 5:22 am

Doctor MJ wrote:
The Explorer wrote:
Doctor MJ wrote:
Because he's been in the NBA longer than you've been following basketball.

How do you know how long he's followed basketball?

It's not meant as a statement of absolute fact.

Then why say it? Seems pretty condescending if not insulting. You could have just answered the question without being so rude.

bondom34 · Post #14 » by **bondom34** » Thu May 23, 2013 5:23 am

brianjohnson123 wrote:I've heard a lot of people say Kobe Bryant has great longevity. How exactly has he had great longevity? Since 2009 he clearly hasn't been the player he used to be. Actually it isn't even close whatsoever. so idk why people say that.

He played 14 yrs before that...

nikomCH · Post #15 » by **nikomCH** » Thu May 23, 2013 5:30 am

This guy makes the same thread every few weeks basically saying the same thing in similar words. I don't know why people respond seriously

Post #16 » by **Doctor MJ** » Thu May 23, 2013 5:39 am

The Explorer wrote:Then why say it? Seems pretty condescending if not insulting. You could have just answered the question without being so rude.

Kobe Bryant has played more than 50,000 minutes in the NBA. This is a staggering amount of minutes that answers the question of Kobe's longevity on any basic level. Any one looking to ask a question implying that Kobe doesn't actually have a great longevity when the fundamental answer is so obvious is extremely suspect to say the least.

It is true I could have made a statement that conveyed roughly the same concerns without the edge, but quite honestly, I could not convey all I meant to convey so succinctly if I did so. I'm not going to walk around on eggshells for people asking leading questions.

Let's also note that the OP is free to tell me that they've been watching basketball for longer than Kobe's been playing, but can you imagine someone honestly being able to do that and not grasping up front that Kobe's been playing for seemingly forever compared to virtually any other player they've ever followed? My age comment is not a random insult, it's a diagnosis. If I'm really wrong perhaps I eat crow. If I'm right then what could cut to the quick quicker?

FreeChef · Post #17 » by **FreeChef** » Thu May 23, 2013 5:46 am

Because he DOES have great longevity. The problem for me is that longevity has become the end-on-be-all on this board when it comes to ranking players.

ardee · Post #18 » by **ardee** » Thu May 23, 2013 7:06 am

FreeChef wrote:Because he DOES have great longevity. The problem for me is that longevity has become the end-on-be-all on this board when it comes to ranking players.

The truth is the absolute reverse of that statement.

People on this board ONLY care about peak. If you accomplish something outside of your top 4-5 years, it's considered almost irrelevant.

This is why people have LeBron in their top 5 and KG in their top 10.

Guys like Kareem, Kobe and Malone who have great longevity don't get nearly as much attention.

FreeChef · Post #19 » by **FreeChef** » Thu May 23, 2013 7:17 am

ardee wrote:
FreeChef wrote:Because he DOES have great longevity. The problem for me is that longevity has become the end-on-be-all on this board when it comes to ranking players.

The truth is the absolute reverse of that statement.

People on this board ONLY care about peak. If you accomplish something outside of your top 4-5 years, it's considered almost irrelevant.

This is why people have LeBron in their top 5 and KG in their top 10.

Guys like Kareem, Kobe and Malone who have great longevity don't get nearly as much attention.

Kareem gets his due in the rankings. So does Kobe.

But for me, when we ask, "Who was the better player?" we're basically looking at players fully-formed and at the height of their powers.

Longevity is important but only insofar as we need enough evidence to see "Okay, this is the player's potential. This is who he is."

The easy examples would be MJ vs Malone (who's the better scorer) or Magic vs Stockton (passing).

colts18 · Post #20 » by **colts18** » Thu May 23, 2013 1:12 pm

sp6r=underrated wrote:He was a legit all-star in 1999 and that was 14 years ago.

Kobe was an all-star in 1998. He made the all-star game in 2013. Thats 15 years apart of being all-star caliber. Kareem won finals MVP 14 years apart. Karl Malone made all-NBA 1st team like 11 years apart.