Kobe Era PG's:Looking Back

[tugs]

I got curious and went back to see how the potential PG duo of DRuss and JClark stacks up to the past Lakers point guards. I wanted to see what PG qualities meshed well with Kobe's style and brought success to the ball club. Of course the coach and the system should be factored in the fit but talent-wise, I think this two may well be in the Top 3 mix with 2000 & 2009.

I think Chucky Atkins also played well with Kobe. Javaris Crittenton seemed to have a lot of upside back then (though categorized as SG by BR). But we know what happened during those years.

The list (via Basketball Reference):

1996 - Nick Van Exel, Derek Fisher, Rumeal Robinson

1997 - Nick Van Exel, Derek Fisher

1998 - Derek Fisher, Tyronn Lue, Derek Harper, Sam Jacobson

1999 - Ron Harper,Derek Fisher, Tyronn Lue, John Celestand, Sam Jacobson

2000 - Ron Harper, Mike Penberthy, Derek Fisher, Tyronn Lue

2001 - Derek Fisher, Lindsey Hunter, Brian Shaw, Joe Crispin, Mike Penberthy

2002 - Derek Fisher, Brian Shaw, Kareem Rush, Jannero Pargo

2003 - Gary Payton, Jannero Pargo

2004 - Chucky Atkins, Tierre Brown

2005 - Smush, Parker, Sasha Vujacic, Aaron Mckie

2006 - Smush Parker, Jordan Farmar, Shammond Williams

2007 - Derek Fisher, Jordan Farmar, Javaris Crittenton*

2008 - Derek Fisher, Jordan Farmar

2009 - Derek Fisher, Jordan Farmar

2010 - Derek Fisher, Steve Blake

2011 - Derek Fisher, Steve Blake, Ramon Sessions, Darius Morris

2012 - Steve Nash, Steve Blake, Chris Duhon, Darius Morris

2013 - Kendall Marshall, Jordan Farmar, Steve Blake, Steve Nash

2014 - Jeremy Lin, Ronnie Price, Jordan Clarkson, Dwight Buycks

2015 - D'Angelo Russel, Jordan Clarkson, _______

This pair could potentially be the most talented backcourt-mates Kobe has ever had. Very excited for this season.

[Mirjalovic]

i don't know why people say Steve Blake is a vet pg that calm, safe, and a reliable shooter. It's actually the opposite.

[Tarik_shaq]

Smush and shammond williams probably was more talented that anyone kobes ever played with. Just their leadership alone, experience, and swagger on the court gave the lakers so much energy on offense which allowed kobe to iso against smaller defenders. Derek fisher along with tyronne might come second as those 2 provided the experience to lead the lakers to 3 ships.

[TylersLakers]

I think we need one more guard. Steve Blake would be a perfect option if we could somehow get him from Detroit, doubt it though. He sounds like a Stan Van Gundy type of guard.

[Lakers415]

Maybe you first need to see how well they play with Kobe like everyone else had to......

Not playing a season with 0 guards.

[Lakers415]

NBA rookie team 2014:

Plumlee:traded
MCW:traded
THJ:traded
Burke: benched
Oladipo: on the magic still

I don't know which rookie team is worse 2014 or 15.

[Kilroy]

2012 was probably the the most talented... Just way past their prime and injured.

I honestly forgot Kobe played with Nick the Quick... Check out his numbers from 97... He was by far the best PG Kobe has played with that one year. But there was definitely a personality conflict there... And if Russell approaches Nick's Numbers that year, I'll be very pleased.

[tugs]

2012 was probably the the most talented... Just way past their prime and injured.

I honestly forgot Kobe played with Nick the Quick... Check out his numbers from 97... He was by far the best PG Kobe has played with that one year. But there was definitely a personality conflict there... And if Russell approaches Nick's Numbers that year, I'll be very pleased.

Yeah 2012 was "stacked". Duhon was the lead man in New York before coming here and of course Nash. Blake was average at best and you can't ask for anything more from a third stringer.

I don't think there will be a problem with Kobe and these 2 kids. Both look up to him, bit hopefully, not to a point where they get too passive or be fans watching Kobe go to work. Unless Russell has this Kobe mentality going in and he'll look at Bryant as the Van Exel.

And man, having Nash mentor you to polish your PG skills and Kobe to look up to in terms of work ethic, you only have yourself to blame if you fail, barring injuries.

[KobeBryant24]

I remember when kobe played with sessions he was getting some nice open looks that he usually never got

[SlimShady83]

And how many of them actually made the all-star?? Nick/Nash?? Nick made it didn't he if I remember correctly?

Not to compare and have topic go off topic ... But

Lebron's played with Irving/Wade < combo
Durant/westbrook??
Duncan/Parker

just to name a few, imagine if Kobe played with an healthy in their prime all-star? would be interesting to see the results.

[john248]

Kobe didn't need a good offensive point guard. What he needed was a solid defensive off guard who had range to shoot which is what he got in Fisher over the years since Kobe played the bulk of his career in the triangle offense. Kobe was the point just as much as Jordan was the lead ball handler for much of his Bulls career, including for Collins just before Phil got there. Not different than Jerry West playing the point during his career.

People tend to get stuck on labels. They'll see Kobe and think "shooting guard" and/or "2" when Kobe was the lead guard who was responsbile for getting things going. That didn't fall on FIsher. It's why Phil could go from Hodges to Paxson, to Armstrong to Kerr to Harper to Fisher and not skip a beat. All these guys need to do was defend a bit, hit the open 3 point shot, and be 2ndary or tertiary ball handlers while Kobe/Odom or Jordan/Pippen did their thing.

[JuanCesta]

Actually the best PG Kobe ever played with was last season and his name was Lin. Unfortunately Kobe's jealousy of Lin and Lin putting up 50/40/90 stats while Kobe was taking 30 shots a game to shoot under 38% from field and under 29% from 3 point land got the better of Kobe. He deliberately asked Scott to bench Lin because he was being outshined by Lin. Kobe doesn't like Lin ever since Lin dropped 38 points on him. I'm glad Lin is in a better place now with a supportive coach and no egotistical so called manufactured superstars like Harden, Kobe or Melo

[ak7]

Actually the best PG Kobe ever played with was last season and his name was Lin. Unfortunately Kobe's jealousy of Lin and Lin putting up 50/40/90 stats while Kobe was taking 30 shots a game to shoot under 38% from field and under 29% from 3 point land got the better of Kobe. He deliberately asked Scott to bench Lin because he was being outshined by Lin. Kobe doesn't like Lin ever since Lin dropped 38 points on him. I'm glad Lin is in a better place now with a supportive coach and no egotistical so called manufactured superstars like Harden, Kobe or Melo

All Lin fans should be sentenced to an island off the coast of Madagascar and given no access to the internet.

Lin better than Nash. I'm done.

****, Lin better than prime Derek Fisher? I'm done.

You enjoy being glad that Lin is in a "better place," because Lin is going to be playing off the ball if he wants better than rotational minutes.

[Mirjalovic]

Actually the best PG Kobe ever played with was last season and his name was Lin. Unfortunately Kobe's jealousy of Lin and Lin putting up 50/40/90 stats while Kobe was taking 30 shots a game to shoot under 38% from field and under 29% from 3 point land got the better of Kobe. He deliberately asked Scott to bench Lin because he was being outshined by Lin. Kobe doesn't like Lin ever since Lin dropped 38 points on him. I'm glad Lin is in a better place now with a supportive coach and no egotistical so called manufactured superstars like Harden, Kobe or Melo

Lin should play alongside LeBron.

can't wait LeBron homer vs Lin homer

[Laker_Kid]

Actually the best PG Kobe ever played with was last season and his name was Lin. Unfortunately Kobe's jealousy of Lin and Lin putting up 50/40/90 stats while Kobe was taking 30 shots a game to shoot under 38% from field and under 29% from 3 point land got the better of Kobe. He deliberately asked Scott to bench Lin because he was being outshined by Lin. Kobe doesn't like Lin ever since Lin dropped 38 points on him. I'm glad Lin is in a better place now with a supportive coach and no egotistical so called manufactured superstars like Harden, Kobe or Melo

obvious troll. much fail. here's a tissue, dont forget to wipe yourself off of Lin's wad.

[Slava]

Actually the best PG Kobe ever played with was last season and his name was Lin. Unfortunately Kobe's jealousy of Lin and Lin putting up 50/40/90 stats while Kobe was taking 30 shots a game to shoot under 38% from field and under 29% from 3 point land got the better of Kobe. He deliberately asked Scott to bench Lin because he was being outshined by Lin. Kobe doesn't like Lin ever since Lin dropped 38 points on him. I'm glad Lin is in a better place now with a supportive coach and no egotistical so called manufactured superstars like Harden, Kobe or Melo

You can't fix stupid but you can have fun with it.

[john248]

Why was there even a serious reply to that post?

[Lakers415]

I bet Jeremy lin puts better numbers than Clarkson this year

[JuanCesta]

I bet Jeremy lin puts better numbers than Clarkson this year

This.

Clarkson, Price and Beverley are nothing but glorified ball boys to prop up the manufactured superstars like Harden and Kobe while taking a shot and putting down performing all star level point guards like Lin. Lin put up something like 25/10 without harden and 50/40/90 before Kobe'e ego took over and decided to marginalize Lin.

[ak7]

I bet Jeremy lin puts better numbers than Clarkson this year

I bet Jeremy Lin finds himself on another team within two years because he's nothing more than an overrated pile of offensive garbage.