Kawhi is already better than Kobe Bryant (at the same age)

[alpha_HaZE]

Please take a look at their respective stats when both were 25 years old.

Kawhi is averaging more points while taking less shots. Kobe has a much better Assist to TO ratio, which is to be expected because that is his 8th NBA season and Kawhi is only in his sixth. Pop said that his is working on getting better at attaching the double team and finding the open man. Say it take him this season to figure it out Kawhi might very well be so much better than a prime Kobe at this very moment!!!

If you dig deeper into their advanced stats, what is very interesting is that per 100 possessions they both have that same Defensive Rating 102, but Kawhi has a much higher offensive rating 123 to 112!


Now if only LaMarcus played near Shaqs level

                                                                                                                                         
Rk          Player  Season Age  G GS   MP  FG  FGA  FG%  3P 3PA  3P%  2P  2PA  2P% eFG%  FT FTA  FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV  PF  PTS
1      Kobe Bryant 2003-04  25 65 64 37.6 7.9 18.1 .438 1.1 3.3 .327 6.8 14.8 .463 .468 7.0 8.2 .852 1.6 3.9 5.5 5.1 1.7 0.4 2.6 2.7 24.0
2    Kawhi Leonard 2016-17  25 38 38 33.1 8.1 16.7 .483 2.1 5.0 .413 6.0 11.7 .512 .544 6.4 7.1 .907 1.2 4.4 5.7 3.1 1.9 0.7 1.8 1.5 24.6

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/17/2017.

[YGWHI]

As Spurs fans we used to hate Kobe but he was an amazing offensive player. Obviously, he had the me-first gene that fortunately Kawhi doesn't have.

But both players have some proverbial work ethic, in Kawhi's case I'd say it's epic, because he wasn't that gifted like Kobe when he came into the league.

Anyway, I envision Kawhi more like Tim, a team-first superstar trying to compete on both ends.

[Arcadian]

I can't believe Kawhi is an 8.5% better 3-pt shooter than Kobe. People used to think Kobe was a great shooter because he was better than Jordan from deep. Not only is Kawhi the superior defensive player, but now he's better offensively as well.

Kobe...

[HarlemHeat37]

Hopefully his progression continues, tbh..Kobe was the best player of his generation, let's hope Kawhi accomplishes a similar feat..

[100%duncan]

Hopefully his progression continues, tbh..Kobe was the best player of his generation, let's hope Kawhi accomplishes a similar feat..

What, you dont love timmy anymore?

[100%duncan]

Kawhi is a GOD tbh.

[cutewizard]

Kawhi, Lamarcus, and Gasol arguably the best frontline in the game right now..............

[Kidd K]

I can't believe Kawhi is an 8.5% better 3-pt shooter than Kobe. People used to think Kobe was a great shooter because he was better than Jordan from deep. Not only is Kawhi the superior defensive player, but now he's better offensively as well.

Kobe...

He actually wasn't better than Jordan from deep. Jordan rarely took threes (so he sucked at them) early career obv, but even keeping that in, if you subtract his Wizards years their 3pt% was practically identical. In fact Jordan's was slightly higher, .332 vs Kobe's .329. If we give MJ the benefit of the doubt and throw out his first 4 seasons when he clearly didn't even like to shoot threes and sucked badly at them, then he was a .371% 3pt shooter. Notably better than Kobe. In fact Kobe only ever surpassed that % for a single season (and barely) just twice, once being during the shortened 3pt line era.

Now you may say "bro you're throwing out a lot of seasons though", which is true, but it points out a good fact: From '88-'98, the bulk of MJ's career, he was a much better and more reliable 3pt shooter than Kobe ever was. MJ did in fact suck at them his first 4 seasons though (3pt shot wasn't a big part of the NBA at the time) and he was mediocre in general when he played for the Wizards at 40+ years old after 3 years of retirement. Those seasons are what pulls his career % down to Kobe's level.

[Mr. Body]

Good find, good stuff.

[sananspursfan21]

I've always thought they have that same turnaround jumper. Kawhi has a little uglier version of all of Kobe's moves. I've yet to have anyone disagree with my strange observation

[Clipper Nation]

No , Sherlock. Of course Kawhi's better than some D-League-caliber scrub.

[George Gervin's Afro]

Statistically maybe ... but on the court? That's a tough call.

[Cry Havoc]

Hopefully his progression continues, tbh..Kobe was the best player of his generation, let's hope Kawhi accomplishes a similar feat..

wat

[JohnnyMax]

Kawhi has better hand-eye coordination -- its why he's so good at finishing at rim and shooting (hence higher FG%).
Kobe has better foot speed and explosiveness -- its why he can guard quicker players like Iverson/Kyrie/CP3 and break down his man alot easier.

[313]

Hopefully his progression continues, tbh..Kobe was the best player of his generation, let's hope Kawhi accomplishes a similar feat..

[313]

better scorer than Tim ever was already

[Arcadian]

He actually wasn't better than Jordan from deep. Jordan rarely took threes (so he sucked at them) early career obv, but even keeping that in, if you subtract his Wizards years their 3pt% was practically identical. In fact Jordan's was slightly higher, .332 vs Kobe's .329. If we give MJ the benefit of the doubt and throw out his first 4 seasons when he clearly didn't even like to shoot threes and sucked badly at them, then he was a .371% 3pt shooter. Notably better than Kobe. In fact Kobe only ever surpassed that % for a single season (and barely) just twice, once being during the shortened 3pt line era.

Now you may say "bro you're throwing out a lot of seasons though", which is true, but it points out a good fact: From '88-'98, the bulk of MJ's career, he was a much better and more reliable 3pt shooter than Kobe ever was. MJ did in fact suck at them his first 4 seasons though (3pt shot wasn't a big part of the NBA at the time) and he was mediocre in general when he played for the Wizards at 40+ years old after 3 years of retirement. Those seasons are what pulls his career % down to Kobe's level.

I see.

Kobe

[Kidd K]

I see.

Kobe

[Nathan89]

better scorer than Tim ever was already

You can thank the era for that. Put prime Tim in a modern offense his points and efficiency would go up.

[313]

You can think the era for that. Put prime Tim in a modern offense his points and efficiency would go up.

Other big men didn't have problems scoring in the same era.

[Nathan89]

Other big men didn't have problems scoring in the same era.

Who? Shaq? KG scored in the low 20's as well.

[SupremeGuy]

Hopefully his progression continues, tbh..Kobe was the best player of his generation, let's hope Kawhi accomplishes a similar feat..

[Trueblood]

He actually wasn't better than Jordan from deep. Jordan rarely took threes (so he sucked at them) early career obv, but even keeping that in, if you subtract his Wizards years their 3pt% was practically identical. In fact Jordan's was slightly higher, .332 vs Kobe's .329. If we give MJ the benefit of the doubt and throw out his first 4 seasons when he clearly didn't even like to shoot threes and sucked badly at them, then he was a .371% 3pt shooter. Notably better than Kobe. In fact Kobe only ever surpassed that % for a single season (and barely) just twice, once being during the shortened 3pt line era.

Now you may say "bro you're throwing out a lot of seasons though", which is true, but it points out a good fact: From '88-'98, the bulk of MJ's career, he was a much better and more reliable 3pt shooter than Kobe ever was. MJ did in fact suck at them his first 4 seasons though (3pt shot wasn't a big part of the NBA at the time) and he was mediocre in general when he played for the Wizards at 40+ years old after 3 years of retirement. Those seasons are what pulls his career % down to Kobe's level.

3point line was closer in Jordan's era. They moved it back near his second retirement

[Trueblood]

He actually wasn't better than Jordan from deep. Jordan rarely took threes (so he sucked at them) early career obv, but even keeping that in, if you subtract his Wizards years their 3pt% was practically identical. In fact Jordan's was slightly higher, .332 vs Kobe's .329. If we give MJ the benefit of the doubt and throw out his first 4 seasons when he clearly didn't even like to shoot threes and sucked badly at them, then he was a .371% 3pt shooter. Notably better than Kobe. In fact Kobe only ever surpassed that % for a single season (and barely) just twice, once being during the shortened 3pt line era.

Now you may say "bro you're throwing out a lot of seasons though", which is true, but it points out a good fact: From '88-'98, the bulk of MJ's career, he was a much better and more reliable 3pt shooter than Kobe ever was. MJ did in fact suck at them his first 4 seasons though (3pt shot wasn't a big part of the NBA at the time) and he was mediocre in general when he played for the Wizards at 40+ years old after 3 years of retirement. Those seasons are what pulls his career % down to Kobe's level.

http://pw1.netcom.com/~bjalas/basket...point_line.htm

[sasaint]

http://pw1.netcom.com/~bjalas/basket...point_line.htm

Jordan and the Bulls exposed! Thanks, @. I actually had forgotten about the league's tampering with the 3-point line...