A different look at TS% for Kobe vs Luka
Bball-ref.com has a league adjusted TS+ ranking in their adjusted shooting section. It rates a player's TS% relative to the league average TS% of that season. 100 is average. Below 100 is a negative figure. Above 100 is a positive figure.
Luka Doncic
2019-20 = 104 (2nd season)
2020-21 = 103
2021-22 = 101
2022-23 = 105
2023-24 = 106
2024-25 = 102
Average for 6yr period = 104
Kobe Bryant
2004-05 = 106
2005-06 = 104
2006-07 = 107
2007-08 = 107
2008-09 = 103
2009-10 = 100
Average for 6yr period = 105
Kobe was 104-107 from 1997-08 to 2007-08. An 11 year stretch. 5 of those 11 seasons at 107. 2 seasons each at 106, 105, 104.
Kobe was a much better FT shooter than Luka is. It greatly affects the TS%. Look at their eFG%. For their careers Luka's eFG% thus far is 54.2%. Kobe for his career was 48.2%. That is a massive difference. And it isn't just from 3 where Luka is 35 to Kobe's 32.9, the bigger difference is from 2 where Luka is an elite 55.4%, while Kobe was a subpar 47.9%.
Kobe was an inefficient chucker. He took way too many shots, and thus took a lot of bad ones. And unlike Luka has a poor assist to turnover ratio with 4.7 assists to 3.0 turnovers. Luka has more turnovers at 3.9, but he also averages a lot more 8.2 assists (plus a lot more rebounds). Obviously Kobe was a much better defender than Luka was, but offensively they aren't particularly close as players. Luka is quite simply several tiers higher than Kobe as an offensive player and has the skills to play both off and on the ball. I get that we've seen him on the ball mostly but that is just because he is better than anyone he's played with (yes including old Lebron).
Luka's eFG fluctuates pretty wildly and his adjusted eFG (for league averages) is pretty close to pre- injury Kobe (post injury KB was the ultimate inefficient chucker).
Luka is definitely the superior passer but assists for wings have undoubtedly inflated in post Kobe years. Look at Tatum averaging 6 assists last year but collapsing as a playmaker for Team USA playing under slightly different rules.
It's not hard to imagine guys like Kobe and Pierce putting up 7+ apg type numbers in a league that puts scoring wings and even bigs in constant pick and roll actions with 3 deep threats and a lob threat down the middle.
Kobe was an excellent ball handler and passer - much better than guys averaging as many assists as him on paper in the modern era.
I am surprised how healthy Kobe's TS% is relative to his time period given his reputation. I thought he was much closer to average. In that 100-103 range. Average to slightly above average. He is comfortably above average for that 11 year stretch where he is 104-107. 5 of those 11 seasons at 107.
He both gets (1) not enough appreciation for his scoring efficiency but also (2) more criticism than he is due for it.
The single hardest guy for me to place is Kobe. I hate his inefficiency.
Kobe was an inefficient chucker.
Both of which are common comments / sentiments around Kobe in Kobe Bryant discussions.
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I also thought the Kobe vs Luka comparison was interesting to illustrate both Kobe's efficiency and to show how Luka's numbers measure up relative to his era. He is closer to Kobe's level (good efficiency) than elite efficiency. Even slightly below Kobe. Luka has never had a 107 season. Kobe has 5 of them. Luka's peak is 106 and 105. Kobe has 2 of each. That is 9 seasons equal or above Luka's 2 highest seasons.
Provides good context for both players.
Topic: 2025 CB Historical Draft - Player Analysis (Read 2020 times)