Kobe vs TMac

[rondoallaturca]

Due to injury, I feel like T-Mac has been really underrated in terms of how much talent he actually had. Recently I suggested to a friend I'd prefer T-Mac over Kobe in their prime if injuries weren't a factor, and he scoffed at me. So here's a question for y'all:

If you could pick Kobe or T-Mac in their prime, without injuries being a concern, who would you choose, and why?

For me, I think T-Mac had superior individual talent and team impact. He was a much more skilled all around player and could impact the game in many more ways than Kobe. The one thing Kobe has on T-Mac is more championships, but T-Mac was never surrounded by the talent Kobe was - quite frankly, not many players have been blessed like Kobe. Many people point to T-Mac's failures of not making it past the first round despite having a prime Yao, but Yao wasn't exactly a model of health, either. Furthermore, for two consecutive postseasons, the Rockets were paired against one of their worst matchups in the Utah Jazz. Most importantly, for a good deal of his tenure on the Rockets, T-Mac dealt with back issues that severely limited his explosiveness and athleticism.

[CelticConcourse]

TMac! TmaC! TmAc!

I love them both... awesome players.

KObe! KobE! KoBe!

[ManUp]

T-mac never had a prime he had his best season when he was 23(If I remember correctly).

[rondoallaturca]

T-mac never had a prime he had his best season when he was 23(If I remember correctly).

And his 23-year old campaign is quite dominant compared to Kobe's 23-year old campaign. Having grown up as a Laker fan (long story, I live in SoCal), I can say without any bias that if T-Mac stayed healthy, he would be seen as this generation's best SG, and not Kobe.

[JBcat]

T-mac never had a prime he had his best season when he was 23(If I remember correctly).

Yeah unfortunately he was never the same after around age 27, 28.  He was great in his younger years though. I'll never forget when he had something like 15 points the last 2 minutes of a game.

[rondoallaturca]

T-mac never had a prime he had his best season when he was 23(If I remember correctly).

Yeah unfortunately he was never the same after around age 27, 28.  He was great in his younger years though. I'll never forget when he had something like 15 points the last 2 minutes of a game.

How about 13 points in 35 seconds?

[mgent]

I considered TMac a better passer and shooter, scoring is debatable.  He was probably a better rebounder too.  Kobe's defense easily closes that gap.

[JBcat]

T-mac never had a prime he had his best season when he was 23(If I remember correctly).

Yeah unfortunately he was never the same after around age 27, 28.  He was great in his younger years though. I'll never forget when he had something like 15 points the last 2 minutes of a game.

How about 13 points in 35 seconds?

I knew it was something like that.

[LarBrd33]

T-Mac's peak season:

32 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.7 steals, 46%/39%/79%

Kobe's peak season:

30 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.2 steals, 45%/38%/84%

I think they were pretty even

[moiso]

It's very close.  Imagine if McGrady had Kobe's toughness. 

[CelticConcourse]

T-Mac's peak season:

32 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.7 steals, 46%/39%/79%

Kobe's peak season:

30 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.2 steals, 45%/38%/84%

I think they were pretty even

I'd like to say they woulda been even given health... too bad Kobe is basically an endurance god.

[CelticConcourse]

T-Mac's peak season:

32 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.7 steals, 46%/39%/79%

Kobe's peak season:

30 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.2 steals, 45%/38%/84%

I think they were pretty even

I'd like to say they woulda been even given health... however, Kobe is basically an endurance god.

[staticcc]

Kobe. T-Mac would never be as tough or as hardworking as Kobe if he had a prime. Even if injuries weren't taken into account, T-Mac will still not have Kobe's determination and will. Talent gets you to the NBA. More than talent is needed to continuously be great.

[TheWatersEdge]

All I know, is that I feel sorely deprived that T-Mac couldn't stay healthy and his likely career trajectory ended far too early.  In his prime, he was unreal.  Such, a gifted play-maker too.

[pearljammer10]

Good question. T Mac would have had an un real career if not for injuries. Guy was filthy. But I gotta go with Kobe. Tmac never ha that killer instinct winners mentality. Kobe did and does regardless of who is alongside him.