In their primes: KG or Kobe?

[AngryAndIrritable]

Garnett simply for his ability to get more out of his team mates... not that Kobe doesn't place high demands on his, but for me the Dwight Howard omnishambles simply doesn't happen if you swap out Kobe for KG.

I'm curious to think what would have happened if they had both played on the same team? Apart from a whole lot of rings...

[GratefulCs]

I love KG, but this is an easy call.

i don't think it's an easy call



If kobe played on his wolves teams and kg on those lakers, who would have more championships?


I think kg just didn't have the cast that kobe did

[GratefulCs]

I love KG, but this is an easy call.

Sadly this is how most on here feel.

Everyone here loves KG.  He did win us a championship and is one of the best players of his generation.  And Kobe may be a jerk, but that didn't prevent him from winning 5 championships.  He was the most dominant scorer in the league for a long time while also be named all NBA defense 9 times.  I certainly like KG better, but Kobe is ahead of KG in my mind.  When there's two minutes to go in a close game, who would you rather have had in their prime?

it did prevent him from winning more championships though


What with running shaq out of town and all

[Hemingway]

Hard to say. Are we facrtoring position and size into it? I think if they played 1 on 1 KG would win becasue he is so much bigger. The 2 spot is also about the easiest to fill. But on the other hand Kobe was just so fuucking good. Hate the lakers but I have to give him credit. 2 truly great players.

[PhoSita]

I hate Kobe, I love KG, and I'd take Kobe.

It's like Ainge says, the hardest thing to find is a guy who can score 15 of his team's last 20 in game 7 of the Finals.

Isn't the hardest thing to find a guy who makes a huge impact on both ends of the court?

KG in his prime, after all, was scoring 20-25 points a night with very good efficiency, not to mention 5-6 assists, 13-14 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 2+ blocks.  He was everywhere.


I wonder how we would look back on KG's career if he had gotten the opportunity to play with other great players before age 30.  If, on top of that, he hadn't injured his knee in 2009, we might be talking about a guy whose accomplishments and statistical milestones rival those of Kobe and Duncan.

[slamtheking]

I would lean KG because in his prime he was top scorer and a top defender.  Kobe was better on offense (certainly far more of a chucker) but nowhere near a top defender.

if I have to pick a player in a one on one situation, I'd take Kobe.  If I'm building a team and I still have the rest of the league to pick from, I take KG without hesitation because he would mesh well with other quality players

[knuckleballer]

I love KG, but this is an easy call.

Sadly this is how most on here feel.

Everyone here loves KG.  He did win us a championship and is one of the best players of his generation.  And Kobe may be a jerk, but that didn't prevent him from winning 5 championships.  He was the most dominant scorer in the league for a long time while also be named all NBA defense 9 times.  I certainly like KG better, but Kobe is ahead of KG in my mind.  When there's two minutes to go in a close game, who would you rather have had in their prime?

it did prevent him from winning more championships though


What with running shaq out of town and all

And then he got to three more finals winning two.  There's no wrong answer here.  I just think he was the most dominant player in the league for a long time and had more influence over winning games than anyone during that time.  His ability to close out games was outstanding.  I say that despite actively rooting against him and thinking he's a jerk.  Over 11 seasons, he went to the finals 7 times winning 5.  I guess if I think about it, Duncan is right there with him overall, but I'd put both ahead of KG.

[D.o.s.]

It is much easier to prove that Kobe was never the best player on any of his title winning rosters than it is to prove the inverse. Just, you know, to throw that out there.

[Hemingway]

I'm not sure who was better, but I bet years down the road Kobe is remembered more than KG. fair of not. KG did a great thing by stepping down his role for the good of our team. If he never got hurt. It kills me. Thats the big if. bu 2008 was pure magic and no one can ever take that away from us or KG. Its ironic that the both are probably going to end their careers on crappy teams.

[knuckleballer]

It is much easier to prove that Kobe was never the best player on any of his title winning rosters than it is to prove the inverse. Just, you know, to throw that out there.

You think it's easier to prove that Gasol was better than Kobe than vice versa in 2009 & 2010?

[D.o.s.]

It is much easier to prove that Kobe was never the best player on any of his title winning rosters than it is to prove the inverse. Just, you know, to throw that out there.

You think it's easier to prove that Gasol was better than Kobe than vice versa in 2009 & 2010?

That's what I wrote, isn't it?

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2009.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2010.html

Have fun.

[knuckleballer]

It is much easier to prove that Kobe was never the best player on any of his title winning rosters than it is to prove the inverse. Just, you know, to throw that out there.

You think it's easier to prove that Gasol was better than Kobe than vice versa in 2009 & 2010?

That's what I wrote, isn't it?

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2009.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2010.html

Have fun.

I've looked at the stats and Gasol had a better shooting percentage and more rebounds, but
I'm not with you on that.  Kobe was averaging 30 ppg and taking over at the end of games.  He also had higher PER and won both finals MVPs if that means anything.

[D.o.s.]

Gasol had a higher WS, WS/48, VORP, Total box plus minus, and had a higher offensive rating and a lower defensive rating in both seasons.

The fact that Kobe has a high PER basically means he played more like Michael Jordan -- although Gasol had a higher PER than Kobe in 2009-'10 -- and Finals MVP is, well, often times a popularity contest.

But, yeah, PER is a great stat that we haven't shredded ad nauseum at all on this blog over the years. You have definitely convinced me. 

[Moranis]

Gasol had a higher WS, WS/48, VORP, Total box plus minus, and had a higher offensive rating and a lower defensive rating in both seasons.

The fact that Kobe has a high PER basically means he played more like Michael Jordan, and Finals MVP is, well, often times a popularity contest.

But, yeah, PER is a great stat that we haven't shredded ad nauseum at all on this blog over the years.

Case in point is Iggy actually better than Curry.  Sure he MIGHT have played better over those 6 games (and I emphasized might for a reason), but he certainly was not a better player than Curry last year.

[knuckleballer]

Gasol had a higher WS, WS/48, VORP, and had a higher offensive rating and a lower defensive rating in both seasons.

The fact that Kobe has a high PER basically means he played more like Michael Jordan, and Finals MVP is, well, often times a popularity contest.

Yeah, the thing is I actually watched the games.  Gasol wasn't the guy I feared. 

I'm generally not that interested in advanced basketball stats.  They have some use, but never tell the full story.