is Durant already better than Kobe ever was?

[ILLUSIONIST^248]

He was always better than Kobe

Go to sleep kid.

[tredigs]

Statistically he's already better than Kobe's best. That is a fact.

If he took the 27 shots a game that Kobe did to reach his 35ppg (won't even bother with the slightly more FT's Kobe got), Durant would average roughly 38-40 a night. And he could do it relatively easily if Westbrook decided to take a back-seat. Think about it, the guy leads the league in scoring and doesn't even lead his own TEAM in field goal attempts.

Now, cutthroat ability in the playoffs along with shutdown defensive performances, etc. That is where the overall player aspect comes into play. Durant is far from a slouch in either scenario, but I don't know if I can call him better than Kobe's best yet. We'll see after the playoffs this year.

[ssnsocalfan]

No!
5 rings
dropped 81 in a game
MVP

[ILLUSIONIST^248]

I guess basketball is a one way sport, Offence only. Defence doesn't matter

[bucketss]

I guess basketball is a one way sport, Offence only. Defence doesn't matter

yeah because durant doesn't play defense? did you see him shut kobe down in the playoffs?

[ManRamForPrez24]

No!
5 rings
dropped 81 in a game
MVP

Hahaha...

Oh wait, you're serious...

(The MVP thing has some credence, but KD will get his, and could very well end up with more)

[ILLUSIONIST^248]

yeah because durant doesn't play defense? did you see him shut kobe down in the playoffs?

SO Durant is as good defensivly as a prime Kobe?

He is already on the decline. I would hope durant could get the upper hand.

[tredigs]

I guess basketball is a one way sport, Offence only. Defence doesn't matter

Well let's not pretend that Kobe was some defensive juggernaut. He had the ability to lock down guards at times (still does at times), but he NEVER, EVER did it on a night in/out basis. A lot of really smart basketball minds put a lot of stock in RAPM as a very good defensive gauge http://stats-for-the-nba.appspot.com/, and Kobe - year after year after year - posts a NEGATIVE impact on the floor defensively.

Almost all the players you'd expect to post solid numbers did: Duncan, Garnett, Wallace, Artest, AK, Bruce Bowen, etc. But year after year, Kobe's was always negative. His all league first teams were gifts based on offensive talent and the fact that when he did in fact shut down a player 1v1 (his best attribute defensively), it was heralded BIG time. Much like it is right now, even though his team D is still lazy and frankly horrible.

[Chronz]

You watching a prodigy skilled/gifted unlike any other ever before

[Giants #1 Fan]

yeah because durant doesn't play defense? did you see him shut kobe down in the playoffs?

Don't even bother... He's a Kobe groupie that lacks basketball knowledge

[beliges]

Not so sure about that. Kobe is a much better scorer and was a much better defender in his prime than LBJ has ever been. You can make the same argument via LBJ v. MJ. LBJ is a better overall player than MJ, but I dont think anybody considers him a better player.

People have forgotten just how amazing Kobe was in his prime, when he literally had the ability to outscore an entire opposing team by himself while shutting down the oppositions's best perimeter player. Maybe some of you just were not around 5 years ago and the rest are probably major LBJ supporters, but theres not a chance in the works Durant is very close to Kobe's prime and current LBJ doesnt really best Kobe's best. If keeps improving and takes his team to a few more championships, then we got a debate. But until then, dont think how either of these players can be compared to Kobe's prime.

[Lakers+Giants]

Why the **** does everything have to be about kobe? haha.

Let KD be KD
LBJ be LBJ
and MJ be MJ.

I do think KD will have the better career when it's all said and done. Not championship wise but individually, yes.

[Bishnoff]

Stupid thread. One player is in the 17th season of his career (with multiple accolades and rings) and the other is in his 6th season (with some accolades and no rings) – that’s over a decade longer that Kobe has been playing in the NBA. Re-post this in about 4-5 years at the earliest.

[bucketss]

Not so sure about that. Kobe is a much better scorer and was a much better defender in his prime than LBJ has ever been. You can make the same argument via LBJ v. MJ. LBJ is a better overall player than MJ, but I dont think anybody considers him a better player.

People have forgotten just how amazing Kobe was in his prime, when he literally had the ability to outscore an entire opposing team by himself while shutting down the oppositions's best perimeter player. Maybe some of you just were not around 5 years ago and the rest are probably major LBJ supporters, but theres not a chance in the works Durant is very close to Kobe's prime and current LBJ doesnt really best Kobe's best. If keeps improving and takes his team to a few more championships, then we got a debate. But until then, dont think how either of these players can be compared to Kobe's prime.

okay this is about durant and kobe but your post is 95% about lebron.

[ILLUSIONIST^248]

Well let's not pretend that Kobe was some defensive juggernaut. He had the ability to lock down guards at times (still does at times), but he NEVER, EVER did it on a night in/out basis. A lot of really smart basketball minds put a lot of stock in RAPM as a very good defensive gauge http://stats-for-the-nba.appspot.com/, and Kobe - year after year after year - posts a NEGATIVE impact on the floor defensively.

Almost all the players you'd expect to post solid numbers did: Duncan, Garnett, Wallace, Artest, AK, Bruce Bowen, etc. But year after year, Kobe's was always negative. His all league first teams were gifts based on offensive talent and the fact that when he did in fact shut down a player 1v1 (his best attribute defensively), it was heralded BIG time. Much like it is right now, even though his team D is still lazy and frankly horrible.

Kobe was a phenominal defender in his prime sorry buddy.