Is Kobe better than Prime Shaq?

[ShaqAttack3234]

So he'll have spent many more years as an elite, top 5 player than Shaq, but Shaq will still have the better peak.

Shaq was a top 5 player from 1994-2005(12 seasons). Kobe has been top 5 from 2001-2010(10 seasons) and it's debatable whether Kobe was top 5 in 2002, 2004 and 2005.

In fact, in 2005, Garnett, Duncan, Shaq, Wade, Dirk, T-Mac and Nash all had better seasons off the top of my head.

In 2002, Shaq and Duncan were top 2 and it's certainly debatable whether Kobe was better than C-Webb, Kidd, T-Mac and Garnett to name a few.

In 2004, his inefficient shooting, health problems and disastrous finals make it debatable. The top 3 were Garnett, Duncan and Shaq. McGrady won the scoring title by a wide margin and Jermaine O'Neal led the Pacers to 60 wins and was top 3 in MVP voting. But I'll definitely give Kobe the nod over Jermaine out of respect.

If you wanted to really analyze it, 2001 was also debatable. Shaq and Duncan were 1 and 2, Iverson had a great year, C-Webb averaged 27/11/4 with 1.7 bpg and 1.3 spg and led Sacramento and KG was, KG. Vince also went off, carried the Raptors, torched a great defensive 76er team, had a 50 point playoff game. But, to be fair, because of Kobe's playoff run, where he was IMO, the 2nd best player to only Shaq, I'd give him top 5. And his defense gives him a strong argument over Vince and AI.

wow shaq has some awesome finals stats... against eastern conference centers...

empty stats... people forget how easily shaq gets into foul trouble.

Yeah, empty stats vs the 2001 DPOY(and 4-time winner) Dikembe Mutombo, or the 4-time DPOY Ben Wallace in 2004 or the 2-time DPOY Hakeem Olajuwon in 1995. Hell, even Dale Davis was an all-star in 2000 when he guarded Shaq(with numerous double and triple teams).

And Shaq's minutes per game in the finals. 45 mpg in the 1995 finals, 45.5 mpg in the 2000 finals, 45 mpg in the 2001 finals, 41.5 mpg in the 2002 finals and 42.6 mpg.

Yeah, he was really bothered by foul trouble.

[Lebron23]

F*ck this thread.

[Andrei89]

OFC prime shaq is better than prime Kobe.

Why so much arguing tho

[Micku]

Shaq was pretty good defensively. Phil Jackson wanted Shaq to be good defensively like when he was younger when he first started to coach the Lakers. Shaq didn't disappoint. He clog up the paint very good. No easy baskets. He could guard centers and PFs in the paint, he was pretty good back in the day.

And yeah, I think Shaq was more valuable than Kobe in his prime. Shaq was one of those rarities centers that you hardly see.

[Lebron23]

OFC prime shaq is better than prime Kobe.

Why so much arguing tho

Too much hate on Prime Shaq. How I wish that he had never played with the Los Angeles Lakers.

I am sure Shaq could win an NBA title while playing in a Jordan Less Eastern Conference.

[plowking]

I find the Laker fan hate on Shaq hilarious.

Do you realize Kobe wouldn't be considered anywhere near the player he is without Shaq? Though you'd be hard pressed to argue the other way around.

[Duncan21formvp]

simple question

No

[catch24]

Without question. Shaq can only dunk while Kobe has an entire repertoire of skill.

[COLOR="White"]My best Kobe stan impersonation ... was I good?[/COLOR]

[Allstar24]

Is prime Kobe better than prime Shaq? Hell no. But that doesn't change the fact that when it's all said and done, Kobe will go down as not only a greater Laker but a greater player than Shaq.

[redhonda76]

Seriously, how old are you? If you are trying to be funny, it's not working at all.

[SmoothRED]

Totally. Kobe is better than Jordan too.

[game3524]

No, only thing better to prime Shaq is prime MJ IMO. Kobe will most likely have a better overall career, but Shaq at his peak is better then Kobe's peak.

[Derka]

How the hell do you even compare a center to a 2-guard? This is pretty stupid.

[indiefan24]

How the hell do you even compare a center to a 2-guard? This is pretty stupid.

Everyone loves to compare Hakeem to Kobe over and over again..

[Derka]

Everyone loves to compare Hakeem to Kobe over and over again..

Everyone's pretty stupid if they do.