Is Kobe the most overrated defender of all time?

[GIF REACTION]

He has never finished in the top 5 voting for DPOY, unlike Lebron who has placed 2nd twice. Also his defensive impact numbers/advanced stats are really weak, almost displaying a negative impact

IMO he was a good but not great defender. Good man to man, but lacked team principles. He doesn't have too many noticeable shutdown jobs like a Lebron has (Derrick Rose 2011, Tony Parker 2013, etc)

IMO Kobe is a third team level all time defender while Lebron is a first/second teamer

[dubeta]

Stop it! He's not, he's a legendary man-to man defender, whos actually slightly underrated on defense


His ability to guard perimter scorers, and limit them is what makes him special.


A true 2-way threat



Here's the proof:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogrLrD6_8-o

[kennethgriffin]

tied for the all time record with 9 1st team all defensive awards


nobody ever really mentions him among the all time great defenders.


they talk sh*t all the time cause his last award was off reputation in 2011 and his 2nd team all defensive award in 2012 was also off reputation

so people discount all the times he was legit the best or 2nd best defensive guard in the nba


which falls under the category of UNDERRATED

[ScalsFan21]

Kobe was a very good defender at his best. Was he 9-time all defensive great? No, I don't think so.

Most overrated defender of all time? Maybe in terms of awards but not in reality. No one lavishes him with "lockdown defender" type praise, at least that I've seen. He wasn't consistent enough defensively throughout his career to deserve that many first-team nods IMO.

[20Four]

He has never finished in the top 5 voting for DPOY, unlike Lebron who has placed 2nd twice. Also his defensive impact numbers/advanced stats are really weak, almost displaying a negative impact

IMO he was a good but not great defender. Good man to man, but lacked team principles. He doesn't have too many noticeable shutdown jobs like a Lebron has (Derrick Rose 2011, Tony Parker 2013, etc)

IMO Kobe is a third team level all time defender while Lebron is a first/second teamer

Big leBRONZE fan here, but even I think leBRONZE has no defense at all...

[kennethgriffin]

Kobe was a very good defender at his best. Was he 9-time all defensive great? No, I don't think so.

Most overrated defender of all time? Maybe in terms of awards but not in reality. No one lavishes him with "lockdown defender" type praise, at least that I've seen. He wasn't consistent enough defensively throughout his career to deserve that many first-team nods IMO.

all of kobes all defensive teams were legit up until 2011


people say "kobe coasted of his legendary defensive rep and got free awards in 2011 and 2012"


phil jackson even said so


well in order to coast off rep you have to have the rep to begin with




as for lebron... hes already missing out on 1st team all defensive awards at age 30

[GIF REACTION]

all of kobes all defensive teams were legit up until 2011


people say "kobe coasted of his legendary defensive rep and got free awards in 2011 and 2012"


phil jackson even said so


well in order to coast off rep you have to have the rep to begin with




as for lebron... hes already missing out on 1st team all defensive awards at age 30

Yet he has 2 DPOY runner ups and Kobe could never even crack top 5

[dubeta]

all of kobes all defensive teams were legit up until 2011


people say "kobe coasted of his legendary defensive rep and got free awards in 2011 and 2012"


phil jackson even said so


well in order to coast off rep you have to have the rep to begin with




as for lebron... hes already missing out on 1st team all defensive awards at age 30

LOL are you seriously trying to compare getting 1st team defense from the Forward spot instead of the Guard spot?


Kobe's competition - Chris Paul and Rondo


LeBrons - Artest, Garnett, Duncan, Ibaka, Kirelenko, Bruce Bowen, Kahwi Leonard, Paul George, Battier etc


Its literally twice as hard to get it in the forward spot

[GIF REACTION]

LOL are you seriously trying to compare getting 1st team defense from the Forward spot instead of the Guard spot?


Kobe's competition - Chris Paul and Rondo


LeBrons - Artest, Garnett, Duncan, Ibaka, Kirelenko, Bruce Bowen, Kahwi Leonard, Paul George, Battier etc


Its literally twice as hard to get it in the forward spot

Which makes it even more amazing he has 2 DPOY runner ups

[ScalsFan21]

Which makes it even more amazing he has 2 DPOY runner ups

He probably should've beaten Gasol, but I do think the center position has an inherent advantage going into it since so many teams have gone away from the "rim protector".

[Hit_Em]

Stop it! He's not, he's a legendary man-to man defender, whos actually slightly underrated on defense


His ability to guard perimter scorers, and limit them is what makes him special.


A true 2-way threat



Here's the proof:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogrLrD6_8-o

[Mike Armstrong]

Yarp.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

Yet he has 2 DPOY runner ups and Kobe could never even crack top 5

#5 in DPOY voting in 2000
#3 in DPOY voting in 2002, thats in the GOAT defensive era and he was behind Big Ben and KG two of the top 5 defenders EVER
#5 in 2008, Bran wasnt even top 20 that year or the year before. But his stacked defensive supporting cast and rebounding did work in playoffs

Big Bran fan but Kobe is the better, more impactful defensive player and offensive player. You started watching ball in the 2010s so I dont expect your low IQ/experience to know this.

[ScalsFan21]

#5 in DPOY voting in 2000
#3 in DPOY voting in 2002, thats in the GOAT defensive era and he was behind Big Ben and KG two of the top 5 defenders EVER
#5 in 2008, Bran wasnt even top 20 that year or the year before. But his stacked defensive supporting cast and rebounding did work in playoffs

Big Bran fan but Kobe is the better, more impactful defensive player and offensive player. You started watching ball in the 2010s so I dont expect your low IQ/experience to know this.

I'm so torn about the fact that you just used that gif expertly, but while making a bad point claiming Kobe is the more impactful player. Big Avon and Kobe stan here, so you know I'm speaking the truth.

[Akrazotile]

Kobe was a very good defender at his best. Was he 9-time all defensive great? No, I don't think so.

Most overrated defender of all time? Maybe in terms of awards but not in reality. No one lavishes him with "lockdown defender" type praise, at least that I've seen. He wasn't consistent enough defensively throughout his career to deserve that many first-team nods IMO.

There are very few people who get that praise that dont deserve it. Bowen, Rodman, Artest, Wallace, Howard, Iguodala, Russell, Duncan, Pippen etc etc all are legit all-time defenders.

A lot of people do give Kobe more credit than he deserves for dfense simply bc he made teams based on reputation. Guards like Wade, Cp3, Baron Davis, Hinrich, Ginobili, Billups, Raja Bell, Sefalosha, etc etc have always been better defensively than Kobe. There was never a time when Kobe was a top-2 defensive guard. Seriously.

The media tried to keep MJ comparisons alive by putting things on his resume he didnt deserve. There is no question about this.