even after 10 years of #24. Kobe is still #8 to me.

[kennethgriffin]

this sh*t will never look right to me

[kennethgriffin]

same with his autograph... this is the one i remember





this is his new one

[ShaqTwizzle]

I liked Kobe the most during the late 90's & early 00's.
Still most of his best years came as #24.

06
07
08
09
10

The only year pre-06 that can really "hang with" those years is 2001.
Some might say 2003 but when you factor in his early playoff injury I wouldn't take it over any of the above 5 years.

Some people say 2002 is also up there but it really isn't.
He had a pretty mediocre playoff run that year.
Honestly his playoff run (against the West) in 2002 was probably worse then his 2000 run.
He was fantastic in the Finals though.

[kennethgriffin]

I liked Kobe the most during the late 90's & early 00's.
Still most of his best years came as #24.

06
07
08
09
10

The only year pre-06 that can really "hang with" those years is 2001.
Some might say 2003 but when you factor in his early playoff injury I wouldn't take it over any of the above 5 years.

Some people say 2002 is also up there but it really isn't.
He had a pretty mediocre playoff run that year.
Honestly his playoff run (against the West) in 2002 was probably worse then his 2000 run.
He was fantastic in the Finals though.

in terms of level of play/skill



#1 - 2006 ( #8 )
#2 - 2008 ( #24 )
#3 - 2009 ( #24 )
#4 - 2007 ( #24 )
#5 - 2003 ( #8 )
#6 - 2001 ( #8 )
#7 - 2010 ( #24 )
#8 - 2002 ( #8 )
#9 - 2013 ( #24 )
#10 - 2012 ( #24 )
#11 - 2004 ( #8 )
#12 - 2011 ( #24 )
#13 - 2005 ( #8 )
#14 - 2000 ( #8 )
#15 - 1999 ( #8 )
#16 - 1998 ( #8 )
#17 - 2015 ( #24 )
#18 - 2014 ( #24 )
#19 - 1997 ( #8 )

[ShaqTwizzle]

I forgot that Kobe was still #8 in 2006.
Anyway this is how I would rank his years (I factor in injuries).
I added letters for years that I think were hard to differentiate in terms of value/ability.

1a. 2008
1b. 2009
1c. 2006
1d. 2007

5a. 2010
5b. 2001

7. 2003
8. 2004

9a. 2002
9b. 2000

11. 2005
(injury but when healthy still very potent)
(I feel like based on "ability" this year maybe should be ranked higher)

12a. 2011
12b. 2012

14. 1999
15. 1998
16. 1997
(developmental years)

2013 would have been ranked fairly high but the injury makes that season worthless to me.
Same for 2000 Duncan.
If a guy can't play in the playoffs then what value does he have?
He was amazing that year though before the injury so don't wanna hate.

[DonDadda59]

Forever SideKickBe

[Cold soul]

#8 Kobe was fantastic he was crazy athletic and explosive with a great first step. My personal opinion I like older smarter wiser #24 Kobe he wasn't as athletic as his younger days but he was much more skilled with better fundamentals top of being good leader and teammate he matured grow up.

[Lebronxrings]

#8th best laker

[Young X]

Agreed, when I think of Kobe I think #8. Those were his best, most exciting years. 2003 Kobe >>> any other version of Kobe.

[SamuraiSWISH]

in terms of level of play/skill



#1 - 2006 ( #8 )
#2 - 2008 ( #24 )
#3 - 2009 ( #24 )
#4 - 2007 ( #8 )
#5 - 2003 ( #8 )
#6 - 2001 ( #8 )
#7 - 2010 ( #24 )
#8 - 2002 ( #8 )
#9 - 2013 ( #24 )
#10 - 2012 ( #24 )
#11 - 2004 ( #8 )
#12 - 2011 ( #24 )
#13 - 2005 ( #8 )
#14 - 2000 ( #8 )
#15 - 1999 ( #8 )
#16 - 1998 ( #8 )
#17 - 2015 ( #24 )
#18 - 2014 ( #24 )
#19 - 1997 ( #8 )

Yet you claim to be a fan? Always making Kobe threads hahah ... Don't even have his jersey number matching corresponding seasons. 2007 was Kobe's first season as #24.

[Smoke117]

Yet you claim to be a fan? Always making Kobe threads hahah ... Don't even have his jersey number matching corresponding seasons. 2007 was Kobe's first season as #24.

[warriorfan]

What are you sipping on my friend?

[ShaqTwizzle]

2003 Kobe >>> any other version of Kobe.

I can't rank that year so highly because of the injury he suffered right before the 2nd round.

In the first 2 games of the Spurs series (both losses) he averaged*
32 / 1.5-apg / 5-TOV on .475%TS*

Then in G6 (elimination game) he had 20 / 6-ast / 7-TOV on 50%TS.

He was great in the middle 3 games so it wasn't by any means a terrible series but it wasn't a great one either.

He also kind of struggled that year before Shaq came back.

In the first 12 games (before Shaq returned) LAL went 3-9.
Kobe averaged 29 / 9 / 6-apg on .498%TS over those games.

The production was good but his efficiency was Iverson level without Shaq around.
I think for example 2006 Kobe would have done much better in that situation.

[HOoopCityJones]

What are you sipping on my friend?

The mortgage and his kids tuition.

[sportjames23]

Yet you claim to be a fan? Always making Kobe threads hahah ... Don't even have his jersey number matching corresponding seasons. 2007 was Kobe's first season as #24.