AROUND the NBA:

[dirkfansince1998]

Well, I honestly think Kobe could average 35-40 PPG today if he wanted to and was playing like he did between 2000-01 to 2007-08, when he was in his athletic prime, because of how different the game is compared to that time.

The rules in the early 2000s were very conducive to teams being able to play the most stifling defense, which was an environment that allowed the best 1-on-1 players to shine on their own merit (i.e., without help from rule changes or from gifted spacing). It's only because of subsequent rule changes that lesser talented players have also been able to shine as brightly.

Imagine Kobe in a team that was perfectly constructed around him, with defenders and spacing. For example:

- Billups or Kidd, Kobe, Shane Battier, Rasheed Wallace or Shawn Marion, Tyson Chandler

^ who's beating that team?

These are the kind of teams that MJ, Magic, Larry, Lebron, Duncan, Steph, etc have had.

Regarding efficiency... Kobe's career TS% (55.0%) is the same as Tim Duncan's (55.1%). Bigs are supposed to have higher TS%, being that more of their points come closer to the basket. Yet you think of Duncan as efficient but not Kobe, why is that? Dirk's career TS% (57.7) is only 2.7% more than Kobe's too.

Compared to 20 or even 5-10 years ago we are watching a different sport. I agree with your point that in the late 90s and early 00s iso midrange scoring was more important than it is today. Not really sure how that translates to the modern NBA. Can we assume that Kobe would have turned into a LBJ/Luka like passer out of double teams or would have increased his 3-point volume?

I don't really need to imagine Kobe on a perfectly constructed team around him. He already had more help than most of his peers. Outside of the short stretch from 05-07 he played his entire prime with all-NBA and all-defense caliber teammates. Winning three of his rings next to one of the best centers of all time.

Bigs are supposed to have higher TS% when they are just finishers. Tyson Chandler or DAJ belong in that category because all they do is dunk. Dirk was a shot creator with comparable or higher midrange volume than Kobe. Simply a better shooter. Leading to better TS% and no decline in the playoffs. Dirk's case over any other offensive superstar in the 00s are his impact metrics. No matter who played next to him. As long as Dirk was on the floor the team had an elite offense. Kobe is one of the best offensive first options of the 00s but not on the same level as Nowitzki or Nash. Always needed a great big/pick and roll partner (Shaq/Gasol).
Duncan isn't just in the conversation because he was a solid first option on offense. His case is just as much about all time great defense. Being the anchor of some of the best defensive teams in history.

Kobe was the golden child of the NBA because he is the closest thing to Jordan we have seen. Style of play. Attitude. Marketability. You don't need to be the best player to be the face of the league.
Just need to look at this years playoffs. League is desperate for the next Jordan/Kobe. Edwards is the closest thing. Hype was unreal. ESPN talking heads ranked him as a top three player in the league. Ringer put him ahead of SGA and Doncic on their 25 and younger list. Their case...he has the "it" factor. The "it" is everything I described above.