Poll: In Your Opinion, which was Kobe Bryant's Best Season?
Just wanted to take a break from all the frustration and the losing, so I came up with this.
Kobe's made a career out of one great season after another, after another, after another... Looking back, I just suddenly thought of what you guys think was Kobe's best season. I am not setting any standards since each of has has his/her own standards. Btw, this includes regular season and playoffs. Here is a refresher of the choices included on the poll.
2002-2003: Bryant averaged 30ppg, and shot a career high 38% from 3pt land. 9 consecutive 40+point games. Three pointers in a game record. Some of his greatest dunks (Reverse windmill on Garnett, reverse windmill on Latrell, dunk on Yao, behind-the-back-180 on some Nugget dude... etc). Probably the year when he clearly began to establish himself as the best individual player of the game.
2005-2006: Bryant averaged 35.4ppg (the highest since Jordan) and led the Lakers (with starters Smush Parker, Walton, Odom, and Kwame) to a 45-37 record. If you asked me that's astounding considering the lineup they had. Moreover, they made it to the playoffs in the ultra competitive western conference. Oh and 81 anybody? Enough said. PS Did I mention that he had a torn tendon on his knee that needed surgery? By this season, it became the general consensus the Kobe Bryant was the best player in basketball.
2006-2007: Bryant averaged 31+ppg. If you thought that the lineup during the previous season was "scrub-filled", well this season starters Odom, Walton, and Kwame got injured. So if they were starters... then you can expect that the bench was not pretty loaded. The likes of Brian Cook (who is nowhere to be found), Maurice Evans, and Ronny Turiaf (who were still both clueless about the triangle and everything nba) had to start. Nonetheless Bryant had 4 consecutive 50+point games, and led the Lakers to the playoffs in the ultra competitive western conference... again. Record was 42-40, not as respectable as the previous season but considering the lineup we had, we ought to be thankful.
2007-2008: My personal favorite. Bryant sheds 20 pounds, regains his agility, and dunks like crazy again (MVP dunk against the hornets; christmas day dunk against the suns; etc...). Bryant wins MVP. Lakers have the best record in the West. Bryant's point average dipped a bit but that was because of the maturity and major upgrades in the roster (Gasol anybody?). Bryant suddenly did not have to be in Mamba mode for 48 mins, feeling out his teammates, and sharing the ball, only taking over when necessary. Moreover in the playoffs, before the Celtics, he averaged 30+ppg, and shot slightly above 50%... In the playoffs when the other team has its whole defense tilted towards you, this is astounding. My personal choice. Did I mention that for the later part of the season, he was playing with 9 fingers?
2008-2009: Championship year. In terms of individual performance, nothing new from Kobe. In fact he may have been below his standards during the regular season, especially come March when he shot the ball just 43% and there was a string of games when he was struggling. This was a crucial stretch when the Cavs secured the best record in the NBA. Note that he had just come from a long playoff run, and then the Olympics, so fatigue may have been a factor. Nonetheless, he was Mamba come the Western Conference Finals, and the Finals, and he gets his 4th ring - one without Shaq, and a Finals MVP.
Take your pick guys!
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I voted for 08-09...
…but this season isn’t over yet. He’s got better numbers this year than last (by a bit), and, from how it looks, he’s going to have to go astronomical for this team to win the title, or at least for this team to have a fire lit under its ass.
That might make it better than last season.
"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."
"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."
-Kobe Bryant
A mantra for all athletes.
2002-03 & 2005-06 (robbed off MVP)
athletically with exuberance of youth.
2007-08 & 2008-09 otherwise.(This year up till January he was a clear MVP candidate as well.)
I'm going for his universally overlooked and underrated 00-01 season
28,5,and 5 regular season
29,7,and 6 playoffs in route to a title. Absolutely brilliant performances from Bryant that season.
Dude vote for "Other" in the poll
So at least the poll will reflect what people have to say :) Thanks. Much respect to your choice
I voted "other"
I would have voted 2000-01 too. And what about 2003-04? Or is that a year Laker fans would like to forget?
he had a sub-par year that year by his standards
partly cuz of all the drama with his legal stuff and also from injuries.
by desecrator09 on Mar 9, 2010 12:01 PM PST up reply actions
i voted for 2002-03
he averaged 30.0 ppg 6 assists and 7 rebounds
sure 2006 he had 35 ppg, but in 2002-03 he had probably he his most complete year in terms of those three categories…
"Just by the aura of D.J. Mbenga being there, the shot missed."
'05-'06 was definitely his best statistical season
By a mile and he was probably robbed of the MVP that year, but it depends really on what you define as “best.” His best statistical season? When he won the MVP? Championship? I’d argue his best individual performance was ‘05-’06 and it’s your discretion where to go from there.
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
2005-2006 and 2008-2009
Definitely his best seasons for all the reasons above and some, deserved MVP both years also
There are basic Fundamentals that are needed to move forward in this game. Always keep your guard up at all times to avoid being caught in a trap. Overcome the fouls that will be commited against you REBOUND AND PRESS ON. ADJUST to the LimeLight: ALL-STAR PLAYERS ARE ALWAYS THE CENTER OF ATTENTION. Know what your role is and play your position. Find a game plan and execute it. REMEMBER YOU ONLY GET OUT OF THE GAME WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT.
voted for other
kobes 2001 season is the reason why he is better than mj just saying
YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD YES!
www.reverbnation.com/czheckproductions
1999-2000 simply for the following:
Bryant being named to the All-NBA Team Second Team and All-NBA Defensive Team for the first time in his career (the youngest player ever to receive defensive honors).48 While playing second fiddle to O’Neal in the playoffs, Bryant had some clutch performances including a 25 point, 11 rebound, 7 assist, 4 block game in game 7 of the Western Conference finals against the Trailblazers.
"If you want to find the dumbest guy in the room just find the first guy to tell you how smart he is." - JG
by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Mar 11, 2010 9:14 AM PST reply actions
The year that he wore that half black sleeve on his right arm, he was BEASTING it. I think it was his MVP year.
by I Can't Feel My Face on Mar 12, 2010 1:54 PM PST reply actions

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