If you haven’t listened to it already, I cannot recommend enough the recent Lowe Post podcast where Grantland’s Zach Lowe had Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck as a guest. The entire podcast focused on Beck’s time as a Lakers’ beat reporter when he worked for the LA Daily News from 1997 through 2004. Beck left the LADN for the NY Times in the summer of ’04, of course, but he recalls his time covering the Lakers fondly and brings great perspective as well as some untold stories that are, for Lakers’ fans especially, essential listening.
I use that podcast as an intro here because one of the many topics covered during their hour-long discussion was Kobe’s reputation as a “gunner”. Lowe and Beck go into great detail about how, while it’s an idea that Kobe now himself propagates, it’s also one which doesn’t do him many favors since it often deflects the proper credit he should receive for an all-around player and, especially, how great a passer he’s been throughout his career.
This is a topic which I don’t think gets enough run in many conversations about Kobe, but it’s something I do feel is important when discussing him as a player. Throughout the majority of his career Kobe has played, positionally, shooting guard but has spent most of his time on the floor as a player who either initiates the offense a la a point guard or has the offense run through him as the primary decision maker. Playing this style has allowed Kobe to flex his scoring muscles — after all, with him handling the ball so much there was little in the way of stopping him from simply shooting — but has also put him in position to show just how gifted a passer he is.
Reflecting on this took me to youtube and, lo and behold, I found this wonderful compilation of Kobe passing clips — all of which come from last season:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmgEYbAceYk
I won’t add too much here since, you know, the plays speak for themselves. I will add, though, that while some of these clips are of routine plays, many of them are of the spectacular variety. Plays where he’s drawing multiple defenders and dropping off passes through barely noticeable creases. Plays where he’s making next level reads out of the P&R or when multiple defenders swarm him in the post.
These aren’t passes just anyone can make. In fact, many of these are plays only truly gifted passers can. Let this be a gentle reminder, then, that while the man will go down as one of the best scorers — if not the best — the league has ever seen, he should also be remembered for his tremendous feel as a passer who, maybe not as much as his critics would like — truly did relish setting up his teammates for buckets.
mud says
yeah, a guy like that doesn’t help a team at his age…[sarcasm]
Adrian says
His shooting wasn’t there last year, but overall I think he looked pretty good. I think he’s gonna have a pretty good 15/16 season.
Craig W. says
Kobe has often said he will do anything to win. Perhaps his detractors should think on that statement just a little bit.
LKK says
Thanks for that video, Darius! Some truly spectacular assists… Pretty special stuff. One of the late John Wooden’s axioms was “never leave your feet to pass the ball.” For most players, on any level, this is extremely sound advice. Only a certain few players can leave their feet and still have the skill and presence of mind to deliver a pinpoint pass under pressure. Kobe, Magic, Michael, LeBrawn come to mind. Their other worldly athleticism allows them to defy convention and complete those jump passes with precision and panache. Oftentimes, the extra deception of leaving their feet in the pretense of shooting leads to easy buckets for their teammates. On this video, Kobe leaves his feet many times, sucking in the defense just that little bit more, before unleashing an incredible feed for an easy hoop. A rare skill indeed.
dashun smith says
Everybody complains w/Kobe Not passing the Ball…easy to blame when he’s passing to Mediocre Talent…Nobody complained about passing when he was winning Rings!! Easy to Forget Hard to Give Credit…
Baylor Fan says
Watching Kobe’s passing made me wonder again why the Lakers did not hire Adelman when they had the chance. The Lakers have a history of poaching top coaches from other organizations and Adelman represented the best for a modified Princeton offense. It would have been great to see what Adelman could have done to help Kobe reinvent himself as a facilitator.
As much as I enjoyed watching the clips of the passing, Kobe drove Tex Winter crazy with his predilection for holding the ball and surveying the floor. That led to the other four players standing around waiting for Kobe to make his move. Given that the Lakers do not have a stable of three point artists to stretch the floor, Kobe is still going to have to do a lot on his own to create shots.
Julian Dunkley says
The sad part is that though we had an awful season… Many of our bright spots didn’t stick on the roster. Most of the passes in this reel showcased Jordan Hill as the finisher and he was able to finish in a variety of ways. He better buy kobe a steak dinner and tell him thanks
Warren Wee Lim says
One thing I just realized, the recepient on 80% of those “made” passes/assists are no longer lakers. Lets hope Randle and Hibbert (better defensively but not offensively) can make those midrange passes and deliver.
The entire video simply shows Kobe’s IQ. If anything, you don’t lose that at age 37. I miss Kobe, I want the season to start already.
I also just realized how much I am going to miss Kobe when he finally hangs them up.
Shaun says
Adelman was dealing with a sick wife and isnt coaching right now as he had to leave his job in minnesota to take care of her
Baylor Fan says
That is a good point about Adelman’s wife. It looks like her problems began in Jan 2013 so he could have replaced the Mike Brown experience before leaving to take care of his wife. Either way, he was never a long term solution.
Anonymous says
The story I heard was that Kupchak preferred Adelman but was overruled by Jim who wanted Mike Brown. I always thought that Adelman would have figured out a way to use Kobe, Pau and Howard. And I do think Howard would have stayed if Adelman were the coach. But yes, Adelman did retire for personal reasons so he would have stopped coaching by now.
George Best says
Another example why Kobe is top 3 player all time with KAJ and MJ.
Shaun says
Zach Lowe is such a douche … im like 20mins into the podcast and Beck has had to pushback on Lowes kobe hating like 6 times already correcting him
Calvin says
At this age, Kobe is still one of the best closers in the game today. His ability to create separation off the bounce and rise up for a fallaway jumper going right or left is still tops. The key is for Byron to conserve Kobe’s energy so Kob has enough gas in the tank to close out games. Oftentimes last season, Kobe will be tired in the closing minutes, diminishing his accuracy. If Byron can figure out a way to play Kobe 24 minutes of the first 44 and keep the game close, Kobe can come in rested in the last 4 minutes and do what he does.
Rick in Seattle says
This is so old news! Can’t we have something more about the young team that is developing AROUND Kobe? It’s time to move on and write about something else!
Wassupdun says
Dag, Jordan Hill stayed getting buckets when Kobe was playing! No wonder he said he didn’t have a hard time playing with Kobe… Lol!
dxmanners says
Yo, what up Beck!