Which Kobe Bryant Lakers Team Had the Most Talent?

Kobe Bryant is entering his 16th NBA season. He’s won a slew of championships and has played with numerous Hall of Famers (including Shaq at the very height of his powers). Yesterday at Lakers Media Day, Kobe claimed that his current Lakers squad – on paper at least – is the most talented cast he’s ever played with in L.A.

Maybe. Steve Nash, Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol are pretty significant sidekicks, and guys like Antawn Jamison and (occasionally) Ron Artest are formidable secondary teammates. But really, is this team more talented than Lakers teams of the past 16 years? With Nash and Pau on the back sides of their careers and with Dwight’s dealing back issues, it’s not so clear cut.

Let’s take a look at Kobe’s previous teams – some of them are loaded with talent (the ’96-’97 squad was ridiculous). The contenders:

1996-97 LAKERS
Top talent:
Kobe Bryant (7.6 ppg)
Eddie Jones (17.2 ppg)
Nick Van Exel (15.3 ppg, 8.5 apg)
Elden Campbell (15 ppg, 8 rpg)
Cedric Ceballos (14 ppg)
Shaq (26 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 2.9 bpg)

1998-99 LAKERS
Top Talent:
Kobe Bryant (19.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
Eddie Jones (17 ppg)
Glen Rice (17.5 ppg)
Rick Fox (9 ppg)
Dennis Rodman (11.2 rpg)
Shaq (26.3 ppg, 10.7 rpg)

1999-2000 LAKERS **NBA CHAMPIONSHIP
Kobe Bryant (22.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.9 apg)
Glen Rice (15 ppg)
Ron Harper (7 ppg, 3.4 apg)
Shaq (29.7 ppg, 13.6 rpg, 3 bpg)

2000-01 LAKERS **NBA CHAMPIONSHIP
Top talent:
Kobe Bryant (28.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 5 apg)
Derek Fisher (11.5 ppg, 4.4 apg)
Rick Fox (9 ppg, 4 rpg, 3.2 apg)
Horace Grant (8.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg)
J.R. Rider (6.7 ppg)
Ron Harper (7 ppg)
Robert Horry (5.2 ppg)
Shaq (28.7 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 2.8 bpg)

2001-02 LAKERS **NBA CHAMPIONSHIP
Top Talent:
Kobe Bryant (27.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5.5 apg)
Derek Fisher (11.2 ppg)
Rick Fox (7.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.5 apg)
Devean George (7.1 ppg)
Robbery Horry (6.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg)
Mitch Richmond (4.1 ppg)
Shaq (27.2 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 2 bpg)

2003-04 LAKERS **LOST IN NBA FINALS
Top Talent:
Kobe Bryant (24.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5.1 apg)
Gary Payton (14.6 ppg, 5.5 apg, 4.2 rpg)
Karl Malone (13.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 3.9 apg)
Shaq (21.5 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 2.5 bpg)

2007-08 LAKERS **LOST IN NBA FINALS
Top Talent:
Kobe Bryant (28.3 ppg, 5.4 apg, 6.3 rpg)
Pau Gasol (18.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.8 bpg)
Lamar Odom (14.2 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.5 apg)
Andrew Bynum (13.1 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 2.1 bpg)
Derek Fisher (11.7 ppg)

2008-09 LAKERS **NBA CHAMPIONSHIP
Top Talent:
Kobe Bryant (26.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.9 apg)
Pau Gasol (18.9 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 3.5 apg)
Andrew Bynum (14.3 ppg, 8 rpg, 1.8 bpg)
Lamar Odom (11.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 4.6 apg)
Derek Fisher (9.9. ppg)
Trevor Ariza (8.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg)

2009-10 LAKERS **NBA CHAMPIONSHIP
Top Talent:
Kobe Bryant (27 ppg, 5.4 apg, 5 rpg)
Pau Gasol (18.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.7 bpg)
Andrew Bynum (15.3 ppg, 8 rpg, 1.4 bpg)
Metta World Peace (11 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3 apg)
Lamar Odom (10.8 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 3.3 apg)

To me, I don’t think any of the teams can touch that 2001 team that beat Philly in the Finals. They were scary good and I think that Lakers squad likely trounces this upcoming season’s team. That’s just me though.

Which Kobe Bryant Lakers team was the most talented?

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