Lakers Fans Debate On Who To ‘Start. Bench. Cut.’ Between Prime LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, And Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Lakers fans debated who they would 'start, bench, and cut' between LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in their primes.

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Credit: Fadeaway World

  • The Lakers have had many all-time greats suit up for them
  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James have all made their mark on NBA history
  • Lakers fans debated on who to ‘start, bench, and cut’ between the trio in their prime

Over the years, a host of all-time greats have donned the Purple and Gold of the Los Angeles Lakers. They have all helped the Lakers become arguably the most successful team in NBA history. 

LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are just three of the biggest names that have suited up for the Lakers, and their fans debated who to ‘start, bench, and cut’ between these three icons in their prime.

One had LeBron starting, Kareem on the bench, and Kobe cut based on their all-time ranking.

One fan is cutting Kareem and claims Prime Kobe is the best scorer and defender here.

A Bryant fan cut him, as he feels LeBron and Kareem are greater than him.

A fan opted to cut LeBron as he only wants loyal players on his team.

One has Kobe starting, with LeBron settling for a spot on the bench and Kareem being cut.

https://twitter.com/HizAirness24/status/1687650144983162881

Fans were somewhat split here, but quite a few seemed to be of the opinion that Kobe should be the one getting cut.


Comparing The Primes Of LeBron, Kobe, And Kareem

It’s hard to pinpoint what would be the prime years for these three, as they were so good for so long. Still, let’s have a look at how they compare to each other when you consider their best five-year stretches.

For LeBron, his peak could be from the 2008-09 season to 2012-13. He won two titles, two Finals MVPs, and four MVPs in that time while averaging 27.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game. He also made the All-Defensive First Team in all five seasons.

From the 1975-76 season to 1979-80, Kareem won three MVPs and a championship. He averaged 25.7 points, 13.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 3.6 blocks per game. Abdul-Jabbar also made one of the All-Defensive teams in all five seasons and led the league in Blocks thrice in that stretch. He led the league in rebounds once as well in 1976.

Lastly when we come to Kobe, his five-year stretch from 2005-06 to 2009-10 was quite impressive as well. He won two championships, two Finals MVPs, and an MVP in those years. He led the league in scoring twice and made the All-Defensive First Team in all five seasons. Kobe would end up averaging 29.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game in those five seasons.

It’s a lot closer than you might think, as it isn’t an all-time ranking. Still, you might end up with the same conclusion, that Bryant is the one who would be cut at their primes.

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Gautam Varier is a staff writer and columnist for Fadeaway World from Mumbai, India. He graduated from Symbiosis International University with a Master of Business specializing in Sports Management in 2020. This educational achievement enables Gautam to apply sophisticated analytical techniques to his incisive coverage of basketball, blending business acumen with sports knowledge.Before joining Fadeaway World in 2022, Gautam honed his journalistic skills at Sportskeeda and SportsKPI, where he covered a range of sports topics with an emphasis on basketball. His passion for the sport was ignited after witnessing the high-octane offense of the Steve Nash-led Phoenix Suns. Among the Suns, Shawn Marion stood out to Gautam as an all-time underrated NBA player. Marion’s versatility as a defender and his rebounding prowess, despite being just 6’7”, impressed Gautam immensely. He admired Marion’s finishing ability at the rim and his shooting, despite an unconventional jump shot, believing that Marion’s skill set would have been even more appreciated in today’s NBA.This transformative experience not only deepened his love for basketball but also shaped his approach to sports writing, enabling him to connect with readers through vivid storytelling and insightful analysis.
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