Knicks · R.J. Barrett vs. Kobe Bryant (1st 4 Years of NBA Play). (page 1)

Kobe Bryant:
266 Games. ✔️
7,579 Minutes.
4,240 Points.
1,054 Rebounds.
803 Assists. ✔️
301 Steals ✔️
175 Blocks. ✔️
608 Turnovers.
.450 FG%. ✔️
.331 3PT%.

Vs.

R.J. Barrett:
241 Games.
8,123 Minutes. ✔️
4,339 Points. ✔️
1,335 Rebounds. ✔️
691 Assists.
172 Steals.
60 Blocks.
515 Turnovers. ✔️
.421 FG%.
.353 3PT%. ✔️

Yes.

It's obvious that Kobe Bryant was the better overall player etc.

But I just wanted to point out how much of an incredible start to an NBA Career that R.J. Barrett is currently having. I think this kid is a lot more special than many of us (currently) realize (and he's still the youngest player on our entire roster too).

PS: Kobe Bryant didn't win his 1st ring (alongside of Shaq) until his 4th year.

We've got something extremely special and rare in R.J. Barrett, and I'm just anxious to watch if both of Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle can help unlock his Superstar Potential moving forward; because not too many 22 year olds have EVER put up these types of NBA numbers (before even completing their 1st 4 years of NBA Play).

Have been a big RJ fan/supporter and he does have youth/age going for him. He did seem to take positive steps the first three seasons. This season he has struggled a bit more and it could be Brunson and having to adjust, heard he could have had injury earlier on... or he could just be reaching a lower ceiling then we all hoped for. I do think whatever RJ is destined to become is hindered by playing alongside Randle (who's playing much better this season) as they don't seem to complement each other. Kobe was so good that he made the other player adjust - I'm not sure RJ is/will be good enough where the coach/FO has no choice but to have other players adjust around him. He seems like a very good 2nd tier player. Unless his shooting becomes less streaky - he really has to be surrounded by better shooters all around as it's hard to weather his off nights from outside/deep. I think either Randle or RJ gets moved sometime next season and they likely both will perform closer to each's respective ceilings.

https://stathead.com/tiny/2lwzr

If you take a closer look at advance stats and factor in that Kobe only played like 16 minutes a game his rookie season, then I'd say this a pipedream. While RJ has made incremental improvements over the course of his career, Kobe SKYROCKETED during his four year spurt. No need for straw man arguments. Why not make a more reasonable RJ comparison, like Caris LeVert? I'm rooting for RJ, but he projects a ceiling of being a solid wing if you look at it objectively. Nothing wrong with that, but definitely not an untouchable.
Caris LeVert comparison: https://stathead.com/tiny/flXGu

BigDaddyG wrote:https://stathead.com/tiny/2lwzr

If you take a closer look at advance stats and factor in that Kobe only played like 16 minutes a game his rookie season, then I'd say this a pipedream. While RJ has made incremental improvements over the course of his career, Kobe SKYROCKETED during his four year spurt. No need for straw man arguments. Why not make a more reasonable RJ comparison, like Caris LeVert? I'm rooting for RJ, but he projects a ceiling of being a solid wing if you look at it objectively. Nothing wrong with that, but definitely not an untouchable.
Caris LeVert comparison: https://stathead.com/tiny/flXGu

Kobe was also the first player drafted from High School to the NBA.

Rookie wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:https://stathead.com/tiny/2lwzr

If you take a closer look at advance stats and factor in that Kobe only played like 16 minutes a game his rookie season, then I'd say this a pipedream. While RJ has made incremental improvements over the course of his career, Kobe SKYROCKETED during his four year spurt. No need for straw man arguments. Why not make a more reasonable RJ comparison, like Caris LeVert? I'm rooting for RJ, but he projects a ceiling of being a solid wing if you look at it objectively. Nothing wrong with that, but definitely not an untouchable.
Caris LeVert comparison: https://stathead.com/tiny/flXGu

Kobe was also the first player drafted from High School to the NBA.

No he was not

Rookie wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:https://stathead.com/tiny/2lwzr

If you take a closer look at advance stats and factor in that Kobe only played like 16 minutes a game his rookie season, then I'd say this a pipedream. While RJ has made incremental improvements over the course of his career, Kobe SKYROCKETED during his four year spurt. No need for straw man arguments. Why not make a more reasonable RJ comparison, like Caris LeVert? I'm rooting for RJ, but he projects a ceiling of being a solid wing if you look at it objectively. Nothing wrong with that, but definitely not an untouchable.
Caris LeVert comparison: https://stathead.com/tiny/flXGu

Kobe was also the first player drafted from High School to the NBA.

Kevin Garnett (KG) came out of High School (1 year before) even Kobe Bryant did it.

Nonetheless R.J. only had 1 year of NCAA experience before making the leap.

Panos wrote:

Rookie wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:https://stathead.com/tiny/2lwzr

If you take a closer look at advance stats and factor in that Kobe only played like 16 minutes a game his rookie season, then I'd say this a pipedream. While RJ has made incremental improvements over the course of his career, Kobe SKYROCKETED during his four year spurt. No need for straw man arguments. Why not make a more reasonable RJ comparison, like Caris LeVert? I'm rooting for RJ, but he projects a ceiling of being a solid wing if you look at it objectively. Nothing wrong with that, but definitely not an untouchable.
Caris LeVert comparison: https://stathead.com/tiny/flXGu

Kobe was also the first player drafted from High School to the NBA.

No he was not

Ok apparently it was Reggie Harding in 1962. Regardless Kobe was barely 18 when he played his first NBA game. Third youngest ever at 18 years 72 days

NYKMentality wrote:

Rookie wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:https://stathead.com/tiny/2lwzr

If you take a closer look at advance stats and factor in that Kobe only played like 16 minutes a game his rookie season, then I'd say this a pipedream. While RJ has made incremental improvements over the course of his career, Kobe SKYROCKETED during his four year spurt. No need for straw man arguments. Why not make a more reasonable RJ comparison, like Caris LeVert? I'm rooting for RJ, but he projects a ceiling of being a solid wing if you look at it objectively. Nothing wrong with that, but definitely not an untouchable.
Caris LeVert comparison: https://stathead.com/tiny/flXGu

Kobe was also the first player drafted from High School to the NBA.

Kevin Garnett (KG) came out of High School (1 year before) even Kobe Bryant did it.

Nonetheless R.J. only had 1 year of NCAA experience before making the leap.

I think RJ may have even reclassified down a year in highschool.

Not the greatest performance shooting from R.J. Barrett against @ Boston tonight with only 19 points off of only 6/18 etc

But man oh MAN was R.J. CLUTCH during the final 30 seconds of OT with A.) 3 Pointer to give us the 1 point lead, B.) Rebound with 5 seconds left and C.) Two clutch FTs to put us up by 3

Kid saved his best for last (especially his go-ahead 3!!!

RJ's a decent enough player. Where RJ pales in comparison to Kobe:
* defensive - RJ doesn't pass the eye test with his very inactive hands - he may be in the right position for team D, but doesn't put very pressure on his man. His steals are pretty low too.
* playmaking - Kobe averaged 4.7apg over his career (peak of 6.0apg at age 26); RJ is currently at 2.9apg for his career, and has been more or less stuck in this range for his career.
* FT shooting - RJ is a career 71% FT shooter. It has been trending up. Kobe was basically an 80%+ FT shooter his whole career (career avg 83.7%)

BigDaddyG wrote:

NYKMentality wrote:

Rookie wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:https://stathead.com/tiny/2lwzr

If you take a closer look at advance stats and factor in that Kobe only played like 16 minutes a game his rookie season, then I'd say this a pipedream. While RJ has made incremental improvements over the course of his career, Kobe SKYROCKETED during his four year spurt. No need for straw man arguments. Why not make a more reasonable RJ comparison, like Caris LeVert? I'm rooting for RJ, but he projects a ceiling of being a solid wing if you look at it objectively. Nothing wrong with that, but definitely not an untouchable.
Caris LeVert comparison: https://stathead.com/tiny/flXGu

Kobe was also the first player drafted from High School to the NBA.

Kevin Garnett (KG) came out of High School (1 year before) even Kobe Bryant did it.

Nonetheless R.J. only had 1 year of NCAA experience before making the leap.

I think RJ may have even reclassified down a year in highschool.

He did.

RJ has been good to very good. He is not Kobe but then again only a very few handful of players all time are as good as Kobe

Moses Malone was the first to play professionally directly out of high school in 1974, though with an ABA team before the merger of that association with the NBA. Two high school players, Darryl Dawkins and Bill Willoughby, applied for hardship and were declared eligible for the 1975 draft They had applied and gave evidence of financial hardship to the league, which granted them the right to start earning a living by starting their professional careers earlier.[9] Dawkins was selected 5th by the Philadelphia 76ers while Willoughby was selected 19th by the Atlanta Hawks. Dawkins played 14 seasons and averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds per game. Willoughby played 8 seasons with 6 different teams and averaged only 6 points per game. Neither player reached the level of success that was expected. It is argued that they could have been better players if they had college basketball experience before entering the NBA.

After Dawkins and Willoughby, no high schoolers were drafted for 14 years, though several players entered the league without playing college basketball. One player, Shawn Kemp, enrolled in college but never played any games due to personal problems. In 1989, a year after his high school graduation, he was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics.[16] He played 14 seasons in the NBA and was selected to 6 All-Star Games and 3 All-NBA Teams.

For historical purpose.

Had to RJ had a shit shooting night but coach left him in. He was clutch. He is a clutch performer. Not every night. NO player is. He is paid, and keep getting minutes not for who he is but what he is becoming. Nobody knows what that is.

Nalod wrote:

Moses Malone was the first to play professionally directly out of high school in 1974, though with an ABA team before the merger of that association with the NBA. Two high school players, Darryl Dawkins and Bill Willoughby, applied for hardship and were declared eligible for the 1975 draft They had applied and gave evidence of financial hardship to the league, which granted them the right to start earning a living by starting their professional careers earlier.[9] Dawkins was selected 5th by the Philadelphia 76ers while Willoughby was selected 19th by the Atlanta Hawks. Dawkins played 14 seasons and averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds per game. Willoughby played 8 seasons with 6 different teams and averaged only 6 points per game. Neither player reached the level of success that was expected. It is argued that they could have been better players if they had college basketball experience before entering the NBA.

After Dawkins and Willoughby, no high schoolers were drafted for 14 years, though several players entered the league without playing college basketball. One player, Shawn Kemp, enrolled in college but never played any games due to personal problems. In 1989, a year after his high school graduation, he was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics.[16] He played 14 seasons in the NBA and was selected to 6 All-Star Games and 3 All-NBA Teams.

For historical purpose.

Had to RJ had a shit shooting night but coach left him in. He was clutch. He is a clutch performer. Not every night. NO player is. He is paid, and keep getting minutes not for who he is but what he is becoming. Nobody knows what that is.

Ok, but I think we can all agree that it's not Kobe.

This is a totally different NBA. Comparisons should be thrown out the window. You’re comparing career trajectory of Kobe and RJ. Kobe was comparing himself to the GOAT Jordan. You’re talking about self motivation here. Does RJ have that drive to want to be the goat or is he content being just a good player. The trajectory tells you something but the eye test lets you know that the comparison is way off.

BigDaddyG wrote:

Nalod wrote:

Moses Malone was the first to play professionally directly out of high school in 1974, though with an ABA team before the merger of that association with the NBA. Two high school players, Darryl Dawkins and Bill Willoughby, applied for hardship and were declared eligible for the 1975 draft They had applied and gave evidence of financial hardship to the league, which granted them the right to start earning a living by starting their professional careers earlier.[9] Dawkins was selected 5th by the Philadelphia 76ers while Willoughby was selected 19th by the Atlanta Hawks. Dawkins played 14 seasons and averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds per game. Willoughby played 8 seasons with 6 different teams and averaged only 6 points per game. Neither player reached the level of success that was expected. It is argued that they could have been better players if they had college basketball experience before entering the NBA.

After Dawkins and Willoughby, no high schoolers were drafted for 14 years, though several players entered the league without playing college basketball. One player, Shawn Kemp, enrolled in college but never played any games due to personal problems. In 1989, a year after his high school graduation, he was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics.[16] He played 14 seasons in the NBA and was selected to 6 All-Star Games and 3 All-NBA Teams.

For historical purpose.

Had to RJ had a shit shooting night but coach left him in. He was clutch. He is a clutch performer. Not every night. NO player is. He is paid, and keep getting minutes not for who he is but what he is becoming. Nobody knows what that is.

Ok, but I think we can all agree that it's not Kobe.

Oh, I never went there. I compared him to Derozen or Mcgrady first 3 years and he trends well. For him to meet that he has to tighten up the numbers. We all know that. We seeing glimpes of that. The % have to improve.
He is 22. Won’t know until he gets there, If he gets there.

Vmart wrote:This is a totally different NBA. Comparisons should be thrown out the window. You’re comparing career trajectory of Kobe and RJ. Kobe was comparing himself to the GOAT Jordan. You’re talking about self motivation here. Does RJ have that drive to want to be the goat or is he content being just a good player. The trajectory tells you something but the eye test lets you know that the comparison is way off.

Even the trajectory is off upon closer examination. If you want to go wild tho, do a comparison between RJ and DeRozan during the first four years of their career. Forgot how much DeRozan struggled in the early part of his career.

BigDaddyG wrote:https://stathead.com/tiny/2lwzr

If you take a closer look at advance stats and factor in that Kobe only played like 16 minutes a game his rookie season, then I'd say this a pipedream. While RJ has made incremental improvements over the course of his career, Kobe SKYROCKETED during his four year spurt. No need for straw man arguments. Why not make a more reasonable RJ comparison, like Caris LeVert? I'm rooting for RJ, but he projects a ceiling of being a solid wing if you look at it objectively. Nothing wrong with that, but definitely not an untouchable.
Caris LeVert comparison: https://stathead.com/tiny/flXGu

its retarded.. and they are nothing alike. Kobe's ascension was stardom. RJ looks like a good NBA bucket better and rotation guy. LeVert is more realistic but hopefully as healthy version.

RJ is 23 soon... the hope is just he can be better BB player. Smarter plays, less TOs and better shots. Basically just be a better player

Phucking Kobe.. this is him reading this post
https://imgur.com/a/gD1VYmc

fishmike wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:https://stathead.com/tiny/2lwzr

If you take a closer look at advance stats and factor in that Kobe only played like 16 minutes a game his rookie season, then I'd say this a pipedream. While RJ has made incremental improvements over the course of his career, Kobe SKYROCKETED during his four year spurt. No need for straw man arguments. Why not make a more reasonable RJ comparison, like Caris LeVert? I'm rooting for RJ, but he projects a ceiling of being a solid wing if you look at it objectively. Nothing wrong with that, but definitely not an untouchable.
Caris LeVert comparison: https://stathead.com/tiny/flXGu

its retarded.. and they are nothing alike. Kobe's ascension was stardom. RJ looks like a good NBA bucket better and rotation guy. LeVert is more realistic but hopefully as healthy version.

RJ is 23 soon... the hope is just he can be better BB player. Smarter plays, less TOs and better shots. Basically just be a better player

Phucking Kobe.. this is him reading this post
https://imgur.com/a/gD1VYmc

So a fair comparison is a 19-22 year old RJ to a 22-25 year old Lavert?

How about this one?

19-22 RJ to a 21-24 Pierce
https://stathead.com/tiny/8K8yY

Here is 19-22 RJ to 19-22 Wiggins
https://stathead.com/tiny/HFtBj

Here's Ingram....same ages
https://stathead.com/tiny/a3DFg

Paul George from 20-23
https://stathead.com/tiny/h8DFU

Kawai from 20-23
https://stathead.com/tiny/TS22m

joec32033 wrote:How about this one?

19-22 RJ to a 21-24 Pierce
https://stathead.com/tiny/8K8yY

Here is 19-22 RJ to 19-22 Wiggins
https://stathead.com/tiny/HFtBj

Here's Ingram....same ages
https://stathead.com/tiny/a3DFg

Paul George from 20-23
https://stathead.com/tiny/h8DFU

Kawai from 20-23
https://stathead.com/tiny/TS22m

The Kawaii, George and Pierce comparisons start falling apart once you dive deeper into the advanced stats. You want to say Wiggins, that's fair. Ingram is close too. But again, I'd say Ingram is probably unrealistic due to the difference in physical tools between the two. Demar DeRozan is probably the best comparison I've seen for making the case toward RJ's path toward stardom. But even then, you have to consider that DeRozan came into the league as a better athlete.