Bryant's Platform

Image extracted from http://www.nba.com/playerfile/kobe_bryant/career_stats.html

Kobe Bryant surpassed Jerry West in the Lakers all-time leading scorer last night on February 1st, 2010. He is 14th on the all-time leading scorer list behind the 3-point specialist Reggie Miller.

The list goes as follows:
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
2. Karl Malone 36,928
3. Michael Jordan 32,292
4. Wilt Chamberlain 31,419
5. Shaquille O'Neal 28,119
6. Moses Malone 27,409
7. Elvin Hayes 27,313
8. Hakeem Olajuwon 26,946
9. Oscar Robertson 26,710
10. Dominique Wilkins 26,668
11. John Havlicek 26,395
12. Alex English 25,613
13. Reggie Miller 25,279
14. Kobe Bryant 25,208
15. Jerry West 25,192

Bryant has a career average of 25.3 points per game, but in the past 5 years, he averages 30.08 points per game. Let's say his pace for the rest of his career is about 28.05 points (between his recent average and his career average)--this means he will average about 2272.05 points per year.

Let's take out about two games year because he has played an entire season only 3 times in his career--so we'll readjust his average yearly scoring to 2215.95. With that being said, he will need to play another six seasons to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Will Kobe Bryant do it? Will be the all-time scoring leader by the end of his career? Bryant is in his 14th season of the NBA, and is currently 31 years old.

Bryant has averaged more than 20 points in eleven season (not including 98-99 where he averaged 19.9). He has also averaged 30 or more points in three seasons of his career (his career high average being 35.4 ppg).

Of course we all know that Bryant has also scored 81 points in a single game, which was one of the most dominant performances in NBA history. Bryant is simply amazing and unstoppable. He has a a switch that can be turned on at will--and no on can even slow him down.

Every night, the best defender attempts to stop his offensive game and Bryant ends up scoring 20 points (on a bad night). Bryant is not Michael Jordan, and he will never be Jordan. He cannot be compared to Jordan, nor does he want to be compared to Jordan.

Michael Jordan did not average 25.3 points a game--he averaged 30.1 points per game in his entire career. His career high average was 37.1 ppg for a complete season (he averaged .482 from the field that year as well). What distinguishes Jordan from any other guard in the league to ever play was his dominance and efficiency. His career field goal percentage was .497 (Bryants' .455), and Jordan averaged 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.35 steals every single night along with his 30.1 points.

Bryant averages 25.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.7 apg, and 1.5 spg.

By me saying Bryant will probably become the all-time leading scorer--in no way makes a case for him being the "best player to ever play the game"; that title is reserved and utilized by Jordan for the basketball eternity.

I don't see Bryant slowing down with his scoring--and I definitely see him playing until he's about 38-40, which gives him ample of time to shatter the record.

Right now Bryant is enjoying the glory of being the all-time leading scorer for the Lakers, but in no time--he will be all-time leading NBA scorer.