In 2015-16 Kobe had the highest salary in the league at $25 million.
He put up 17.5/4/3 with the 4th highest usage rate that year playing around 28 MPG. Shooting splits of 36/28/83 for the 7th lowest TS% in the league. Meanwhile, the lakers finished bottom of the West with a 17-65 record.
Looking at advanced metrics: 2nd worst plus minus per game, 4th worst defensive box plus minus, 7th lowest win shares and 2nd lowest WS/48 (both negative) and all of which are the worst among Lakers players that year.
I understand he was injured and it was a farewell tour but purely from a production relative to salary perspective is this the worst season by a player ever or would it still be better than e.g a star being injured all year or refusing to play but making the max.
I don’t know if culture matters as much in basketball anymore because a lot of players move around so much now, but it does set a good precedent as an organization to take care of your own later in their career. It can attract future players at least theoretically
I guess it depends on what kind of culture you want to promote, Timmy D took major salary cuts as his production dropped and he got older which atleast in my head is sending out the message of here the team and it’s performance always comes first. Obviously you can’t blame Kobe for taking the bag he was offered but I just don’t like organizations promoting the star is bigger than the team