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.

  • RTLT512BEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Counterpoint that Kobe’s season mentioned by OP is worse:

    1. Kobe had a negative BPM and WS for the season. Wall was obviously at 0 for both since he didn’t play. Is it better that we just didn’t play Wall instead of playing a “negative” player (in the eyes of advanced stats) a heavy number of minutes?
    2. Wall wasn’t the highest paid player in the league was like Kobe was in 2015-16