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NBA Player Power Rankings: Unibrow or LeBron?

ByBryce Olin|
Nov 10, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavaliers beat the Pelicans 118-111. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 10, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavaliers beat the Pelicans 118-111. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
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Nov 12, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Lakers 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Lakers 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

17. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Season G MP FG FGA FG% 3P% TRB AST STL PTS
2014-15 7 34.9 9.4 24.0 .393 .289 5.6 3.4 1.9 26.7
Career 1252 36.6 8.9 19.6 .453 .335 5.3 4.8 1.5 25.5

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/13/2014.

Remember when the “idiots” at ESPN ranked Kobe Bryant as the 40th-best player in the NBA before the season?

Well, it turns out they were wrong, way wrong.

I could even make a case to put Bryant higher in the power rankings, but I want to see more of a sample size before I start believing he’s back.

Sure, Bryant’s field goal percentage is in the toilet and he’s shooting below 40 percent. I would argue that virtually every scorer in the league, except maybe Kevin Durant or LeBron James, would shoot less than 40 percent if they were on the Lakers.

Bryant is leading the league in scoring, which is remarkable after considering what he’s been through the last two seasons with the two injuries. Bryant might not be as effective as he has been in his career, but there’s still a spark there. He can still do some of the things that make him Kobe.

I don’t know how long Bryant can sustain these numbers. Head coach Byron Scott is also playing Bryant 35.1 minutes per game. With a 37.9 usage percentage while playing 35.1 minutes per game, Bryant is going to exhaust himself with all these shots. Over the course of the season, it’s highly unlikely Bryant will last until the end.

For now, though, Bryant is one of the top 20 players in the NBA.

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