Trevor Ariza has earned a reputation as an elite defensive player during his long NBA career, and the former Los Angeles Lakers forward recently talked about guarding two franchise legends, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Feel.
Ariza said Bryant’s ruthless nature made trying to guard him “completely embarrassing” rather than dealing with James’ ability to “make the right play.”
Ariza last played in the NBA in the 2021-22 season with James and the Lakers. He was also Bryant’s teammate with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons, winning the 2009 NBA championship after losing in the 2008 NBA Finals.
He ranks among the top 10 in the league in steals per game six times. His career overlaps with much of James’, as he debuted with the New York Knicks in the 2004-05 NBA season while the superstar made his NBA debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers the previous season.
Kobe and James are two of the best offensive players of all time, although they are known for their different offensive styles on opposite ends of the floor.
Kobe was a high-shooting shooter who could have an epic outburst at any time, as evidenced by his 81 points in January 2006, which still ranks second in NBA history for points scored in a single game. He also scored 60 points several times during his career.
James is one of the most efficient offensive players of all time and surpassed former Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for that honor last season and has scored more points than anyone in NBA history. The 38-year-old continues to add to that number as he enters his 21st season in the NBA.
Bryant played all 20 NBA seasons with the Lakers, ending his career in the 2015-16 season with the fourth-highest scoring total in NBA history. He averages 25.0 points per game in his career, while James currently averages 27.2 points per game with the Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers.
It was a testament to both great players that they were able to leave their mark on the game in different ways, with Ariza seeing up close how difficult it is to stop either one.