Vs.

R.J. Barrett:
241 Games.
8,123 Minutes. ✔️
4,339 Points. ✔️
1,335 Rebounds. ✔️
691 Assists.
172 Steals.
60 Blocks.
515 Turnovers. ✔️
.421 FG%.
.353 3PT%. ✔️

Yes.

It's obvious that Kobe Bryant was the better overall player etc.

But I just wanted to point out how much of an incredible start to an NBA Career that R.J. Barrett is currently having. I think this kid is a lot more special than many of us (currently) realize (and he's still the youngest player on our entire roster too).

PS: Kobe Bryant didn't win his 1st ring (alongside of Shaq) until his 4th year.

We've got something extremely special and rare in R.J. Barrett, and I'm just anxious to watch if both of Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle can help unlock his Superstar Potential moving forward; because not too many 22 year olds have EVER put up these types of NBA numbers (before even completing their 1st 4 years of NBA Play).

BigDaddyG wrote:https://stathead.com/tiny/2lwzr

If you take a closer look at advance stats and factor in that Kobe only played like 16 minutes a game his rookie season, then I'd say this a pipedream. While RJ has made incremental improvements over the course of his career, Kobe SKYROCKETED during his four year spurt. No need for straw man arguments. Why not make a more reasonable RJ comparison, like Caris LeVert? I'm rooting for RJ, but he projects a ceiling of being a solid wing if you look at it objectively. Nothing wrong with that, but definitely not an untouchable.
Caris LeVert comparison: https://stathead.com/tiny/flXGu

Kobe was also the first player drafted from High School to the NBA.

Rookie wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:https://stathead.com/tiny/2lwzr

If you take a closer look at advance stats and factor in that Kobe only played like 16 minutes a game his rookie season, then I'd say this a pipedream. While RJ has made incremental improvements over the course of his career, Kobe SKYROCKETED during his four year spurt. No need for straw man arguments. Why not make a more reasonable RJ comparison, like Caris LeVert? I'm rooting for RJ, but he projects a ceiling of being a solid wing if you look at it objectively. Nothing wrong with that, but definitely not an untouchable.
Caris LeVert comparison: https://stathead.com/tiny/flXGu

Kobe was also the first player drafted from High School to the NBA.

Kevin Garnett (KG) came out of High School (1 year before) even Kobe Bryant did it.

Nonetheless R.J. only had 1 year of NCAA experience before making the leap.

NYKMentality wrote:

Rookie wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:https://stathead.com/tiny/2lwzr

If you take a closer look at advance stats and factor in that Kobe only played like 16 minutes a game his rookie season, then I'd say this a pipedream. While RJ has made incremental improvements over the course of his career, Kobe SKYROCKETED during his four year spurt. No need for straw man arguments. Why not make a more reasonable RJ comparison, like Caris LeVert? I'm rooting for RJ, but he projects a ceiling of being a solid wing if you look at it objectively. Nothing wrong with that, but definitely not an untouchable.
Caris LeVert comparison: https://stathead.com/tiny/flXGu

Kobe was also the first player drafted from High School to the NBA.

Kevin Garnett (KG) came out of High School (1 year before) even Kobe Bryant did it.

Nonetheless R.J. only had 1 year of NCAA experience before making the leap.

I think RJ may have even reclassified down a year in highschool.

Nalod wrote:

Moses Malone was the first to play professionally directly out of high school in 1974, though with an ABA team before the merger of that association with the NBA. Two high school players, Darryl Dawkins and Bill Willoughby, applied for hardship and were declared eligible for the 1975 draft They had applied and gave evidence of financial hardship to the league, which granted them the right to start earning a living by starting their professional careers earlier.[9] Dawkins was selected 5th by the Philadelphia 76ers while Willoughby was selected 19th by the Atlanta Hawks. Dawkins played 14 seasons and averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds per game. Willoughby played 8 seasons with 6 different teams and averaged only 6 points per game. Neither player reached the level of success that was expected. It is argued that they could have been better players if they had college basketball experience before entering the NBA.

After Dawkins and Willoughby, no high schoolers were drafted for 14 years, though several players entered the league without playing college basketball. One player, Shawn Kemp, enrolled in college but never played any games due to personal problems. In 1989, a year after his high school graduation, he was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics.[16] He played 14 seasons in the NBA and was selected to 6 All-Star Games and 3 All-NBA Teams.

For historical purpose.

Had to RJ had a **** shooting night but coach left him in. He was clutch. He is a clutch performer. Not every night. NO player is. He is paid, and keep getting minutes not for who he is but what he is becoming. Nobody knows what that is.

Ok, but I think we can all agree that it's not Kobe.

BigDaddyG wrote:

Nalod wrote:

Moses Malone was the first to play professionally directly out of high school in 1974, though with an ABA team before the merger of that association with the NBA. Two high school players, Darryl Dawkins and Bill Willoughby, applied for hardship and were declared eligible for the 1975 draft They had applied and gave evidence of financial hardship to the league, which granted them the right to start earning a living by starting their professional careers earlier.[9] Dawkins was selected 5th by the Philadelphia 76ers while Willoughby was selected 19th by the Atlanta Hawks. Dawkins played 14 seasons and averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds per game. Willoughby played 8 seasons with 6 different teams and averaged only 6 points per game. Neither player reached the level of success that was expected. It is argued that they could have been better players if they had college basketball experience before entering the NBA.

After Dawkins and Willoughby, no high schoolers were drafted for 14 years, though several players entered the league without playing college basketball. One player, Shawn Kemp, enrolled in college but never played any games due to personal problems. In 1989, a year after his high school graduation, he was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics.[16] He played 14 seasons in the NBA and was selected to 6 All-Star Games and 3 All-NBA Teams.

For historical purpose.

Had to RJ had a **** shooting night but coach left him in. He was clutch. He is a clutch performer. Not every night. NO player is. He is paid, and keep getting minutes not for who he is but what he is becoming. Nobody knows what that is.

Ok, but I think we can all agree that it's not Kobe.

Oh, I never went there. I compared him to Derozen or Mcgrady first 3 years and he trends well. For him to meet that he has to tighten up the numbers. We all know that. We seeing glimpes of that. The % have to improve.
He is 22. Won’t know until he gets there, If he gets there.

BigDaddyG wrote:https://stathead.com/tiny/2lwzr

If you take a closer look at advance stats and factor in that Kobe only played like 16 minutes a game his rookie season, then I'd say this a pipedream. While RJ has made incremental improvements over the course of his career, Kobe SKYROCKETED during his four year spurt. No need for straw man arguments. Why not make a more reasonable RJ comparison, like Caris LeVert? I'm rooting for RJ, but he projects a ceiling of being a solid wing if you look at it objectively. Nothing wrong with that, but definitely not an untouchable.
Caris LeVert comparison: https://stathead.com/tiny/flXGu

RJ is 23 soon... the hope is just he can be better BB player. Smarter plays, less TOs and better shots. Basically just be a better player

Phucking Kobe.. this is him reading this post
https://imgur.com/a/gD1VYmc

19-22 RJ to a 21-24 Pierce
https://stathead.com/tiny/8K8yY

Here is 19-22 RJ to 19-22 Wiggins
https://stathead.com/tiny/HFtBj

Here's Ingram....same ages
https://stathead.com/tiny/a3DFg

Paul George from 20-23
https://stathead.com/tiny/h8DFU

Kawai from 20-23
https://stathead.com/tiny/TS22m