Jeremy Lin and Kobe Bryant: A Clash Of Styles

On paper, everything about Jeremy Lin becoming a Laker seemed to make sense. Lin was returning to his home state to play for the world’s most popular basketball team. He was joining a team that desperately needed his services as a play-making point guard. He would be lacing up next to the greatest player in Lakers history, one who was ready to mentor his successors.

Little about this season, though, has been perfect for Kobe Bryant and Jeremy Lin.

At their bests, both Lin and Bryant succeed at playing with the ball in their hands. Naturally, this has created issues with the duo on the court. Bryant and his dominant personality has dwarfed Lin and his passiveness. Despite Bryant’s urging both on and off the court, Lin has been unable to find a constant groove with the roster this season.

More from Lakers News

• 2 Lakers who would benefit the most from a Kyrie Irving trade
• Victor Oladipo’s Russell Westbrook comments are terrible sign for Lakers
• 3 Most likely positions the Lakers will use for the last roster spot
• Kings signing castoffs from Lakers’ nightmare seasons is strange
• ESPN predicts a better season for the Lakers even with Russell Westbrook

Maybe part of it is due to a lack of time together. During training camp, it was Nash practicing with the first team offense and Lin coming off the bench. Late in the preseason is when Lin was thrust into the starting role, leaving him little time to get familiar with his fellow starters.

Lin has not done himself any favors with his inconsistent play this year. He has five games under 10 points and four games over 15 points, a sign of his inconsistency. For advanced stats folks, according to basketball-reference, he has nearly as many games with a game score above 10.0 (seven) as he does games with a game score below 10.0 (six).

Still, Bryant hasn’t helped the issue as much as he might say. Seven times this year, he’s attempted 25 or more shots, a number far too high if he’s looking to get his teammates involved. In fact, in Lin’s six worst games, Bryant averages 28.2 field goal attempts a game.

Lin has a lot of promise. He’s just 26 years old and has many years in the league in front of him. However, if he and Bryant can’t find a way to mesh instead of clash, his time in LA will be numbered.