Ranking every Kobe Bryant season with the Lakers: 3. 2000-01
This was a great year for shooting guards as guys like Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson wanted to stake their claim as the true number one. Bryant had other plans as he put in one of his best seasons in the league and claimed his second straight championship.
Bryant didn’t match the scoring output of either McGrady or Iverson but his game was much more efficient. Dominating both ends and earning himself another All-NBA first-team selection and All-Defensive second-team selection, Kobe’s game was all-around great for the season.
The Lakers finished the season at 58-24 and then took their game to another level going 15-1 and dominating in the playoffs. Bryant averaged 25.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game in the regular season on 46.4/30.5/85.3 shooting splits. In the postseason he turned it up another level and averaged 29.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game on splits of 46.9/32.4/82.1.
The kid soaked up every ounce of the spotlight and didn’t let the fame get to this head. He came out every night ready to put on a clinic on both ends of the floor. He continued to evolve his game to new levels and was only 22 years old.
It was an all-around dominant effort in a time where shooting guards were looking to take the number one spot. Kobe didn’t budge and proved how efficient he was and let his play do the talking. So that’s why this season lands at number three.