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Los Angeles Lakers: Ranking all 20 seasons of Kobe Bryant’s illustrious career

By Justin Hickey

LOS ANGELES - JANUARY 22: Kobe Bryant #8 of the Los Angeles Lakers points in the air in a game he scored 81 points in against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2006 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - JANUARY 22: Kobe Bryant #8 of the Los Angeles Lakers points in the air in a game he scored 81 points in against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2006 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Richard Hartog/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) /

Ranking every Kobe Bryant season with the Lakers: 14. 2003-04

Probably one of the more interesting years of the Kobe era. The Lakers were coming off of a disappointing 2002-03 season in which they lost in six games to the Spurs in the second round. After a 3-peat from 2000-02, the Lakers were looking to get back to the top for the 2003-04 year.

The team went out and signed two guys who were near the end of their careers looking for rings. They were Gary Payton and Karl Malone, both had been superstars earlier in their careers but now were reduced to role guys. The team also signed Bryon Russell from the Jazz.

The season had ups-and-downs, they battled injuries with Malone playing in 42 games, Bryant in 65 games and O’Neal in 67 games. Payton, Derek Fisher and Devean George were the constants playing in all 82 games. The team would go on to finish the season 56-26.

Making it all the way to the NBA Finals, the team would be shut down in five games by the Detroit Pistons who had one of the best defenses of all-time that year. Kobe would go on to shoot 37% that series and struggle badly to score.

Kobe would have a positive impact on both ends finishing with a 106.1 offensive rating and a 100 defensive rating, good for a +6.1 net-rating. In his 65 games, he made a lot of plays all over the floor. But it just wasn’t enough come playoff time and the big-name team couldn’t get a ring, Payton would go on to win one in Miami, Malone retired ringless.

Statistically, Bryant would post a line 24 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game and 5.1 assists per game. His shooting splits dipped a bit to 43.8/32.7/85.2. Highlights of his season would be making his third straight first All-NBA team and his second first All-Defensive team while earning his sixth All-Star selection.

When you add that many egos to one team, something is bound to go wrong. It was an awkward pairing from the start and led to a lot of controversies.

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