Ranking 24 worst Lakers starters of the Kobe Bryant era
By Tyler Watts
13. Roy Hibbert
Hibbert was a two-time All-Star in Indiana, but the NBA’s shift from traditional centers caught up to him quickly. The 7’2 big man was a lumbering back-to-the-basket player. He was one of the league’s best shot blockers and helped Indiana reach the playoffs for four straight years, but he struggled guarding or operating outside the paint.
Hibbert was 28 years old when the Pacers traded him to the Lakers for a second-round pick in 2015. He was owed $15.5 million in the coming season and it was clear that he would not return that value. It was Kobe’s farewell campaign, and the Lakers did not plan on contending.
Hibbert was the team’s starter all season, but his playing time and production dropped off drastically. He averaged 5.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 23.2 minutes per game. The Lakers won just 17 contests, and Hibbert quickly departed in free agency. His inability to guard on the perimeter made him virtually unplayable.
He played just 48 more NBA games and was traded twice before retiring in 2018. The two-time All-Star was passed his prime in Los Angeles and it was his final season as a starter. The 7’2 big man is a player development coach for the Philadelphia 76ers, but he struggled playing next to Kobe Bryant in the Black Mamba’s final campaign.