Kobe the 'Scariest' Guy in SI's NBA Poll
Sports Illustrated surveyed a big chunk of NBA players, asking a variety of questions.
Here's one with a Lakers overtone:
"Which opposing player scares you the most to play against?"
The winner? Kobe Bryant. By a wide margin. When I thought it would be LeBron James.
Here are the SI numbers:
Which opposing player scares you the most to play against?
Kobe Bryant, Lakers G...............35%
Shaquille O'Neal, Suns C.............12%
Kevin Garnett, Celtics F............... 6%
LeBron James, Cavs F.................. 4%
Dwight Howard, Magic C.............. 4%
Allen Iverson, Nuggets G...... 4%
Tim Duncan, Spurs F...... 4%
Steve Nash, Suns G...... 4%
Tracy McGrady, Rockets G...... 2%
Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks F...... 4%
FAST FACTS Poll was completed before O'Neal (page 35) was traded from the Heat to the Suns last week. . . . Bryant particularly unnerves forwards, who gave him more than 41% of their vote. . . . Among players 35 and older, 63% voted for Bryant, who has led the league in points, field goals and field goal attempts in each of the past three seasons
[Based on a survey of 242 NBA Players] • For more on the poll, and to comment on it, go to SI.com/players.
Me again ...
Why does LeBron rate so low? He's the most unstoppable physical force in the league? Kobe might have more skill, but LeBron is just a LOAD ... who would scare me.
Maybe Kobe gets points from players for his rep as having "an assassin's mentality." That must be it. But LeBron isn't exactly a softie, either. Hmm.