4 NBA Players Kobe Bryant Doesn't Want to See in the Playoffs

Stopping Kobe Bryant is not an easy thing to do. "Kobe stoppers" are rare, but they do exist. The best of them, Mat Barnes, was a problem the Lakers solved by signing him. 

While "stopper" might be a strong word, because you don't really "stop" Kobe, you just slow him down, there are still a few players that have made life difficult for Bryant. No one stops Kobe all the time, but there are some who have had success on several occasions. 

Here are the four Western Conference players who have had the most success guarding Bryant over the last few years that Kobe could see in the postseason.

Wesley Johnson

There's some qualifications here. Wesley Johnson has only played against the Black Mamba four times, but they've all been good. In fact, he seems to be getting better. 

In their first head-to-head, Bryant scored 32 points, but it came on 28 attempts and he shot just .428 from the field. In their last game, Johnson actually outscored Bryant 29-18. 

Over the four games total, Bryant has averaged just six field goals on 14.5 attempts per game, shooting just .378 against Johnson. 

While it's possible the numbers wouldn't be sustained over a career, it's also possible it's not just an aberration. Kobe has become more of a jump shooter as he's gotten older and Johnson defends the jumper well, surrendering just a .347 field-goal percentage.

Gerald Wallace

In the crunch earlier this season, Gerald Wallace defended Kobe Bryant well. In a time where Bryant would normally be taking over, he only scored five points in the last eight minutes of the game while turning the ball over three times. 

While Wallace didn't guard Bryant most of the game, when he was on him at the end, he was able to shut him down. That's the kind of matchup that could present problems for the Lakers should they have to face the Trail Blazers in the playoffs. 

Thabo Sefolosha

Thabo Safaloosha has been one of the more consistent players in guarding Bryant over the years. Of the 14 times they've squared off, Safloosha has held Bryant to 21 points or fewer on nine occasions.

Bryant has averaged just 23.3 points per game against him, which is well below the 27.8 points per game he's averaged against the rest of the league since Sefalosha has come into the league. 

Bryant has had his moments against him, including a 40-point output and a 36-point output. Thabo has won his share of battles, too, including an 11-point game.

Sefaolosha isn't a guarantee to lock down Kobe, but he has done so on previous occasions. With Kevin Duran'ts ability to score, the Lakers will need Kobe on the other end, and Sefalosha could make it tough for the Black Mamba to strike. 

Arron Afflalo

Unquestionably, the player who is emerging as the Kobe stopper in the NBA is Arron Afflalo of the Denver Nuggets. 

In Kobe's career against Afflalo, he has shot only .383. In the last five games against Afflalo, Bryant has made just 34 of his 110 field-goal attempts, giving him a field-goal percentage of just .309, and he has averaged only 19.8 points over that span. 

Affalo is emerging as one of the premiere defensive shooting guards in the league, and his ability to defend Kobe Bryant right now is as good as anyone's in the NBA.