Kobe Bryant and the Top 5 Perimeter Players over the Last 8 Seasons

While browsing Twitter, I came across a question posed by InsideHoops.com. The question asked fans to rank the five best perimeter players since the 2003-04 season. 

I found this question to be fairly easy, yet pretty compelling. There were four players that instantly popped into my head. Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony.

The fifth player took a little bit of thinking and some number crunching. I thought of six or seven players and narrowed it down based on longevity. The final three players I came up with for the fifth and final spot were: Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce and Steve Nash.

After looking at the numbers, I took Nash off the list because to be considered one of the best perimeter players, you need to be able to score the ball and Nash fell well short compared to every other player. 

Based on the ability to score as well as shooting a high percentage from the field and line, I decided to go with Nowitzki over Pierce because he has scored at a more consistent clip than Pierce. 

I based these rankings solely on the individual. I did not take into account playoff performances or team success. Defense was not factored in either. This is strictly based on offensive performance.

All stats are from 2003-04 to 2010-11. Stats were taken from ESPN.com.

5. Dirk Nowitzki

Stats

GP: 626, PPG: 24.6, RPG: 8.5, APG: 2.9, FG%: 48.2, 3P%: 38.3, FT%: 89.1, FTA: 7.0

MVP: '07, All-NBA 1st Team: '05, '06, '07, '09, All-NBA 2nd Team: '08, '11, All-NBA 3rd Team: '04

I know Dirk is a power forward, but he plays the majority of his game on the perimeter. He is the best international player ever to play in the NBA and may have moved into the top 15 on the all-time list of players. 

Given his size and ability to play on the perimeter at such an effective level, Dirk might be the toughest player in the NBA to guard.

He shoots the ball extremely well from all areas on the floor which makes him nearly impossible to guard.

He is a nightmare for other power forwards to guard as he is great shooting the fadeaway jump shot and is quick enough to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim against slower forwards.

4. Carmelo Anthony

Stats

GP: 591, PPG: 24.8, RPG: 6.3, APG: 3.1, FG%: 45.9, 3P%: 32.0, FT% 80.6, FTA: 7.9

All-Rookie 1st Team: '04, All-NBA 2nd Team: '10, All-NBA 3rd Team: '06, '07, '09

Is it possible that with everything that went on last season with the 'Melo Drama that people actually forgot how good this guy is? 

It has been said the New York Knicks gave up too much in getting Anthony. To me, it makes no sense. The Knicks are better off with 'Melo and the Nuggets are worse off without him. 

The Nuggets are made up of players who will win 45-48 games per season, finish fifth or sixth in the West and lose in the first round. 

The Knicks have a player who can, on any given night, not only score 50 points, but also win you games. Anthony has been one of the best, if not the best, clutch players since entering the league. 

He is always a threat to score the ball when the clock is winding down and that is something you cannot measure. 

3. Dwyane Wade

Stats

GP: 547, PPG: 25.4, RPG: 5.1, APG: 6.3, FG%: 48.5, 3P%: 29.2, FT%: 76.9, FTA: 9.1

All-Rookie 1st Team: '04, All-NBA 1st Team: '09, '10, All-NBA 2nd Team: '05, '06, '11, All-NBA 3rd Team: '07

Wade comes in at No. 3 only because he missed a combined 62 games in the '06 and '07 seasons. Without having missed that many games, his numbers could be much higher.

He shoots it at a better clip than everyone else on this list and gets to the free-throw line more often. His three-point shooting percentage drops him a bit as well.

Wade might be the best guard at finishing at the rim. He can twist and contort his body like nobody else in the league. He will also throw it down on you if you are not careful. 

Because he can twist his body in so many different directions to avoid defenders, he avoids getting blocked and can also get foul calls.

When big men have to worry about which direction he is going to go in the air, they start to reach and hack and that allows Wade to get to the line 9.1 times a game in his career.

2. Kobe Bryant

Stats

GP: 607, PPG: 28.4, RPG: 5.6, APG: 5.1, FG%: 45.3, 3P%: 34.2, FT%: 84.1, FTA: 8.6

MVP: '08, All-NBA 1st Team: '04, '06-'11, All-NBA 3rd Team: '05

This was the toughest call to make. Kobe might be the second- or third-best scorer of all time.

Kobe had the best individual scoring season on this list, but it was not enough to be put at No. 1.

The reason I put him at No. 2 is because the guy at No. 1 is a better playmaker for his teammates and that cannot be overlooked.

What separates Kobe from everyone else in the league is his killer instinct. When he senses something is going against his team, he will do whatever is necessary to keep them from losing. 

If we were going strictly on scoring, Kobe would win this hands down. However, Kobe tends to take too many shots at times and can avoid looking to his teammates to makes shots.

Part of being a great perimeter player is seeing the floor and making the right decisions to help your team win. 

1. LeBron James

Stats

GP: 627, PPG: 27.7, RPG: 7.1, APG: 7.0, FG%: 47.9, 3P%: 32.9, FT%: 74.4, FTA: 8.9

MVP: '09, '10, All-Rookie 1st Team: '04, All-NBA 1st Team: '06, '08-'11, All-NBA 2nd Team: '05, '07

The best basketball player in the world. 

No matter what people might think of LeBron James personally, simply put, that is what he is. He impacts games like no one else. He can do things on the court we have not seen maybe ever. 

Physically, James is one of a kind. No player in NBA history can match his size, speed, athleticism and skill.

When deciding between LeBron and Kobe for No. 1, the thing that separated them is LeBron's ability to involve his teammates on a consistent basis. At times, LeBron has been criticized for this. But, to be a truly great player, you have to know when it is time to give the ball up and allow your teammates to help you win ball games. 

LeBron has been called many names over the last couple years in regards to his playoff failures. With that said, there is not one person who would take anyone else over him. That is what makes him No. 1.