Kobe Bryant: 3 Kobe Criticisms Lakers Fans Can't Deny

I consider myself to be one of Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant's biggest fans and supporters, but that doesn't mean I can't acknowledge his faults.

Bryant's reputation as one of the most polarizing figures in sports has led to furious and spirited debates between Bryant's detractors and his fans, and sometimes it's hard to separate legitimate criticism of his game from simple hatred.

For instance, a person's opinion on Bryant's incident in Colorado has no bearing on Bryant's merits as a player, but the point that he sometimes makes questionable decisions on the court does.

Unfortunately, both of those points of view can usually be found in the same argument, and instead of debating honest criticism of Kobe's game, we tend to get lost on tangents that have nothing to do with basketball.

During some of these debates I have heard several criticisms pertaining to Kobe's game that seem valid, and I have compiled a list of the top three that have been the most repeated in my opinion.

I'm sure most Lakers fans have heard these particular criticisms as well, and even if they don't completely agree, they have to admit there is at least a nugget of truth to be found in each slide. Please enjoy.

3. Kobe Shoots the Ball Far Too Much

One of the more familiar criticisms concerning Kobe's game is that he shoots too much, and for his part, Bryant has led the NBA in field goal attempts in four out of his 15 seasons, including the 2010-11 season, which is a little curious.

When Bryant led the NBA in field goal attempts during the 2005-08 seasons, it was due to the lack of another elite scorer on the Lakers' roster, and Bryant did manage to lead the league in field goals made in two of those seasons as well.

But it's harder to explain Bryant's 1,639 shots from the field last season when you consider that he had two seven-footers in the paint in Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, with Lamar Odom providing offense off the bench.

Last season Gasol, Bynum and Odom averaged a combined 44.5 points per game during the regular season, but more importantly, they shot 54 percent from the field, which suggests the trio was highly efficient offensively.

When Bynum is healthy, the Lakers' greatest strength is unquestionably in the paint, but that theory is not upheld when Bryant not only leads the Lakers, but also the NBA in shot attempts. Which brings me to another popular Bryant criticism.

2. Kobe Doesn't Trust His Teammates

Kobe is often criticized for failing to show any trust in his teammates, and the response from most Lakers fans would be, "why should he?"

Some fans feel that Kobe's teammates have not proved they are yet worthy of Bryant's trust, but has Bryant really allowed them the chance?

The Lakers are a better team when the offense is initiated from the post, and a commitment to feed the ball inside would likely make Bryant a more effective and efficient scorer from the perimeter.

The fact that Bryant attempted more shots from the field last season than Gasol and Bynum combined suggests that he either doesn't understand or he doesn't accept that concept.

As Bryant continues to get older, reliance on his teammates will become more critical, and if the Lakers hope to return to the NBA Finals anytime in the near future, the dispersal of shot attempts will need to be more evenly balanced between the perimeter and the post.

1. Kobe's Best Days Are Behind Him

The theory that Bryant's best days are behind him seem less like a criticism and more like a rite of passage, since the eventual decline of skills due to age is something every NBA superstar must face.

Still, there are some people who feel that Bryant has one last gasp of greatness left in his weary body, and why that may be true, we have likely seen him win his last MVP Award or league scoring title.

The days of Bryant being recognized as the league's best player are over, and while he may still be capable of leading the Lakers to another title and strengthening his career resume, with each passing year, Bryant will fall a little further from the ranks of elite players.

ESPN created quite the fuss when they named Bryant seventh in their list of the NBA's top 500 players, and that ranking may be a little low, but there are certainly legitimate arguments that can be made for at least three players above Bryant.

Of course, this doesn't diminish anything Bryant has accomplished in his NBA career, but the league is currently dominated by younger stars, and in this scenario, Bryant, at 33, finds himself as the old man in the group.