Who is more selfish Shaq or Kobe?

Question

I understand that both of these guys score a boatload of points but everytime I watch Shaq he gets double and triple teamed every single time down the floor and still shoots and misses badly...why take those shots when you can kick it out to open teammates?? He used to make a decent percentage of shots when two teamed but not nearly as muc hanymore. Great centers like wilt did that and averaged about 6-7 assists a few seasons.

Kobe takes some bad shots but at least he makes a good percentage of them plus most of his shots taken when he's double or triple teamed is a jump shoot which is just shooting over outstretched arms unlike attempting a jump hook or layup around 4 guys which Shaq does where there is no space to operate at all

So why isn't Shaq thoughout his career hasn't averaged more assists? He gets double teamed every single time he touches and still chooses to shoot through it and more than often than not, he misses it. So Shaq is more selfish.

What do you guys think?

Answer 1

Both.....

Answer 2

Kobe makes a good percentage? When? This year, he's up to 46% from the field. His career FG% is 45%. In contrast, Shaq (who has missed most of the season with injuries) is shooting 58%; his career FG% is 58%. This is even while getting "double and triple teamed every single time down the floor". Don't give me the "he shoots from so much closer" stuff. If left open, ALL guys in the NBA can hit a great percentage of their shots.

When Shaq gets the ball down in the post area throughout his career it has been to finish the offense; that is, the shot clock is running down and his team needs to get a high percentage shot quickly. He has become a better passer out of the post as his career has progressed, but he still hasn't got the touches that Kobe has (and Kobe will continue to get more touches per team possession). Shaq's 2.8 assists per game for his career is actually a better percentage than Kobe's 4.5 assists per game for his career because of the increased number of touches that Kobe gets (and will continue to get).

I think that Kobe is more selfish because of the exact reason you give: "most of his shots taken when he's double or triple teamed is a jump shot which is just shooting over outstretched arms". Exactly. Why not get a better percentage shot? Why not get it to a teammate who has a better percentage shot? Kobe has yet to learn this lesson. It took Shaq about 7 or 8 years to learn this; so far, Kobe's on his 9th and he isn't making progress.

Answer 3

Dear Prashant,

i think Shaq is more selfish- because he hasn't make the necessary sacrifices to help his team. When he was in L.A. he was always out of shape and would always make excuses about why he couldn't make free throws when it counted. He didn't work very hard at getting better knowing it could be a detriment to his team.

When Kobe was hurt he learned how to shoot with his left hand, and even the other night when he missed a 3 he was practicing the motion again.

i know Kobe does take bad shots- but he does what he does- to help his team win. He's all about winning. That's why he deferred to Shaq all those years.

People who will criticize him will always criticize him. i'm a loyal Laker fan and there are times i've thought he was selfish- but he has really made an effort to distribute the ball averages nearly 5.5 assists per game (and really if his teammates were better- probably average closer to 7 or 8 per game).

Those are my thoughts...

Nickster

Answer 4

Oh boy....you are fighting an uphill battle there. I cant stand Shaq but i belive you might have you %'s confused, throughout most of his career he has shot a prolific FG% most of the time around 60%, FT% is terrible. There really was no need to pass when he was younger because he would just plow though everyone who stood in his way and duck it. But now...I see your point. Now a days he should'nt be trying that, he commands so much attention he should be racking up 6-9 asst. a game. esp. with D-wade on the team. He has shooters on the team so there really is no excuse.
Kobe on the other hand has the same issues except instead plowing through all he jumps higher then all and can shoot at a decent-high % from anywhere on the court.
I say it's a toss up.

Answer 5

I guess some peopel just don't understand the concept of taking over a team. Both their teams are near elimination. So naturally the coaching staff has asked both players to take over the game for their team and keep them in the playoff run. Kobe has no choice but to keep the ball to himself , because the supporting cast isn't supporting and if you listen to the commentators during the game, they have said that Kobe needs to take over the game and become a little bit selfish if the lakers want to get into the Playoffs and with wade out, Shaq has to do the same.

Answer 6

Whoever asked this question obviously didn't watch the 2006 NBA finals. As for who is "more selfish," I would say that neither of them are extremely selfish; both Shaq and Kobe just want to win, and at this point in Kobe's career, he has to take more shots than he would like to. This is how it was for Shaq back in his dominant days in L.A. as well as in the present when D. Wade is not shredding defenders around him. So basically my answer is Kobe is more of a ball hog, but neither of them are blatantly selfish.

Answer 7

I remeber Jordan being a selfish player. But hey he's Jordan so I guess its ok huh?
And don't put so much faith into the assist stat. They only get the assist if the other person scores. So that doesn't mean Kobe and Shaq aren't passing. I see them pass all the time. They're teamates just aren't always scoring.

Answer 8

Now-a-days Shaq's biggest threat to the other team is being able to overpower and dominate other players when they try to cover singlely. He does take less shots then he did as a Laker and if he stopped taking shots nearly altogether then the other team would stop double and triple teaming him and start doing more to stop Wade (when he gets back) and other players.

Answer 9

Shaq

Answer 10

Kobe because playing ball is therapy for him. Every time something goes bad in his life it's like watching a one man show on the court.

I have the Kobe/Shaq debate about twice a month with my husband.

Answer 11

i think kobe is more selfish. Look at Shaqs stats last year. He didn't average that many points per game in the playoffs and the heat still won everything.