In 2015-16 Kobe had the highest salary in the league at $25 million.
He put up 17.5/4/3 with the 4th highest usage rate that year playing around 28 MPG. Shooting splits of 36/28/83 for the 7th lowest TS% in the league. Meanwhile, the lakers finished bottom of the West with a 17-65 record.
Looking at advanced metrics: 2nd worst plus minus per game, 4th worst defensive box plus minus, 7th lowest win shares and 2nd lowest WS/48 (both negative) and all of which are the worst among Lakers players that year.
I understand he was injured and it was a farewell tour but purely from a production relative to salary perspective is this the worst season by a player ever or would it still be better than e.g a star being injured all year or refusing to play but making the max.
Russell Westbrook 2022 Lakers.
He was at one point, the worst player in the league. His negative impact was compounded by the minutes he was undeservingly getting.
He was a bad fit but worst player in the league? C’mon. There are players who don’t even get minutes.
Yeah those players weren’t actively costing their team wins. At one point discrete, identifiable decisions at the end of close games by Westbrook cost the Lakers like three wins in a two week period.
Edit: I don’t know if I think he was actually the worst player in the league but he was actively costing his team wins in a way that I don’t think many players do.