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.
thank you!!! the younger kids here forget about him!
also Benoit Benjamin in the early 1990s: (iirc, his agent was boxing promoter don King; his salary was in the 10-20 highest for thr league for a few years; he signed a big contract after averaging a double double in 90-91. his contract was a hot potato in the 90s (if i remember he had attitude and effort issues as well).
until maybe the late 90s, there wasnt a limit for long a contract could last; so some players (like him, danny ferry, koncak) had >6-7 year contracts that quickly went south, others (magic Johnson, ewing, david Robinson) were well worth the long term contract. (iirc, magic had something like a 10 year contract)