How many years was Kobe Bryant a lockdown perimeter defender?

[ALonelyDad]

If we're being real 2000-2009.

Now for some of those years he didn't turn it on until he needed to. But those are the prime Kobe years.

When he wanted to, he could lock up any perimeter player during that era.

I agree, he definitely went to roaming mode as his age went up but dude can still lock down a guy when he wanted to. I am not sure who it was his last season but the guy was on fire then Kobe guarded him 2nd half and shut him down

 

[Saint1]

I was talking with my boy the other day and he said Kobe was a lights out on defense from 1998 to 2013.

Now Kobe was definitely great defensively in his prime but I think my boy might be gassing up the length a bit...pause.

Figured i'd ask the coli brehs

HELL NAH. Your boy didn't watch the games.

I'm a huge Laker fan. Watched 95% of games when they were killing it and Kobe always cheated on defense and relied on Pau to pick up the slack. He would always go for the steal instead of trying to play honest D and it drove me nuts but he won 5 so

 

[Reggie]

Kobe had a bout a 5-7 year stretch where he was dominant defensively (especially when he was challenged) but I'm not about to act like he was a great defender for the majority of his career like others will.