Gary Payton Rubbishes Comparisons Between His 2003–04 Lakers Team Featuring Kobe Bryant to LeBron James’ Current Lakers Team

At the start of the year, the Los Angeles Lakers had one of the greatest collections of talent assembled. They had LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Dwight Howard, and Carmelo Anthony. Many had expected them to be title contenders at the start.

But things have definitely not gone according to plan. The Lakers are currently in the ninth spot in the West and are 7 games below .500. Injuries have been a major headache all season long, but more than that, it’s their inconsistent play that’s haunted them. In some games, the team looks committed, hungry, and aggressive. But at most times, there has been no effort, no communication, and often players point fingers at each other.

Many have compared the team to the 2003-2004 Lakers, which had multiple Hall of Famers and also had trouble during the regular season. That team reached the finals that year but lost to an underdog Detroit Pistons team. But now a former teammate of Kobe Bryant, who was part of the 04 Lakers, says the comparisons are not accurate.

Gary Payton says there is no comparison between 04 Lakers with Kobe Bryant and the current Lakers with LeBron James

Payton was asked what he thought about the comparisons between his 04 Lakers to the current Lakers. He had previously stated that it was no comparison. His reason was ” Because our era was different. You’re comparing apples and oranges. Our four was a lot different. When you go Kobe, Shaq, me, and Karl, we did a dynasty on a lot of things. “

“It’s just a little different era to me. I think if we all would have played against each other. Who would have guarded who?… We don’t know… We can’t go back in the time machine and say let them 4 play against us 4. I don’t know how that would work”

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Payton also said he could never play in this era as he would spend all his salary on fines. He says this era is too soft and he can’t say what he wants to say. Payton was considered to be one of the greatest trash talkers of all time, and it was part of his game to talk back to people. And being in this era, he wouldn’t be able to do that.

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The two teams may be loaded with Hall of Famers, but their fortunes until this point have been vastly different. Kobe’s Lakers finished second in a stacked west, while the current Lakers are struggling to stay in the Play-in spot. This Lakers team definitely has a chance to go deep in the playoffs but they will have to improve massively. Otherwise what Payton said will be true, there is no comparison between the two teams. One finished in the Finals while the other may not even make the playoffs.