When Kobe Bryant steps onto the Air Canada Centre floor for the opening tip of the 2016 All-Star Game, it will be the 15th time he's served as part of the Western Conference's starting unit.
Over the years, he's had a chance to line up next to plenty of great players during the midseason festivities. From Karl Malone and Gary Payton during his sophomore season to Stephen Curry and Kawhi Leonard this year, his 23 different teammates in the staring lineups have spanned generations and featured plenty of different styles.
To provide differentiation between each year's starting five, we're turning to total points added (TPA, which is explained in full throughout this article).
TPA accounts for efficiency and playing time, estimating how many more points the man in question contributed than a league-average player would for an average team. By summing the scores of each member of the starting lineup during the relevant year, we can provide an accurate picture of the unit's overall strength.
We're on ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Adam Fromal