Kobe Bryant is by all accounts one of the greatest NBA players of all time. His scoring skill was legendary and he is a large reasony why the Los Angeles Lakers are revered as royalty in the league despite their dismal showings in recent years.

The Black Mamba played 20 seasons in L.A. and he was a part of championship teams five times in his career. He played with standout players like Shaquille O’Neal, Robert Horry, Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol.

While each of those players will bring an immediate smile to the face of most Laker fans, there were some players that people wish they could forget played for the purple and gold franchise. With so many players available, which are the worst of Vino’s teammates?

Number One: Smush Parker

Smush is known for butting heads with the Mamba for everything imaginable. Kobe was known for being tougher on some teammates and demanding excellence. For some reason, Parker was just one of his favourite targets during those strange seasons in-between championships.

He played overseas and had to watch his former teammate win another two rings without him from afar. Smush’s time with the Lakers pretty much represented the level of talent around their superstar during those years between Shaq and Pau Gasol.

Number Two: Isaiah Rider

Rider was a great player in both Minnesota and Portland before making his way to the Staples Center to team up with Kobe and Shaquille O’Neal in 2001. He would claim a ring as a part of the squad who went 16-1 in the playoffs.

Even though he wasn’t statistically awful for the LakeShow, he was still nowhere near the player they expected when they signed him. He led the bench in scoring, but only chipped in with seven points per game during his campaign.

Number Three: Devin Ebanks

Ebanks is one of the few members of this list that is still young enough to lace up his sneakers and possible still help and NBA club. At 6-9 he was a defender that helped the Lakers matchup with the rising Oklahoma City Thunder in the West.

He eventually ended up in the NBA Development League and is still chasing a spot on an NBA roster. Most of that is based on potential that never truly came through when the Lakers needed him in big spots the first time around.

Number Four: Ryan Kelly

Kelly got drafted by the Lakers out of Duke and looked like he could become a complementary role player on the team after his modest rookie season. He might have only averaged eight points a game, but his shooting was a major asset.

His second year didn’t live up to expectations as the team began their current turmoil. Also, Mike D’Antoni did his young forward no favors by shelving him behind a largely ineffective Carlos Boozer for much of the season.

Number Five: Jason Kapono

Kapono seemed like a huge get for the Lakers in 2011 as he was one of the most respected shooters in the league. When he got to the Show, he looked like the Monstars had stolen his basketball powers for good.

He looked tentative on the court at all times and seemed to be thinking a lot while running up and down the floor. Kobe actually would pass to him in the corners and he would always hesitate, eventually the looks stopped coming his way.