If it isn’t Paul Pierce saying he’s better than Kobe Bryant, and in fact, the best player in the world, it’s a blogger saying LeBron James is better than the Lakers guard.
The hoopsworld.com writer points to James’ height (6-foot-8) and weight (250 pounds), calling the Cavs swingman “a physical specimen the likes of which the NBA has never seen.”
“While Bryant is definitely an unbelievable player, he simply can’t compare to James physically.” Duh.
He then argues that James had better numbers in his first five seasons than Kobe’s – 27.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.8 steals. Bryant averaged 25 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.5 steals
And he adds that after five seasons, James was producing big numbers immediately after joining the NBA out of high school, where as Bryant needed a season or two to “get his feet wet.”
What the blogger failed to mention, however, was Bryant’s performance in tough situations. How about the number of clutch plays down the stretch, 20-foot jumpers with a guy’s hand in his face? Or leaving two defenders in the dust for a game-winning layup? Does 81 points in a game ring a bell?
Sure, Bryant had help (Shaquille O’Neal) in winning three NBA titles. James has none, so far. But until he can sport one of those diamond-studded NBA championship rings, there really is no argument about who’s better.
I honestly think Kobe is better hands down. Here’s my rationale behind it:
When you look at Lebron, you see a FREAK of nature. He’s almost unguardable. He is too big and strong for any guard or small forward to stop him and he is too quick and agile for any big man to stop him. His combination of athleticism, size, strength, quickness, and talent is unheard of and difficult to defend. But I think the REAL answer is in what I just said. Lebron wills his impact on the game via strength and athleticism. If you take away the lanes for him to bulldoze people and/or make his awesome passes to his teammates, then you have a very good chance to contain(not SHUT DOWN) him to limited production.
Now let’s look at Kobe. He has no advantage on the court when it comes to size and strength. When he dominates a game, what you see is pure and raw talent or skill imposing his impact on the game. The thing about Kobe is that he REALLY can do anything he wants on the court. You take away the lanes, and he’ll light you up. If you give him an inch of the lane, he will find a way to the basket. He is also unguardable.
And let’s please not use the finals as an excuse why Kobe is not the best. No matter how you look at it, what we saw in the finals was Kobe being doubled and tripled teamed every time he touched the ball because his teammates could not step up. Of course Kobe won’t score 40-50 points being crowded by last year’s best defensive team (statistically).
Obviously the OC Register readers will pick Kobe based off him being a Laker. But the fact is if you had to pick one of them to build a team around it would be Lebron. He is physically a better player. He can post up, drive, and shoot. Kobe can drive and shoot but down low he can be man handled.
Coming out of high school Kobe was terrible. Lebron was an all star and team leader from day one. As far as those championships…..take away Shaq and they don’t even make the playoffs. If they did not make the trade for Gasol this year then they would not have reached the playoffs. They were a .500 bubble team.
Stop using your emotions for the Lakers and use your heads……Kobe does not even compare to Lebron
What the hell is up with this blog? People put effort into writing comments and you’re deleting them? Unheard of…
How can someone take away Kobe 3 championships because they said he helped Shaq. 3 rings is 3 rings. Kobe was 1-2 punch in that title run. If you take Kobe out of Shag, he might not win anything yet. D Wyan was the main man, go to guy in Miami, not Shaq. In Orlando, Shaq was the main man, What did he get there? nothing.
Le Bron is a great player. But until he win something, please stop compare him to Kobe.
Le Bron’s fans, please pray for him to win something before bring this up again.PRAY HARD.
So amazing the marketing machine behind Nike. They counldn’t even promote him well in Bejing. D Wayn was the main offensive guy. Where were Le Bron in the 4th quarter of the Gold medal game?
We all saw how USA choked in the final mins against Spain…and who stepped up to take the challenge? We all know the story..
KOBE BRYANT Hands Down! La Bronze couldn’t help the USA win gold! Until the true all around player was put into the line up…KB24! I would definately start a team with Kobe. And I would also give the ball to Kobe for the game winning shot! KOBR BRYANT HANDS DOWN!!!!!!!!!
kobe rules lebron is a big guy and born to be a leader but if you need a guy who has talent and can make miracle shots i would choose KOBE BRYANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kobe is way better than LeBron. Can’t you see people give the ball to Kobe in a seconds to play and look at his defender’s face compare it to Lebron’s defender. Kobe’s defender is always puzzled with what will he do, while LeBron he always does the expected of going to the hole.
LeBron will be the next best player when Kobe retires, and the only question is when?
Don’t you all remember that Kobe was not a starter his first 2-3 years? So how can you compare numbers for thier first 5 seasons? Yeah, take Kobe away from Shaq and there is No titles. Wasn’t Kobe the one that locked down Pippen in their first title? Didn’t Kobe make that Great Lob Pass to Shaq to seal game 7 in the Western Conference title game? Kobe was the man agianst San Antonio, Philadelphia and New Jersey but nobody remebers him doing all the last minute scoring or passing and winning the games for the Lakers. Difference between Lebron and Kobe- Consistency……Kobe has it and Lebron simply can’t find it.
There’s one undermined thought, and that’s that lebron CANNOT shoot!!!!! When lebron ages and his fleeting athleticlism completely diminishes, what will Le BRICK rely on? FREE THROWS?!! Give me a break.(NO lebron i did n’t say brick) The Great mamba deserves a greater inheriter.
PS shaq was the man during the playoffs while with the lakers, yet kobe picked up the slack for the entire season. DON”T FORGET!!
LeBron duh !!! hes way better than kobe . kobe may have scored 81 points in one game but lebron hasent been playing as long as kobe and allready doing gretter plays than kobe. lebron is the next Micheal Jordan.
LEBRON JAMES IS THE BEST PLAYER TO EVER SET FOOT ON THE COURT……HE IS 6′8 250 POUNDS AND CAN SCORE, PASS, BLOCK, SHOOT, STEAL, AND DUNK AT WILL….
KOBE BRYANT IS A GREAT PLAYER AS WELL…BUT HE DOSENT EVEN COMPARE TO THE BEST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE RIGHT NOW….LEBRON JAMES
^^What’s with the insecure groupies and their need to post on a Lakers blog. I don’t understand this, I really don’t. I like how you put it though:”Kobe Bryant is a great player as well.” Condescending and all…
LeBron needs to learn how to shoot outside the paint or the Cavs will get beaten by the C’s again.
How long till the hack-a-lebron becomes the norm?
This is a silly debate. If you want to compare the two, go look at the 4th quarter of the Olympic Gold Medal game against Spain. Both players playing against the same team at the same time. What better comparison can their be?
When it really matters, there is no one who can honestly say go to Lebron rather than Kobe. Just ask Mike Krzyzewski.
i think kobe is best player in the world…lebron is very selfish
i think kobe is best player in the world…lebron is not
kobe kobe for mvp this season