Kobe Bryant: The Most Overrated Player in the NBA

30 PTS, 7 REB, 9 AST

27 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST

The first set of numbers you see above is the stat line of LeBron James during the 2009-10 regular season—the back-to-back league MVP. The second stat line is that of Kobe Bryant. The purpose of this article is not to say Kobe is a bad player. He is not. He is a fantastic player. He is just not the best. That title belongs to LeBron James. I am here to set some people straight. 

By far the worst theory of Kobe being a better player than LeBron is championships. Yes, Kobe has more championships than LeBron. So what? When I say LeBron is the best player in the NBA, I mean best overall talent in the NBA right now.

People always say ignorant thinks like, "Kobe five, LeBron zero. 'Nuff said." I agree, "'Nuff said to make me think you are a moron." Championships don't matter when arguing best overall player right now. Can someone please tell me how you can compare Kobe as the No. 2 to Shaq in 2001 to LeBron of 2009? That argument is for legacy. Which I admit, Kobe has a better legacy. But better player goes to LBJ. 

People always say Kobe is more clutch. Once again, far from the truth. I know Kobe is clutch, but just not as clutch as LeBron. Here is something from 82games.com.

http://www.82games.com/0910/CSORT11.HTM

Production per 48 Minutes of Clutch Time
Team	Player	Gm	Min	+/-	+/-	Fga	Fg%	3pA	3p%	Fta	Ft%	Pts	Ast'd	Reb	Ast	T/o	Blk	Stl
CLE	James	45	151	116	+37	41.0	.488	14.9	.340	26.1	80%	66.1	22%	15.9	8.3	4.1	3.2	3.2
LAL	Bryant	28	132	19	+7	36.0	.444	10.2	.357	18.9	82%	51.2	18%	7.3	3.6	3.3	0.0	1.8

As you can clearly see, LeBron is a far more clutch player than Kobe.

Another reason for Kobe being better is his playoff career. Since we are arguing best overall right now, let's look at last season's playoffs. In the biggest game of the season by far for Kobe, he shoots 6-24. He shot 40 percent for the series. Do those look like the numbers from the best player in the game?

People might look at Game 5 for an argument against LeBron. Let us think about this realistically. LeBron had just found out that his mom was sleeping with Delonte West, who from the looks of it does rock and probably has a couple STDs. Would you want to show up and play the next day?

Even with that excused absence, he still shot better in that series than Kobe did verse the same Celtic team. Not to mention the Celtics were fresher against the Cavs. Doc Rivers even said after the Lakers series that his players were "Acting their age near the end."

People try and knock LeBron for not being like Mike. He isn't Jordan. Kobe is more like Jordan. So? People need to get through their head that LeBron is not like Jordan. LeBron averaged nine assists a game last season! True, he isn't like Jordan. But truthfully, no one is and no one will ever be. LeBron is more like a Magic 2.0. Way better on defense, probably a better shooter, and faster. 

Another thing: How would Kobe beat LeBron one-on-one. The two main things in one-on-one basketball are speed and size. LeBron wins by far in both those items. LeBron also shot better from three than Kobe last season. 

Kobe is overrated because many fans think he is the best overall player in the NBA today, which he is not.

I hope I have swayed some minds today. Good day.