LeBron Who?: Kobe Bryant Still the Best

I keep hearing that LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are the two best players in the NBA.

Well, who would you rather have on your team?

True, LeBron stole all the endorsement deals when Kobe was hit with sexual assault charges (which were later dropped; the accuser and Bryant settled out of court).

And yes, LeBron clearly has all the box-office power due to his remarkable ability to soar above the rim and dunk over defenders.

Those qualities clearly make King James the most charismatic star in the NBA. But do they make him the best player?

Kobe, game-in and game-out, shows up ready to score in ways LeBron has yet to master.

Not only is Kobe able to penetrate and dunk over defenders—his shooting range is unlimited. 

Simply put, Kobe's consistency from the perimeter makes him the superior player.

And while he helps the Lakers by grabbing crucial rebounds, or dishing out key assists, it's his performance in the clutch that shows Kobe's true colors.

Like any scorer in the league, Kobe demands the ball with the game on the line.  It doesn't matter what kind of defense he's facing—he'll find ways to score.

Of course, Bryant does have a distinct advantage over James: He's been in the league over 10 years, and has had more time to refine his skills.

In the long run, James' game could very well surpass Kobe's. LeBron is already more mature physically than Kobe was at his age.

However, even LeBron's physical gifts can't make him a better player than Bryant.

So before you go jumping on the LBJ bandwagon, let me set the record straight—King James is merely a knight when compared to Kobe.

When I step inside my high school gym, I see kids trying to master Kobe's moves, not LeBron's.

When they shoot the ball, they aren't yelling "LeBron," they're yelling "Kobe"—because only a true King makes his shots every night.