NBA 2011: Has Kobe Bryant Benefited the Most from the Struggles of LeBron James?

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant used to be one of the most hated athletes on the planet, regardless of sport.

But since Bryant's legal issues from the Colorado incident in 2003, he has done a marvelous job to win back fans, and respect.

Miami Heat megastar LeBron James has gone in the opposite direction. The lovable, smiling and talented young player, who nearly everyone liked, has now become one of the most hated players in the world, and people relish in his failures.

This is not another LeBron James hate article—let's make that clear.

James' selfish acts and arrogance have eliminated many fans who used to love to wear his No. 23 jersey, but now can't imagine themselves wearing his No. 6 Heat jersey.

Kobe, like Michael Jordan, is a player many do not like mainly because he wins a lot. But many fans respect Kobe for how good he is, the same way they respected Jordan during the 1990s.

LeBron does not have this same respect, and it's not because he has yet to win a ring. It's because of the aura that the media, specifically ESPN, has created around James despite his limited team accomplishments.

The media's fanaticism over James is obviously out of his control, yet many fans point to LeBron's own actions as reason for disliking the small forward.

The criticism of his summer free-agent special, The Decision, was not the right way for him to leave his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, and even LeBron realizes this.

LeBron's tweets and Twitter arguments, in addition to his refusal to apologize to Cavaliers fans and management after leaving them, has put him in the nation's doghouse.

Very rarely, especially in this age of social media domination, do superstar athletes have arguments in the public world of Twitter, where millions can see their problems in seconds.

Kobe Bryant has an ego, however all great competitors need one. But Bryant is the model of what Heat fans want LeBron to be like; the fierce competitor whose play and leadership make his teammates confident they can win every game with him.

Pau Gasol said during last year's NBA Finals that Kobe's leadership was perhaps the biggest reason for the Lakers success.

As one of the elite closers in the NBA, Kobe has the confidence of his teammates that he'll win any game, no matter the situation.

If Bryant fails late in a game, his teammates never have to worry if the result will damage his mental composure.

With each LeBron James failure at the end of a game against an elite team, Miami Heat players look noticeably concerned.

As a Celtics fan, it's naturally tough for me to praise Kobe, but with James' antics over the last year and a half, my anger towards Kobe when he succeeds has diminished considerably.

Many Celtics fans, and fans of any team really, would rather see Kobe win again, then see LeBron win the championship for his first time.

The brand of LeBron James is far bigger than any other player who has had such little playoff success during his career.

In fact, an ESPN SportsCenter special in July revealed that because Kobe Bryant has achieved far more playoff success than James, he is far more marketable internationally.

Kobe Bryant is not as good as Michael Jordan, and he never will be. Yet the willingness of Kobe to improve his already Hall of Fame worthy career, is something LeBron doesn't have, and likely never will.

Kobe sought the help of one of the NBA's best centers ever, Hakeem Olajuwon, in the summer. Hakeem helped Kobe's footwork and post game in an effort to make his already impressive repertoire even more dangerous.

Kobe did this after playing through a grueling NBA playoff run, including winning a seven-game NBA Finals series.

LeBron was embarrassed by the Celtics in the East semifinals, yet he's spending more time on television, on the beach, and at preseason rallies than any other star.

Kobe has become a player for kids to model their basketball game, and life after. LeBron sadly is not that same example anymore.

Players are not required to be role models, despite their huge influence in society, but LeBron James must realize he has a lot of work to before he wins his former fans back.

Winning won't help LeBron—it actually could even further his criticism. People won't be able to witness him being successful, and will claim he won while tagging along with several other star players.

LeBron must change as a person and not a player to repair his image.

Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant has taken winning more seriously than his own personal fame his whole career, something that the greatest players of all time exhibit.