Let's get this started off right. Here are the career stats (those I deem important) for both Kobe and LeBron:
Kobe
FG%- 45.2
3 Pt.%- 33.8
FT%- 83.9
Reb/game- 5.2
Ast- 4.6
PPG-24.7
LeBron
FG%- 46.5
3 Pt.%- 32.3
FT%- 72.9
Reb/game- 6.8
Ast- 6.5
PPG- 27.0
Judging strictly by the numbers, LeBron has the slight edge. However, like with any athlete, it's important to look at the intangibles: leadership, good/bad teammate, clutch, "it" factor.
Let's start with leadership. I give a slight edge to LeBron here. He seems to be more vocal in the huddle and shows the qualities that a leader has.
The best teammate also goes to LeBron. I think Kobe has greatly improved in this category, but LeBron takes it.
Clutch goes to Kobe, duh. No one in the game is more clutch, Robert Horry excluded.
"It" factor is a tie. They both demand the ball, and they both have an incredible desire to win. They both have "it", whatever "it" is.
So I guess the question is, do you want a player who is going to lead you to a lot of blow out victories and a lot of close losses (LeBron), or do you want a player who is going to give you a shot to win those close games (Kobe)? I don't think you can go wrong, but if I was forced to choose ... is both an option?
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8 months ago
Kobe Bryant sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
8 months ago
Hold on. I've seen Lebron deliver a lot of close victories. Can you dig up stats on close victories vs. close losses for this guy? Kobe, too?
More to the point: in close wins and losses, how many were determined by a score or assist from each of these guys?
You wanna make the call, dig up the numbers.
from 8 months ago
I'm not making a call, I'm riding the fence. I've seen Lebron deliver a lot in close victories also, but Kobe is known for it, Lebron isn't.... yet. I truly don't think you can wrong with either. Just read the last sentence in the article again, I'd take either without second thought, they are just different types of players/personalities at this point in their careers. I didn't mean to lean towards a particular player, just point out traits that have stood out to me. Thanks for reading and thanks for the comment, keeps me on my toes!
8 months ago
lebron james suckss more!!!!!
8 months ago
james is shit,kobe is d best
8 months ago
james is shit,kobe is d best
8 months ago
kobe has the killer instinct....lebron doesn't. he also makes shots that should never even be taken. kobe's just so far better
8 months ago
Corey, these comparisons are always interesting and will bring the wierdos out of the woodwork, as evidenced by previous comments...
I'm glad you took the comparison beyond stats. Stat comparisons are limiting because there are so many intangibles, ie: who played that game, who was the opponent, who was injured, did teammates make their shots, etc., etc.
LeBron is an amazing talent and is going to have an impact on this game for a long time to come, but, in my opinion, Kobe is a player of historical proportions and we are fortunate to be part of the generation that can watch him play. He does a lot more than score a clutch shot, he can completely control a game on both the offensive and defensive sides. He has athletic moves and a portfolio of shots that seem impossible. Ask LeBron, ask his peers, who is the best. Hands down, Kobe.
Unfortunately along with his talent he has a huge following of Kobe haters that work to minimize his contribution to the game.
8 months ago
Yeah, these stats are COMPLETELY off because they don't take into account (1) defense -- KB24 is all league on BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL; and the fact that (2) Kobe came into an established team full of vets and sat on the bench for years, while LeBron was immediately thrust into the role of franchise.
Now this was possible, i.e., making Lebron the franchise player he is, because Lebron is the "total package" most athletic player in two generations. He is a man child, and probably would be considered the best player of his day BUT FOR Kobe Bean Bryant. Ask the players in the game right now. They'll tell you.
Love him or hate him (and more people are starting to like this new-Kobe), Kobe is one of the best who has ever played the game professionally. He is legitimately mentioned in the same breath Jordan. Wow.
8 months ago
If you're talking career, it's Kobe hands down. If you're talking today, I'd still say Kobe by a nose. But Lebron will be once-in-a-generation player. Lebron, and Kobe, will be one of those players that you can tell your grandkids about when they're talking about how good their new-fangled players are.
8 months ago
If yall take a gander at the articles iv written. you will see i have written on this matter before
from 8 months ago
Sorry to steal your thunder Michael. I'm new to this site and haven't done my research on what's been written about. I was watching ESPN the other night and the idea popped into my head, so I started writing. I'll make sure I check out what you have written.
from 8 months ago
hey its all good just thot id let you know..iv done the same lol good luck with your articles
8 months ago
Kobe should have picked up the MVP way before Lebron came into the league. With Lebron leading the NBA, Kobe can't win the MVP. Unless Lebron retires before Kobe retires. Kobe doesn't have a chance to win it while Lebron is still in the league.
8 months ago
kobe has been deserving the mvp for many years now, and he deserves it again this year. unfortunately, lebron the nba darling is going to win or at least beat him in the votes, thanks to the media monkeys who know nothing of basketball and everything of stupidity.
8 months ago
Also consider that you are comparing a shooting guard to a small froward. The truth is, Kobe has so much more against him that he has to fight than LBJ does.
8 months ago
I don't know, guys. You're painting Kobe as beleaguered. As fighting tough odds. (As if Lebron's never been triple teamed. As if he's never had to lift a mediocre supporting cast all by himself). Come on. Most of the "odds" against Kobe are of his own making. But that's old history and we don't need to go there.
Let's look forward instead. Lebron is 23 (barely) with a game that gets noticeably better every year. Kobe's game is peaking. Kobe is intense, but Lebron has energy. Kobe competes, Lebron wills. Yeah, most in the league will name Kobe as "the man." But Lebron is the "manchild." Let's agree to meet here when Lebron is 28 and see how he stacks up.
Anyhow, if I can have either dude, I pick Lebron. And build the team of the future. Not the team of "right now."
8 months ago
Sure, Lebron will say that Kobe is the best. I've seen him say it. During halftime of a Lakers/Cavs game, they asked James if he changed his game when he played Kobe. James went on to praise Kobe as the best there is and talked about all the ways he raises his game when Kobe is on the court.
They then asked Kobe the same question. And he smirked, "I don't change my game for nobody."
Cavs won. More to the point, as it was a Kobe vs. Lebron shoot-out, JAMES won. There's a moral in that story, if only Mr. Bryant would see it.
If he COULD see it, maybe he'd have a chance at being heir to the Jordan legacy. But if he can't see it, well, step aside, son, because it'll be Lebron as the chosen one.
8 months ago
uh...based on pure talent level, kobe is light years ahead of lebron. lebron has no fundamentals, not to mention any beauty or elegance to his game. all he does is bull doze his way through defenders with his huge body; that's why 90% of his points come from dunks or layups, not jumpshots. the reason why everyone's so enamored by lebron is because the league and media protect his image. nevertheless, i'll never forget what coaches have said about lebron: he only cares about padding his stats, and that has often times compromised the teams performance. why don't we take that as a hint of what kind of person lebron really is, instead of lambasting kobe for being an alleged selfish, stat-padder. and who's the idiot who said kobe doesn't will? you sound like someone who hasn't watched kobe's career.
8 months ago
kobe is tje best motherfucker out there. there is no better than kobe
8 months ago
Quoting Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith on Kobe Bryant: "He's not Jordan!" "He ain't Michael Jordan!"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LauTUsrnlyI
Kobe Bryant will not surpass Michael Jordan, but LeBron James will surpass Kobe.
MJ > Lebron > insert 4 other players here > Kobe
8 months ago
who the f believes what charles barkley and kenny smith say??? you're a freaking idiot for believing them. nobody takes them seriously...stupid dipshit, you're just as stupid as barkley
8 months ago
MJ>Kobe>>>>>>>>>>Lebron
8 months ago
Guess who choked this morning!!!!!!!!
Cavs vs Lakers: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap;_ylt=AjneL0biRe0wgVymD93IhIW8vLYF?gid=2008012713
8 months ago
what the heck are you talking about? kobe didn't choke...did you even watch the game?
8 months ago
I think the comment made just before yours is referring to the fact that Kobe couldn't get the shot off. But I don't think he was the one who choked. It was Walton.
An earlier poster talked about Lebron padding stats. What coach said that? Lebron spends three quarters passing the ball around to see who is hot before taking over in the fourth. He is widely known as a player who makes his teammates better. If you think he's padding stats, you haven't watched many Cavs games. I could call you an "idiot" for not following LBJ's career. But why would you? You're a Laker fan, I'm a Cavs fan. So let's play nice.
Anyhow, head-to-head, the Cavs have taken the Lakers five games in a row. Lebron outplays Kobe, game after game, when they are head to head. Yeah, LBJ played soft D until the fourth, but he shut Kobe down on two KEY, CLUTCH occasions.
So, stats are one thing. (LBJ's slightly better than Kobe's yesterday.) Intangibles another. (Both competed hard, but Lebron was clutch.) Nevertheless, SCOREBOARD ends up winning the day in the NBA.
8 months ago
it was the coaches and staff from lebron's first olympic/international tournaments. you can search for the articles if you like. i don't think lebron outplays kobe head to head: either the games were really close, or if they weren't, kobe's team mate's came up short. somehow in the last several years, although the lakers and cavs have pretty similar talent levels aside from kobe/lebron, lebron's team mates always tend to bail out lebron when it matters much more often than kobe's team mates.
7 months ago
Why isn't defense mentioned?
Everyone knows Kobe's defense is better than LeBron's defense by a mile.
from 7 months ago
You know, I wondered that myself and I wrote the damn thing. I'm just happy it went unnoticed until now. I agree, thanks for the read.
7 months ago
kobe is better than lebron by far..........
kobe shoots 40 point games with injured pinkie while lebron sits out on a sprain ankle that doesnt need surgery like kobes pinkie...
another fact kobe gets MVP chants in almost in every arena even were MJ use to play do u hear lebron chants ..........NOT REAALLY............ case close kobe is the best and is mention in breath of MJ while lebron is mention in breath of oscar robinson.....
Michael or Oscar yall see da difference
7 months ago
Kobe ain't Michael Jordan!
LeBron owns Kobe. Kobe fears LeBron.
Kobe will not surpass MJ but LeBron has now surpassed Kobe.
LeBron's only 23 years old, yet he still dominates Kobe every single time.
7 months ago
u stupid idiot kobe fears no one and lebron has no talent he's just gifted plus piece of shit cant shoot
6 months ago
KOBE BRYANT IS THE BEST THERE IS, THE BEST THERE WAS AND THE BEST THERE WILL EVER BE!!!!!!!!!!!!HAS LEBRON HIT 81 LIKE KOBE.... NO HAS LEBRON HIT 10 50 POINTERS IN A SINGLE SEASON.... NO SO DONT EVER COMPARE LEBRON JAMES WITH KOBE BRYANT!!!!!
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