LeBron vs. Kobe: 5 Reasons Why I'd Take LeBron over Kobe 100% of the Time

Picking between two of the best players in the NBA, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, isn't an easy task.  It's like deciding between two great meals at your favorite restaurant.

You know they're both going to be great, that neither one will disappoint. At the same time, however, deep down inside, there's something telling you that one is slightly better.  That's the kind of debate that trying to pick between Kobe and LeBron is.

While there's no real "right" answer, because it all boils down to people's personal opinion, I know who I would take 100 percent of the time, and it's not just because LeBron absolutely out-played Kobe in the Heat's most recent beat-down of the Los Angeles Lakers.

I'd take LeBron James any day of the week, rain or shine, 100 times out of 100, and the next few slides tell you exactly why I'm so dead set on doing so.

Enjoy.

LeBron Is a More Efficient Player Than Kobe, Hands Down

It's okay Kobe, let it all out.  I know it's hard for you to realize that you aren't a more efficient basketball player than LeBron James is, but it's an absolute fact; there's not too much you can do to change it.

There is only one player that's played the game of basketball that has a higher career PER (player efficiency rating) than James, and his name is Michael Jordan.  There are 16 NBA players that have a better career PER than Bryant, just saying.

James' PER is an impressive 27.04, which is only topped by Jordan's PER of 27.91.  While the validity of the PER can be debated, there's no denying the fact that James' ability to play the game at an incredibly high level of efficiency makes him a truly elite player.  Bryant's PER is 23.57, which is a whole 3.47 lower than James.  

While Bryant's PER is in the top 20 all time, it's not even close to being on the same level of James, and that is a major reason why I'd take James over Bryant 100 percent of the time. 

Just watching the two players play the game, it's clear to see who the more efficient player is.  Take for example, their points per game averages for this year.  James averages 29.8 ppg on 227 attempted field goals, whereas Bryant averages 30.8 ppg on 337 attempted field goals.  That's a perfect difference of 100 shots, yet they both average near the same amount of points per game.

I'd take the player who can play at a more efficient level all the time, rather than a player who might score a little more yet plays at a lower level of efficiency, wouldn't you?

LeBron Is More Physical and Athletic of a Player Than Kobe

There's no way around it: LeBron James is the stronger, more athletic and more physical player than Kobe Bryant is, ever was or ever will be.

Weighing in at a whopping 6'8'' and 255 pounds, trying to stop James with a full head of steam is not a task that most players can do alone.  He consistently demands double teams to stop him, if he doesn't remove himself from the game, and while Bryant often demands the same, his lack of physicality and size hinders his ability to react to those situations.

Bryant isn't a small guy, weighing in at 6'6'' and 205 pounds, but he's certainly not on the same level as James.  What makes James' size such a rare commodity is the fact that even with his 255-pound frame, he can run the point, play at the shooting guard position or bang in the pain with the best power forwards in the league.  

The versatility that James brings to the court because of his size, strength and athleticism makes him an absolute nightmare to defend, which adds to James' value.

Sure, size and strength don't equal championship level success, like James has showed us over the past years. However, in a league quickly becoming bigger, faster and stronger, James' versatility is absolutely priceless.  

James' physical frame allows him to get into the paint more often, resulting in more trips to the foul line than Bryant. While he hasn't done a great job of capitalizing on those foul-line opportunities this year, the fact that he can get to the line anywhere between eight to 15 times a game is real difference maker.

James' size alone makes him a rare commodity in the NBA , and the fact that he has two inches and 50 pounds on Kobe and still manages to play at a more efficient level than him, is reason alone to pick James over Bryant.

LeBron Runs the Transition Better Than Kobe

One of the facets of the game that James will always do better than Bryant is when it comes to creating/running in the transition offense.

James' ability to get out in the break and create unending mismatches in scoring opportunities in transition doesn't make him a better player, but it does make him that much more versatile, which is one of the reasons why I'd always take him over Bryant.

Bryant is a one trick pony on offense.  He's absolutely the deadliest shooter on the court night in and night out, and he's able to get to the rim off screens.  There's nothing bad about that, but because he lacks the size and strength of James, he will always lack that "explosiveness" in the transition offense that James has made a staple of his game.

James will never be the "pure shooter" that Bryant is, but what he lacks in a truly elite jump shot he makes up for in his ability to get into the paint and scoring in transition.  James leads the NBA this year with 14.6 PPG in the paint, and that is in large part due his ability to quickly turn from playing defense to the Heat's transition offense.  I'll take an athletic player that can run the fast break over one that can't any day of the week, wouldn't you?

LeBron Keeps His Teammates Involved More Than Kobe

There hasn't been a single season since the two have been in the league together in which Bryant has averaged more assists per game than James.

The closest Bryant came to outdoing James in assists per game was in the 2003-2004 season, which was James' rookie year and Bryant's eighth year in the NBA.  That year, James averaged 5.9 assists per game compared to Bryant, who averaged 5.1 assists per game.

Once again, the fact that Bryant doesn't keep his teammates involved as much as James doesn't make him a worse player; it simply leads me the point of this article, which is the fact that if I had the chance, I'd select James over Bryant every day of the week.

James has been an incredible assist man every year of his career in the NBA, earning a stellar career average of 7.0 assists per game.  What's so impressive about that number, is not only that it's 2.3 assists per game higher than Bryant's average, but the fact that James has been able to do that while averaging 2.4 more points per game than Bryant on his career.

Sure, Bryant's "me first" mentality has helped him win championships, but it's also helped him lose the respect of teammates and become one of the most loved/hated players in the league.  I'd always take a more unselfish player, who manages to score more points per game at the same time, wouldn't you?

LeBron's Ego and Arrogance Isn't Even Close to Being on the Same Level as Kobes

While I wouldn't necessarily say that James is the definition of humility, one thing is for sure: no matter how much you love or hate Bryant, you have to admit that absolutely no one in the NBA, or in all of professional sports for that, is on his level when it comes to having an absolutely arrogant ego.

It's not necessarily a secret that Bryant has such ego, and it's not all his fault.  The Lakers have done a great job of babying Bryant throughout his career, and it's worked out pretty well for them, with their star helping them win two championships by himself.  

The monster that is a combination of Kobe's ego and arrogance, is effective in helping him score points and win games, but it's horribly ineffective when it comes to establishing the respect and trust of his teammates, and that is reason enough for me to stay away from him.

I know James doesn't have a perfect track record here, holding a television special called "The Decision" to announce where he and his talents were going after the 2010 offseason, but he is a better teammate in the locker room and on the court than Bryant every will be.

There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance, and Bryant has never understood how to find a balance between the two.  James, on the other hand balances that line well, appearing more confident of his abilities than overtly arrogant, and that makes him a much more valuable player, and ultimately a better teammate.

James approaches the game with confidence rather than arrogance, and that is a significant reason why I'd take him over the arrogant, ego-maniacal  Bryant ever time, wouldn't you?

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