Verdict of the "Great Debate"

This entire season I've been holding off on writing an article about who is better, between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. It's been difficult, but now it's time to put an end to all of this.

How do we compare these two basketball players? Different positions, different styles of play, different attitudes, different forms of leadership, different teammates, different conferences. Sometimes is seems as though the only thing LeBron and Kobe have in common is that they both play primarily on the perimeter and they can both light it up and score. But I've finally figured out what I think is the best way to compare these two players.

If somehow we were to remove LeBron's talent, skill level, determination, and work ethic and inject it into Kobe Bryant's body, is that new player better or worse than Kobe Bryant today? I think the answer is obvious: WORSE. Yes, WORSE in all caps.

However, if somehow we were to remove Kobe's talent, skill level, determination, and work ethic, and inject it into LeBron James' body, is that new player better or worse than LeBron James today? That new player is not only better than LeBron is today, that new player would be the UNDISPUTED GREATEST BASKETBALL PLAYER OF ALL TIME!

What this thought experiment goes to show us is that Kobe is a more skilled, more polished, more purely talented basketball player. The only thing that even makes this "Great Debate" possible is that LeBron is a freak of nature. Put them on an even playing field, physically, and Kobe is clearly the better player.

I can already hear people saying "tough luck, that's the way it works." But when we think about the best basketball players, is it really about who can score the most points, in the most efficient manner? Some would say yes, but I say no. In fact, if that were the case, then the vast majority of basketball fans would consider Wilt Chamberlain the GOAT. When we consider the question of who is the best basketball player, the debate must take efficiency into account, but it must also consider capability. And by capability, I mean, which player is capable of making the shot I need, no matter what that shot may be? Aside from his championships, that's the precise reason most people consider Michael Jordan the best player ever. He could get it done from anywhere on the court, no matter what obstacle, no matter what situation.

Kobe has proven time and time again he is that type of player. Ask Denver, Houston, Portland, Dallas, Utah, Indiana, New Orleans, Charlotte, Phoenix, or any of the other teams in the NBA. All of them will tell you that you cannot count on anything being impossible for Kobe Bryant. They’ll tell you because they’ve all been witnesses.