Battle for Supremacy: Breaking Down the Kobe Bryant-LeBron James Debate
Anyone who calls themselves a basketball fan has encountered the question regarding who is better between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. This question alone is the single most debatable subject in today’s NBA. It is also hands-down the most difficult topic when it comes to deciding which side to choose.
In order to make this somewhat fair, let’s compare each player’s body of work over their first seven seasons in the league; keeping in mind that Bryant did not play a full 82-game season injury-free until his seventh year in the league.
KOBE BRYANT |
| LEBRON JAMES |
10658 | PTS | 15251 |
2458 | REBS | 3861 |
2060 | ASTS | 3810 |
714 | STLS | 955 |
496 | GMS PLAYED | 548 |
1 | MVP | 1 |
5 | ASG APP | 5 |
1 | ASG MVP | 2 |
3 | FINALS APP | 1 |
3 | CHAMPIONSHIPS | 0 |
Based on these awards, the edge would be given to LeBron. However, Bryant leads James in a much more rewarding category. He had already racked up three championship rings by his 24th birthday.
Kobe Bryant, based strictly on statistics, has made the most shots—26—in clutch situations than any other player in the last 10 seasons. Vince Carter is second on that list with 20. LeBron James is not even in the Top Five.
This season alone, Bryant has made 7-12 shot attempts in clutch moments giving him a percentage of 58.3 percent, a little over 12% more than his field-goal percentage during the regular season (45.9 percent). That being said, I think it’s safe to say that Bryant is a much better clutch player than LeBron James.
In James’ defense, he also holds an edge over Kobe in the category of career milestones. On March 19, 2010 against the Chicago Bulls, LeBron James became the youngest player in NBA history to reach the 15,000-point mark. At only 25 years old, James broke the record previously held by Bryant by over two years as it took Kobe until he was 27 to reach 15,000 points.
James also holds the records for being the youngest to be named NBA Rookie of the Year (19 yrs), youngest to score 10,000 points, and is one of only four players (Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West) in NBA history to average at least 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists for their career.
If you take a look at both players’ complete career resumes, the advantage easily goes to the self-proclaimed “Black Mamba.” Kobe’s list of achievements vastly surpasses that of LeBron. In his 13 years of NBA experience, Kobe has accumulated four NBA championships, one Finals MVP trophy, one MVP award, three All-Star Game MVP awards, 12 All-NBA selections (eight first team), 10 All-Defensive teams (eight first team), and two scoring titles. LeBron, in his seven NBA seasons, has received two MVP awards, two All-Star MVP awards, a Rookie of the Year award, six All-NBA selections (four first team), two NBA All-Defensive team nods (both first team), and one scoring title.
Critics could argue that Kobe’s success in the earlier part of the last decade is completely due to his partnership with superstar teammate Shaquille O’Neal. However, when the Cleveland Cavaliers added All-Star Mo Williams to the roster, the team wasn’t even able to make the NBA Finals just two years after getting there without an additional All-Star sidekick.
With all this in mind, there still remains the question of who truly reigns supreme in the NBA. Judging by what criteria are used to answer this question, the answer could vary every time. Still one of the most difficult answers to come up with, the answer to this age-old concern may never truly have a unanimous response.
However, if you ask me, I’d have to say the Black Mamba has greatly surpassed LeBron through his high level of play throughout the 2009-10 regular season as well as the playoffs. If he is able to grab a fifth championship, he could arguably enter himself into a new debate: Who is the greatest of all time?
