The Great Debate: Kobe vs. LeBron

The single most popular debate in the NBA today is the argument of who is the best player: Kobe Bryant or LeBron James?

From a statistical standpoint, there is hardly room for debate as LeBron James wins the category far and away from Kobe.

From a style standpoint, Kobe Bryant is the better player, because his game is more sound and fundamental.

From a versatile standpoint, LeBron James is better because he can play four positions on the floor.

And finally, from an intangibles standpoint, Kobe Bryant is ahead because he has five rings, was the face of the league since Michael Jordan retired, and then shared it with LeBron when he arrived. Nevertheless, Kobe still has the much more impressive resume.

Yet in the irony of ironies, the basketball fates of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James have intersected in quite a subtle fashion, as Kobe's glory was established by freeing himself of a superstar teammate, while LeBron's still remains in question as he enters the next chapter of his career with a superstar teammate. 

There is a line somewhere in between their actions that is very telling of what the two best players since Michael Jordan feel is the pathway to greatness.

That line is this: there needs to be a finite ratio of talent within the supporting cast that a) they can win without being so reliant on the best player, in a way that b) it doesn't minimize/interfere with the glory of said best player.

Kobe dealt with the issue of "B" before he came to "A". LeBron dealt with "A" and now only time will tell if "B" ever does become an issue. 

For him.

I say for him, because the court of public opinion has already seemed to have rendered their verdict.

Kobe Bryant is the best player in the game, because anything LeBron does at this point will come with the disclaimer: "alongside Wade."

Say what you will about Pau Gasol, but he will never be confused with Kobe as the best player on the team.

And yes, Kobe did win three titles with Shaq, but he also won two without him.

LeBron's contract with Miami is for four years. If Miami wins the championship all four years he is there (changing pants), it will still be one less than Kobe already has now and it will have been alongside a superstar.

Meanwhile, after those four years are done, LeBron will have been in the league for 11 years, which is a period of time that noticeably takes its toll on players, as sports columnist Bill Simmons first observed. And then what? 

See, what currently make this a riveting debate now, is what will also make it a running joke 10 years down the line.

LeBron's the more talented, gifted player. Kobe has the better work ethic.

Much like Shaq, LeBron is more concerned with being a global icon than the best basketball player he can possibly be. That's why he hangs out with Jay-Z, holds one hour segments announcing which team he will go to, hosts the ESPY's, appears on Saturday Night Live, and never seems to come back the following season with a new repertoire to his game.

Does anyone realize how unstoppable LeBron would be if he worked on his jump shot and developed a post game?

If that tone of voice sounds familiar, it's because it's the same one people have used when wondering aloud how dominant Shaq would be if he could reliably shoot free throws.

On the other side, we see Kobe slaving away in attempt at perfecting his game in the offseason, working with former players like Hakeen Olajuwon to improve his post game, withholding from surgery on injuries that should be slowing him down, and watching tape at home for hours on end trying to mimic both former and current superstars.

Yes, Kobe wasn't at the top of his game in game seven of the finals. But we saw him do whatever he could to will his team to victory despite capturing the full attention of Boston's defense. What resulted was 15 rebounds.

Going back to LeBron, people have gone on record as questioning his effort when Boston and Cleveland were still jockeying for position to advance in the playoffs. Noticeable in that series was an elbow injury that LeBron seemed to use as a crutch at times to excuse his underwhelming performance.

Throughout Kobe Bryant's career, he has been haunted by the echoes of the media and the world as being the next Michael Jordan. Maybe it's a good curse, but it is a curse nonetheless. And while being compared to such a basketball icon may have wilted the focus or efforts of others, Kobe has continued on trying to follow his own path.

Speaking of the devil, at the Hall of Fame induction of Michael Jordan, when Michael came up to the podium, everyone stood to salute him for several minutes—a symbolic gesture of recognition for his accomplishment as being the greatest to ever play the game.

Among those clapping was Magic Johnson.

Somewhere between the point that both Michael and Magic retired, and Michael standing on stage in front of Magic, it was established that, as great as Magic was, he still was not on the same level as Mike.

Ten, maybe 15 years from now, we will see the same thing happen between Kobe and LeBron.

And I think we both know who is going to be the one standing, while the other one is clapping.