Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James: 5 Reasons Their Fans Talk Past Each Other

It's possible the greatest rivalry in sports today. It is not a rivalry between players, but a rivalry between their fans.

Through various interviews from both players, there doesn't seem to be any tremendous animosity between the two—certainly not of the nature of the intense feelings that existed between Magic and Larry or MJ and Isaiah—but it remains a rivalry because of the animosity that exists between their most earnest fans. 

As a personal fan of both players, I find myself often defending myself against charges of being a "hater" if I recognize a flaw in one of their games, or say that one does something better than the other. The problem is that the players aren't mutually exclusive. Both can be and are incredible players. Here are five things that if both recognize, there can be peace restored to the NBA. After that, I'll start working on the Middle East.  

No Offense, But Both Are Offensive

Kobe and LeBron are the two best offensive players in the NBA. Yes, the "Durantula" won the scoring title last year, but one year doesn't move you past these two. Since 2006, the two players have scored nearly identical amounts of points. LeBron has scored 8944 points, and Kobe has scored 8924 points. In raw numbers they're freakishly close to identical. No one else is within 1000 points of the two. 

Yet, on offense there is so much heated debate over who is the better offensive player. Kobe fans point to the superiority of Kobe's outside shot, and LeBron fans like to point to the superiority of James' inside game. Both are true. 

From three point range James has actually not only closed the gap, but pulled even with Kobe, making more three pointers last season with a slightly higher percentage. However, there's more to outside shooting than three-point range. The majority of LeBron's scoring comes either at the rim or beyond the ark, while the majority of Kobe's scoring comes between the two. 

No one in the game right now is better at creating space off the dribble than Kobe. He can stop and pop in an ankle breaking manner that makes you want to hit the rewind on your DVR at least two or three times. At the same time, no one in the game right now is better at taking it to the hole than LeBron. He moves so quickly with the ball to the rim that you actually have to wonder if there's some sort of super-power involved. 

They are the two best offensive players in the game, though they have different styles of creating that offense. Once the ball goes through the net it hardly matters how the points were achieved. A two is a two and they aren't that different on threes. 

Don't Be Defensive, They Both Get Defensive

When it comes to defense, just as with offense, the two players have different strengths, and neither player needs to be diminished to promote the strengths of the other. 

Succinctly put, if the game were on the line and the other team had the ball with 12 seconds left, I'd prefer to have Kobe on my team. A lot is said about what Kobe does with the ball in clutch situations, but I'm more impressed with what he does without it. When the other team has the ball, he's the best shut down defender in the game. He's also the best on the ball defender in the game today. 

On the other hand, LeBron is an amazing off the ball defender. Overall, Cleveland last year had a better defense than the Lakers, in spite of not having the same caliber of size or athleticism as the Lakers, and the leader of that defense was LeBron. 

Having said that, both have complete defensive games, and while both are superb defensive players with complete defensive games, Kobe has the edge on on the ball defense and clutch time defense, while LeBron does a better job of focusing on defense through the game and is a better off the ball defender. 

Nothing Personal, But It Does Get Personal

Fans of both players like to point to the character flaws of the other, while extolling the virtues of their own. Ironically, both point to the other's ego as a flaw. Let's not pretend that either is "modest." 

LeBron has taken to referring to himself in the third person, and in the view of many, needed a one hour special just to announce where he'd be playing. Kobe has had his share of conflicts with the greatest teammate he's ever played with, and the greatest coach he's ever played under—both concerning his ego. Neither is humble. 

If you've ever read the book, "The Right Stuff" you'll appreciate ego. It covers the subject in detail, describing the essential quality of the fighter pilot being his ego. Basically, in order to be a fighter pilot, you need to believe yourself unbeatable--the best of the best. It's when doubt creeps in that you become a liability. 

When you are at the peak of the NBA mountain, playing against some of the best athletes in the world, you need to have a confidence that is easily seen as arrogance. Since 2003 the two players have made more game winning shots (defined as less than 24 seconds left where a made basket would put the team in front) than any other player in basketball. They've made about 21 shots each, more than anyone else in the NBA. If you're not arrogant you don't take that shot that many times.

To both players, it's personal, and the person is "me" as in, give "me" the ball. 

Talking Around Who's Around You

There's no question that over the last few years LeBron's stats have been better than Kobe's. That's  a factual conversation, not a matter of opinion. LeBron has more points, more rebounds, more assists, more blocks and more steals. Kobe fans counter this with the fact that he's on a team where he's more featured because he doesn't have the same kind of players around him. 

However, by the same token, the one number where Kobe exceeds LeBron is rings, a number which Kobe fans like to point out as the only one that matters.

Either way the same argument applies. When Kobe didn't have anyone, his numbers were better, and his career high of 35.4 points a game is not one LeBron has ever come close to. He didn't win a ring that year though. In fact, he didn't even make it past the first round of the playoffs. 

Whille LeBron's stats have been somewhat bolstered by inferior teammates, Kobe's fingers have been filled in part because in each of the five years he's won, he's been playing on the team with arguably the best personnel in the paint. That's a luxury LeBron's never had.

Fans of both players need to accept the other side of the razor of their arguments. LeBron's stats probably won't be better next year, though his championship chances are greatly enhanced. Kobe's stats greawere better when he didn't have excellent company, but even he needed that company to win his rings. 

The Greatest and the Best

Does the greatest player in the game today have to be the best? It may sound impossible to suggest that the two could be the anything other than the same but allow me to pose a situation where it was inarguably not the case.

When Jordan came out of retirement the second time and played his stint with the Wizards,  he was the greatest player in the game. It was Kobe, however, who at that time was regarded as the best. 

While Kobe's game is better than the 38 year old Jordan's was, it should be noted, at the time that Jordan returned, he had 930 career games under his belt. Kobe right now has 1021. He has his mileage. He's starting to wear down. His knees are feeling the effects. He's not the Kobe that put up 81, nor is he the Kobe  that average 35.4. 

On the other hand LeBron is still 25. He's had some amazing years, and statistically speaking the last couple have been better than Kobe's. He's led what is essentially a lotter team without him to the league's best record. No he didn't go anywhere in the playoffs, but that doesn't mean he didn't do what he did in the regular season. Now he has teammates of a caliber he's never had before, and whatever you think of his "Decision" or whose "team it is" his skill is not diminished one bit. In fact, he may actually be getting better as a player. Right now he''s a better player than Kobe. 

Still, not everything is measurable. Greatness is not about stats. Truthfully, it's not just about rings either, though rings do help build the image. Greatness is about aura, about walking on the court and by being there, immediately commanding the respect of everyone on both teams. Kobe Bryant is the most respected player in the game today, and that's because he's the greatest player in the game today. LeBron's greatness is not yet measured.

In fact, in terms of greatness, Kobe is now at the highest point he's ever been, and not just because of winning the last two championships, or because he did so without Shaq. It's because of how he won last year. It's because of his mantra about defense during the playoffs. It's because of how he helped his team to win he wasn't pouring in 40 and when he was pouring in the points. He trusted his team when he needed to and he carried his team when he had to. He did  what we expect from the GOAT. He was great.So for now, LeBron may have eclipsed him as the best, but Kobe remains the greatest player playing, and will be that until he retires.