Kobe Bryant Vs. LeBron James: Who's the More Dominant NBA Superstar Right Now?
Kobe Bryant Vs. LeBron James: Which Player Deserves The Most Consideration For Best NBA Player?
Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are two of the best players to ever play in the NBA and will always be compared to each other.
While one has the edge in championships, the other has the edge in MVP's.
Which guy would you rather have on your franchise? Let us know what you think.
5. LeBron: Versatility
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The most incredible thing about LeBron James' game is his ability to play pretty much any position on the floor. He has the size and strength to play on the low block, but the speed and ball skills to run the point.
There was a lot of talk about him possibly becoming just the second player to ever average a triple double for a season, but he hasn't lived up to that hype...yet.
The one thing I would really love to see James do is dedicate an offseason towards working on his low-post offense. If he were to add that as another weapon to his arsenal, he could be the best player ever to play the game.
5. Kobe: Clutch
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Kobe Bryant is among the most clutch shooters in NBA history. It seems like every year he hits an inordinate amount of game winning shots that other guys only dream of.
Last year alone, I believe Bryant had somewhere around six game winners.
According to 82games.com, Bryant has more points than anyone else in what they consider "clutch situations." In other words 4th quarter or overtime, less than 5 minutes left, neither team ahead by more than 5 points.
Kobe is, most certainly, clutch.
4. LeBron: Potential
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The thing you always hear about LeBron James is his potential. He has an unbelievable skill set and has the potential to be the best basketball player ever to play the game.
The problem with potential is that it is subjective. How much more could James do to get better?
Then again, if you look at the leaps that Kobe made from age 25 to 28, then you will notice the huge jump in his numbers. James still has a long time that will be spent in his prime and he could be better than anyone else realizes.
4. Kobe: Defense
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This is not an indictment of LeBron James' defensive abilities as much as a compliment of Kobe's.
Bryant has been named to the NBA All-Defense team ten times, compared to LeBron's two.
Obviously, it is tough to take anything from Team USA, but when both James and Bryant were on the "Redeem Team," Bryant was the defensive stopper.
3. LeBron: Makes Players Better
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LeBron James has always been very skilled in the passing game. His average of assists per game is always up around five to eight and he always seems to be a threat for a triple double.
If you need more convincing, just look at the Cleveland Cavaliers. Last season with James, they were the best team in the NBA during the regular season and they looked on their way towards the NBA finals.
However, without James, this season has been a nightmare and the Cavs lost more consecutive games than any other team in NBA history.
3. Kobe: Experience
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I don't know if there is a situation on the NBA court, aside from a brawl in the stands, that Kobe Bryant hasn't seen and experienced. That comes from being in the league for 14 years and playing in the postseason in 13 of those years.
Bryant has played in a staggering 1,078 regular season games and 198 playoff games.
Those numbers can't compare to LeBron James' because of the fact that Kobe has been in the league for seven more seasons than James.
2. LeBron: Age
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One thing that I think people keep forgetting about LeBron James is that he is just 26 years old.
For him to be at the level he currently is at the age he is can't be adequately described.
Honestly, that is the biggest factor that LeBron has over Kobe. He is six years younger than the Lakers star. That might not sound like a lot, but the mileage that Kobe has put on his body has really caused him to decline in skill.
2. Kobe: Better Shooter
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One thing that has always set Kobe apart from other players is his shooting ability. Not only does he have a great mid-range game, but he has great ability from deep.
LeBron has had worked hard on his shooting game, but he still pales in comparison to Kobe.
In fact, the only guy that could really matchup with Kobe's shooting when he is on is none other than Michael Jordan.
1. LeBron: Athletic Nightmare
9 of 11LeBron James may be listed at 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds, but I would say he is closer to 270-280 pounds. Yet, he still moves like a freight train in the open court.
Just look at this video from the All-Star game and see just how ridiculously fast he is.
His size, strength and speed make him a nightmare.
1. Kobe: Ability to Do It in the Playoffs
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Kobe has five things that LeBron wishes he could have on of: championship rings.
Year in and year out, Kobe Bryant is in the playoffs and having success there. In his 14 years, he has five championships.
That productivity is very hard to argue against.
Conclusion: Who Is More Dominant?
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Based on championships, I am inclined to go with Kobe Bryant. However, I keep looking at the video of LeBron James in the open court and can't pick against him when it comes to dominance.
As a Laker fan, I am very happy with Kobe Bryant and I am happy to see James' struggle...but let's face facts. He is the more dominant player.
The most telling stat? Only two players have ever gotten a triple double in an All-Star game. One is James.
The other is a famous player from Chicago who wore No. 23.
