LeBron James vs. Kobe Bryant: 1-on-1 Matchup Shows Nothing but Divide in Opinion

Who would win in a one-on-one battle between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James?

It's a question that many NBA fans have likely asked on several occasions, and it's not one that is likely to stop being asked so long as each player remains in the league and at the forefront of the public sphere.

Supporters of James call him the most athletically gifted player to ever grace the hardwood, while loyal fans of Bryant call him the second-best basketball player to ever grace the NBA behind Michael Jordan.

So, who's right?

Nobody. And that's the point.

The great thing about opinions is that everyone is entitled to have one and express it, because even if the two played a game against each other, it wouldn't be the deciding factor in determining who is the greater basketball player.

Melissa Rohlin of the Los Angeles Times caught up with a handful of current NBA players, including both Kevin Durant and John Wall, and asked the question of which player would come out on top.

Kevin Durant: "Wow that's tough, that's tough. If I had to pick somebody, I'd have to pick Kobe. His one-on-one skills is just like...he's probably the best one-on-one player in the game."

Takeaway: Durant goes on to say in the video that James, Bryant and Dwyane Wade are numbers 1A, 1B and 1C in the league, and when prompted to ask where he ranks, Durant responds in his typical humble fashion, saying that he's nowhere near those guys.

Durant is careful to give credit to both James and Bryant, but the fact that he sides with the latter may be indicative of his true feelings about who is the top dog.

Trevor Ariza: "I don't know but I know I'd pay to watch that. I would go with Kobe, LeBron is an unbelievable talent, and Kobe is as well, but, and that would be a good game, but I think I would go with Kobe."

Takeaway: Ariza played alongside Bryant and won a championship with him in Los Angeles, so this answer is hardly surprising. He really looked as if he was in a good spot to flourish after emerging in a specific role with the team, but he sought more money than the team was likely comfortable giving at the time. 

Matt Barnes: "Kobe. No, Kobe don't lose to nobody one-on-one."

Takeaway: Barnes is fearless, and we've seen that on multiple occasions. He really doesn't back down from anybody, and it's not a shock that he's so quick to side with Bryant, as he was one of the only players who got right back in Barnes' grill when he was playing in a different uniform.

John Wall: "Depends on what you need. Depends on how LeBron plays. If he plays like he can with his size and strength, can't nobody stop him going to the basket, then I pick him. If he doesn't play that way, it's a 50-50 chance. Those are two of the dominant players in the league."

Takeaway: I believe Wall's response to be the most interesting of anyone that was listed. He admits that it is highly dependent upon how James plays, and that could certainly be interpreted as taking a jab at his Finals performance.

James settles too often on the court for jumpers. He's so athletically gifted and asserts his physical dominance over anyone who attempts to guard him, and I don't understand why he doesn't use his natural competitive advantage on a far more regular basis.

Of the four players asked, three took Bryant and just one took James. Does it mean that Bryant is better than James? Absolutely not.

Not only are both players incredibly different in their respective style of play, but each is at a completely different juncture in his career at this point.

Is it fun to discuss the different aspects of both Bryant's and James' games and how it would serve them in a hypothetical match? Yes.

Would a winner of that hypothetical game determine who is the better basketball player? No.

Who do you think comes out on top?