Who's the better player, Kobe or LeBron James?

[elbow holler]

Bryant's better, but James is more efficient. Offensively Bryant does things the hard way because he can while James takes more of what the defense gives him. Defense is no contest although Byant sucked at it last year.
Overall Byant's better, James is gaining. Depends on whether Stern falls out of love with LBJ in favor of Wade as to if James catches Bryant.

[Addicus]

LeBron is incredible with the ball, but hasn't proven he can play without it. He is a better facilitator of the offense because of his penchant to pass (Magic Like). His defense is lack luster with little effectiveness in man to man situations, but he plays the passing lanes well (using his size and quickness). Offensively, he lacks a true post game and has not truly developed a 3 point shot yet. For those discounting what Kobe did with Shaq and using last years stats - LeBron played with Z who demands attention while Kobe played with Mihm/GrantCook last year. Still their numbers were similar.

Kobe has proven he can do it all. He can score, pass, rebound, play man to man d, come through in the clutch. Right now - he is the premier player in the game with the complete package.


LeBron is sick - Kobe is sicker.
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Stop crying and start doing.

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/addicusbrown

[magic_bryant]

LeBron simply SUCKS at defense. When he tries, he actually looks worse at it. Anyone remember that late season game against the Pistons? Prince posts LeBron up, LeBron feels challenged and actually TRIES to D up Prince, Tayshaun puts a move on 'Bron, leaving him standing in his dust.

LeBron's close to Kobe on O, without seeing the types of D that Kobe does. But defensively, LeBron is MILES away, and will likely never be a great defender.
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Stephon Marbury on Kobe: "He's the only person on 'dis earth that can do 'dat. He guards people, like shuts 'em down. Then, to do 'dat on 'da offensive end. It's like 'Damn, I can't score on him AND he about to bust my ass."

[Hoop_Knowledge]

***post updated with additional info***

At the same age, I still would have to go with Kobe.

At age 20:
Kobe - 20ppg, 47%fg, 5rpg, 4apg, 1.5spg, 1bpg, 27%3p, 84%ft, 38mpg, 50 games
These numbers were with an offense that was NOT ran through him and the players and the system were NOT set up to accomodate him or help him get easy baskets most of the time.

Lebron - 27ppg, 47%fg, 7rpg, 7apg, 2spg, 1bpg, 35%3p, 75%ft, 42mpg, 80 games
These numbers were with an offense that was ran through him and with players and a system that were set up to accomodate him and help him get easy baskets most of the time.

Lebron averaged 5 more fga per game than Kobe and almost 3 more fta per game than Kobe. You average that out with the same % and you make up the difference in points easily. Kobe that season never even came close to playing point guard, unlike Lebron who is probably the prototypical point-forward for the Cavs (therefore Lebron averaging 3 more assists). Lebron averaged 2 more rpg than Kobe, but this does not show the fact that Kobe had a better rebounding team and front. Also, don't forget that Kobe this season averaged a double-double in points and rebounds for the first 10 games of the season until the Lakers brought in Rodman to clean up on the boards. W/out Rodman and the trade for Glen Rice (which moved Kobe back to the sg spot), Kobe was on his way to averaging about 8 to 9 (maybe 10) rebounds per game in the shortened season. Lebron averaged more steals but Kobe averaged more blocks. Kobe had a better ft% but Lebron had a better 3p% (this is most likely due to Kobe being used as the bail-out guy even during this stage of his career). Lebron averaged 4 to 5 more minutes per game than Kobe and had the ball ALOT more in his hands than Kobe did at this stage and age. Both averaged the same fg% with about the same defensive attention (this was Kobe's first season starting and was already drawing the best defensive wing player for the other team).

Even with the exterior factors, I pick Kobe, however, like I said, a true comparison will never work due to the fact that Kobe has never had an offense run through him until last year, with teammates and a system that is geared to help him get easy baskets. It is with Lebron because he was a good player who came to a bad team. Kobe was a good player who came to a good team, so obviously, he had the ball ALOT LESS, with LESS opportunities to create for teammates, played LESS minutes, shot the ball LESS and had LESS opportunities to score due to the offensive system and teammates.

Individually, from watching both of their games going back to HS, the only aspect that Lebron has over Kobe was that he was physically larger. That is it. People seem to forget that Kobe came into the league at age 17 turning 18. Lebron came into the league at age 18 turning 19. There is a year difference in physical development that will most likely always be overlooked when comparing the two. Lebron's rookie year was almost like Kobe's second year physically when Kobe had a great first half of the season and was voted to the Western Conference All-Star Game. Skills-wise, Kobe owns Lebron in almost all categories except for offensive awareness, and that comes from the two having different mindsets (Kobe being more of a scoring guard where Lebron is more of a combo passing/scoring forward). It remains to be seen how far Lebron can go, but as a Laker fan, I hope beginning this season Kobe distances himself so far from Lebron and the others that it makes this type of conversation silly...

[sickirony]

[Addicus]

sickirony wrote

[Wino]

[tw-lakbfan]

Wino, everybody should know that now.

[dle7]

what happened when they doubled and tripled team shaq in the playoffs? kobe went off and carried the team to championships.

what happened when detroit doubled and tripled teamed kobe in the finals?
shaq didnt do jack s*** to take over the game.

enough said.

[VEN_150]

I would say judge them by how many playoff series victories each has: (as a starter on a playoff team)

Kobe: about 20
LeBron: 0

results count

[CarlJohnson]

[kobeandgary]

Kobe has 3Rings "Lebronze" has um nothing worth mentioning really just a bunch of "almost" Just put "Lebronze" before almost then finish the sentence however you want. "Lebronze"almost...

[kobeowns]

Kobe is a better defneder and clutch performer, plus he is unstoppable

Bron is a more versatile player, a better rebounder and passer, a better fg% makes me think he has a better shot selection

Kobe > Bron now

Bron > Kobe soon

[Hoop_Knowledge]

[sickirony]