Someone settle this! please!This bloggers humble opinion on the most debated subject currently driving sports forums mad.
I think that the world has fallen in love with LeBron James. Hey, I don't blame them. They love that he's gifted, talented, and all the while a humble young man. I love LeBron as much as the next guy! He's carried my fantasy team all season. But... while he might be the more likeable person, he's clearly not the best basketball player to the Alpha Dog: Kobe Bean Bryant.
Stats aren't the only thing that determine greatness. I mean if you look solely on stats, LeBron should be the best player in the NBA. Chris Paul and maybe Marcus Camby there after. Yet we all know for a fact that there are only two people that stand on top of Mt. Basketball. Here I'll break down in category in a head to head match up between the best of the best.
1. Offensive Skill Set - LeBron can shoot the 3, and drive to the basket like a freight train ready to smash through brick walls. He shoots 48% from the field because he drives to the rim as often as possible, and leaves us in awe with an array of spectacularly ridiculous dunks. Stan McNeal quoted a scout, "LeBron doesn't need a midrange game. He shoots the 3 or he attacks. When he goes to the rim, he sheds bodies. No one can stop him." wow. That is impressive.
But that still doesn't deny that his game isn't complete. Everyone knows LeBron can improve. He has flaws in his game. While he has range, he can't shoot consistently. He can't bail out his team when the shot clock runs down. His free throw shooting is abysmal (my team has lost free throws 16 out of 18 weeks. That's with everyone else shooting 75% or better.) LeBron if you read this... practice your freakin free throws! gosh...
On the flip side... Kobe Bryant has the best offensive skill set…
wait for it…
EVER in the history of the NBA. Better than Magic, Better than Bird, Better than Wilt, and yes… even better than Jordan.
No one can match his ability. He can shoot from any where at any moment in time on the court. ANYWHERE. He'll shoot 3's, midrange, out of bounds, half court, full court, in the stands. Wherever. These aren't just stand still and collect yourself shots. These are fadeaway, falling out of bounds, off the dribble, on the run, pull up, turn around, and the infamous "are you kidding me?!?" shots.
He can drive the lane and he finishes. He dunks. He tomahawks, he windmills, he does 360s. He makes ridiculous up and under layups, flip shots, finger rolls or do anything under the basket to get him 1 + the foul.
And we haven't even begun to talk about his low-post game. Where his fundamentals make Carlos Boozer look like Shawn Bradley. He shakes, shimmies, fades, drives, and makes defenders look like statues.
AND....He makes his free throws.
Edge – Kobe by a landslide.
2. Defense
LeBron is one of the best help defenders. He reads passing lanes extremely well, and comes over for blocks on the weak side. His weakness though is staying in front of his man. Granted, he is getting better. (probably from the tricks he and Michael Redd learned from Kobe this past summer) He... i wouldn't say locked down... but made Kobe miss plenty of times down the stretch due to LeBron's improving defense.
Kobe though has very few flaws on defense. He reads passing lanes as well as LeBron. Yao, Rip, AK have already become victims of Kobe's tenacious blocking ability. Kobe is an all-NBA defender time in and time out. Because he isn't just the best at the offensive end, he shuts guys down on defense. (as we saw with barbosa at FIBA). The only problem is that he can't sustain it over the course of 42 minutes because he's required to carry such a heavy burden on offense. Which is no excuse if you want to be the best player in the NBA.
Edge – Kobe by a small margin.
3. Passing
This is Lebron's "forte". He loves to pass. He's got amazing court vision, and he sees the floor working like a beautiful symphony. He works to find his guys and has delivered countless no look passes that occur on Sportscenter on just about highlight possible. There haven't been many that have complained about playing with LeBron. They have no fear that he'll get them the ball.
Kobe's most underrated ability is his passing. As my friend Joe says "He passes. You don't think he does, but he does. And if he didn't have Kwame Brown (who couldn't catch a cold, naked in Antarctica) for 3 years then he'd avg. more assists than the 5.7 he already does." That guy was their starting center. He doesn't get minutes in Memphis. MEMPHIS. There's a reason the Lakers still get points even though Kobe's triple teamed. He finds open guys.
Edge – Lebron. by a small margin. mostly by reputation.
4. Rebounding
Lebron is bigger, and taller than Kobe. He should average more rebounds. But this is about more than stats. Rebounding is all about desire, and Kobe Bryant wants the ball as much as any other guy. As shown in the showdown against LeBron, he eluded 3 men, and jumped over another 2 to grab a crucial rebound. He wants the ball. Yet he's only like that during crunch time. LeBron plays just as much on the perimeter as Kobe, but averages more rebounds.
Edge – LeBron.
5. Clutch
Lebron leads the league in 4th quarter points
Kobe doesn't have to play in the 4th quarter. When he does, they win.
When the blood is fresh, I want the Black Mamba to strike. Kobe's killer instinct is unrivaled. I want the ball in the Black Mamba's hands.
Edge – Kobe
6. Toughness
Lebron sat out 6 games because of a sprain in his finger on his non shooting hand.
Kobe completely tore a ligament in his pinky and hasn't missed a game.
Edge – Kobe
I'm gonna stop there.
Ask LeBron himself who he thinks is the best player in the NBA. Maybe 10 years from now, 5 years from now, or even 1 year from now LeBron will be better. But this year...to quote my good buddy one more time "There may be someone better at basketball on the moon or on Mars or on the planet Krypton, but on this planet, the best player's name is Kobe Bryant."
