LeBron James or Kobe Bryant...Who is the Best in the Game today?
By kbjunior15
@kbjunior15 (1309)
United States
July 18, 2010 10:45pm CST
Ever since Jordan retired, we heard all the talk about who would be the next Jordan. I will put that talk to rest and say there will never be the next Jordan. MJ was simply the best player to ever strap on a pair of shoes. With that in mind, many of been dubbed that. Kobe was one of the first and has done a rather good job of trying to live up to those expectations. Then you had the King, LeBron, who was certainly going to take his place. So, who is better?
Kobe has 5 titles and will be working on #6 next year which would tie him with Jordan. Kobe makes those areound him better. Pao Gasol, Ron Artest, Andrew Bynum, and company are nowhere near the players they are today if they did not play with Kobe just like Jordan's crew of Horace Grant, Scottie Pippen, Wil Perdue, etc.
LeBron has no titles and I am not sure he makes those around him better.
Lebron flat out quit in game 7 against the Celtics. Kobe has never done that and Jordan would NEVER do that for any reason.
LeBron had to go seeking a title and sign with two of the top players in the league to form a hopeful "dynasty". Kobe recruits players to play with him, he does not look to go play with others. Jordan would never sign with guys like Wade and Bosh because he would have wanted to beat the best players in the game rather than team up with them.
My vote goes to Kobe. You?
12 responses
@meemingNEW (2226)
• Philippines
19 Jul 10
After LeBron's decision to sign up with Miami and be just a part of A team rather than leading one, he just handed out Kobe's title as the NBA's best player hands down.
1 person likes this
@meemingNEW (2226)
• Philippines
21 Jul 10
Thanks for pointing out "LEGACY" in your post. That's the big setback of LeBron's decision to join a team rather than being the guy. If he decided to play elsewhere rather than in Miami or Cleveland, I think New York should be fitting rather than in Chicago.
We all know Chicago will always be Michael Jordan's . that's his legacy that will be told in many years, decades to come. If LeBron decided to play there, in my opinion... I wouldn't want him to overshadow MJ or will I ever want anyone to overshadow nor surpass MJ's individual feat in Chicago.
New York - big apple. Where else in the world would you want to play and lead a team other than the world famous Madison Square Garden? If he had gone to New York, he'll be the biggest apple hands down.
Miami - he's just a member.
Cleveland - he leads most records there already. why leave now?
1 person likes this
@kbjunior15 (1309)
• United States
19 Jul 10
Very true statement. He does not just become one of the guys on a team rather thatn THE guy that he could have been by staying in Cleveland. I think it definately changes how his legacy will be remembered.
@kbjunior15 (1309)
• United States
19 Jul 10
Just read an article today about Jordan saying that he would have never called up Larry and Magic to ask them to play together. He said he was a competitor and wanted to BEAT those guys, not play with them. King James will be Prince Jordan at best
@keshia2007r (2880)
• United States
19 Jul 10
It sounds like your a Kobe fan! So am I! Kobe is better hands down. I agree w/ you completely about Lebron quitting in game 7 against the Celtics. Lebron will never be MJ or Kobe. You know why? Because he's apparently not good enough to take his team to the championship! For that he now has to share a team that isn't even his. Miami is still D.Wade team! So Kobe is better, not an opinion a fact :)...I just love Kobe!
1 person likes this
@kbjunior15 (1309)
• United States
19 Jul 10
Miami is stil D Wade's team!!!! What a true statement. LeBron could have been a God had he stayed in Cleveland and won a title or several. I don't know if you saw a previous post on this where I put a comment from Jordan about how he would never call Magic or Larry and ask them to play together. He wanted to BEAT the best players, not play with them. LeBron has definately tarnhished what could have been a pretty good legacy.
@keshia2007r (2880)
• United States
19 Jul 10
I will definitely not refer Lebron James as "king" or "a God" lol but I guess I see your point on that. But yeah, I still think that was a bad move, bc your right, you won't see Kobe asking Lebron to join HIS team. Like you said, he want to beat the best and not play w/ them.
1 person likes this
@elmiko (6630)
• United States
20 Jul 10
lebron james is better now and he did more on his own for his team then kobe ever did. kobe had to have help from shaq and now the very good lineup of players he has now. kobe is also slowing down since hes in his early 30s. Lebron is now in his prime at the age of 25 and still has great years left. lebron still can improve on his playing ability. lebron needs to work on his fade-away jumper more and not rely as much on penetrating the basket. lebron also should shoot 80% from the free-throw line on average as well. Lebron has an even better chance to score points since hes going to the heat and has Dwyane Wade who can act more to distribute the ball to james. james doesn't have to pass the ball around as much because of wade. wade can now be more of the point guard that passes the ball while james gets more opportunities to score more. i'm not saying james will score more points with the heat than he did with the cavs next nba season. i'm saying hes going to be more of a scoring threat when he wants to be. wade will still get plenty of points as well but i expect james to clearly be the leading scorer of the heat this coming season. to make matters worse for opponents the heat have bosh who can shoot the 3 pointers well like lebron and both of them have a height advantage over the majority of 3 point shooters. the heat are going to have so many advantages over other teams the coming nba season. the team that has a chance at beating them in the playoffs is the lakers.
1 person likes this
@kbjunior15 (1309)
• United States
20 Jul 10
Good points that you made. LeBron definately has time to improve his game and put lots of rings on his fingers. I am just not sure he will be able to do it. I will settle into more of a Magic Johnson type role now so his legacy will not be comparable to Jordan and Kobe. I still think that is DWade's team, too. There may not be enough basketballs to go around, plus you have got to get the role players to buy into the system. With that much talent, they could build a dynasty or it could be a failure. Time will tell. Jordan wanted to beat the best players in the game, not play with them.
@Andyvil (793)
• Philippines
20 Jul 10
Although I am not a big fan of Kobe cause I am a Boston fan, I have to agree with you. Kobe is the best in the NBA right now. Basketball is a team game and any team who has a good leader and good team work will always prevail over a star studded team. This has been proven a lot of times and that is why next season I would still bet on Boston. Anyway my vote is on Kobe hands down.
1 person likes this
@kbjunior15 (1309)
• United States
20 Jul 10
Basketball is definately a team game that you need a good leader for. Boston has a few good leaders in Paul Pierce, KG and Rondo. Rondo could be mentioned up there with the best players in the game today. Dude is good and can take control of a game. Right now I would say that the Celtics and Magic (Dwight Howard) are the teams to beat in the East. The Heat have to take over those two teams. In the West, it is the Lakers obviously. If the Oklahoma City Thunder can give Kevin Durant a few more pieces they will be a force for years to come. Durant is right there in the top 3-5 players in the league.
@arakawaii (270)
• Philippines
19 Jul 10
For me its Kobe though I'm not that fan of basketball but when its Kobe playing then I'll watch, this man makes the action inside the basketball court, he surely plays great and since Jordan have retired, Kobe is my next favorite basketball player after Jordan....
1 person likes this
@kbjunior15 (1309)
• United States
19 Jul 10
I became a Jordan fan by default as a kid. WGN was one to the cable channels and the Bulls were always one. I agree with you. I made time to sit in front of the TV when Jordan played no matter where I was at. You were afraid you'd miss something by not watching him play. I only got to see him once in person. It was when he was with the wizards. We got courtside seats in Inday. When he came out, I was like a little kid in a candy store. Best sports moment I remember.
Today, I don't miss a chance to watch Kobe on TV. He takes over a game. I hope to get to see him in person too
@nikkifelder (18)
•
19 Jul 10
While both men are undeniable, I must put a bid in for Rajon Rondo. Though Rondo is more of a contributor as having high assist, yet his ball handling skills are superior to Kobe and Lebron.
1 person likes this
@kbjunior15 (1309)
• United States
19 Jul 10
Good assertion. I am a Kentucky fan, so I love Rondo. He very easily can be mentioned as one of the best players in the NBA because of how he can take over a game with his ability to dish out the ball. Boston is not near the team they are without him.
I also think that Kevin Durant gets put into this converstation. Dude is good and unlike LeBron, just signed a big deal to stay in Oklahoma City for years to come.
@kbjunior15 (1309)
• United States
19 Jul 10
5 rings does say it all, especially since Kobe has now won some without Shaq. I don't know that the Heat will win even one with James, Wade and Bosh
@waterproofpaper (139)
• Philippines
19 Jul 10
I ain't fan of Kobe neither Lebron, I am a fan of Jordan., these days lot of people comparing these 2, and for me it's Kobe who does better, even if Lebron is strong he has no achievement for his Team, unlike Kobe he never leave his team and found glory with it. The title can define who is best..agree?
@kbjunior15 (1309)
• United States
19 Jul 10
Titles define you, absolutely! LeBron wants so badly to be like Kobe and MJ. I think that is why he went to Miami. He may end up winning a title or two, but they won't be very impressive because of who he signed with to chase those rings. I still think the Lakers are the team to beat right now and that Kobe will still win more rings before he retires.
Speaking of how a title can define you, how about Phil Jackson? That dude has won 11 NBA titles. If he wins one next year, he will have 4 three-peats. Pretty impressive.
@Cooloud (25)
• China
19 Jul 10
I prefer to LBJ.Honestly to say,Kobe is better than LBJ in either attacking abiliy or organizing ability.But I think LBJ is more like a leader,he can tell the team what to do.Kobe has many titles and he may be the best guard in the NBA.But LBJ is stronger and stronger,maybe someday,LBJ can be the best.NBA is a place where amazing happens.Wade ,Bosh and LBJ get together,they all for one thing:the champion,I am very expecting.
1 person likes this
@kbjunior15 (1309)
• United States
19 Jul 10
I would have to disagree that James is a leader. He has a long way to go to be like Jordan or even Kobe when it comes to being a leader. When he is winning and scoring a lot of points, LeBron is all smiles. However, when he is having a bad game or others are not playing well or they lose then he pouts. Jordan and Kobe get in their teammates faces, they don't pout.
@erwinadrian (109)
• Canada
19 Jul 10
In terms of physical ability, LeBron is more superior than Kobe. LeBron jumps higher, stronger, taller(?), larger body frame, faster, etc. However, Kobe has insane basketball insticts! His dribble isn't better than Derrick Rose, his shootings are not better than Ray allen, etc. It's hard to decide, but I think I will go with Kobe this time.
@kbjunior15 (1309)
• United States
19 Jul 10
I would say head to head, LeBron is more athelic than Kobe. Very true that if you break apects of Kobe's game down that there are individuals better at a lot of them i.e. Rose, Allen, etc. However, like you say, Kobe has INSANE basketball instincts. He is so good at knowing what to do and where to be and how to make others around him do what he wants them to do and what needs to be good. LeBron can have all the atheltic ability in the world, but until he can be a leader it won't matter.
@jessdiokno (46)
• Philippines
17 Sep 10
My vote will also go out to Kobe. He is a true competitor in the mold of MJ. He gets challenged easily and uses negative criticisms to further increase his intensity in every game. He has also matured a lot now, choosing his shots and knowing when to defer to his team mates. What he did last season wherein he continued playing despite his various injuries is something admirable. He knew his team had a very big chance of winning another championship and that he is very much needed so he continued playing. His intensity every game rubs out on his teammates. He is a leader by example in terms of how he trains to be a better ball player.
