Before I start this topic, I want to make it clear that I’m not choosing sides when it comes to these talented athletes. They are both great players and always bring a show to the millions of NBA fans when they step on the court.
This has been a debate between many co-workers, friends, fans, and is mainly the topic when you walk into a barbershop. Kobe’s career consists of 4 NBA championships, 12x NBA All-Star, 2x NBA scoring champion, 3x NBA all-star game MVP, slam dunk champion and many more. Kobe is now 31 and playing the best basketball in his life. Kobe breaks down opponents with finesse while hardly breaking a sweat with the post-up, followed by the MJ fade-away. Kobe is also the youngest player to score 25,000 points in their career. In 2009, Bryant had the top-selling jersey in the United States, Europe, and China.
In contrast, we have King James who has been in the NBA for 7 years and has built his career as being a dominant offensive small forward. Throughout his career he has received Rookie of the Year in 2003-04, NBA MVP in 2008-09, 6x NBA all-star, NBA scoring champion in 2008, 2x NBA all-star game MVP and many more. Kobe and LeBron are both just above-average defenders so there’s no comparison there. He’s young and athletic and he can really jump, which is convenient when it comes to his amazing shot-blocking ability on the glass. His speed and strength makes him unstoppable when he’s driving to the basket.
When it comes to who has the better team around them it would be Kobe, hands down. LeBron plays with at best B+ players and Shaq, who still needs to work on his free throws. LeBron is still a growing player and is potentially the future of the NBA, but at this point, Kobe is playing the best basketball he will ever play. In other words: He has peaked. I will leave it up to you to decide who’s better but keep in mind...men lie, women lie, but numbers don’t!
