NBA Experts say Kobe better than LeBron (by a 2-1 margin)

[Original Baller]

pretty interesting list.....not really surprised to see Kobe at #1 but surprised by the margin.....the experts are pretty reputable too and include nearly every current coach and alot of former ones

***waits for John Hollinger stat geeks to tell us the players, coaches, and GM's are wrong***

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=A ... &type=lgns

Kobe or LeBron? LeBron or Kobe? Trying to settle on the best player in the NBA—Lakers guard Kobe Bryant(notes) or Cavaliers forward LeBron James(notes)—is no easy choice.

But, according to Sporting News’ panel of experts, Bryant is the clear-cut No. 1. Bryant tops SN’s list of the 50 greatest players in the NBA today, as selected by a panel of 107 Hall of Famers, major award winners, executives, current players and coaches and other basketball experts.

Bryant received almost twice as many first-place votes as James, 62 to 34.

Heat guard Dwyane Wade(notes) was third on the list and received 11 first-place votes. Magic center Dwight Howard(notes) was fourth, and Spurs power forward Tim Duncan(notes) fifth.

Rounding out the top 10: Hornets point guard Chris Paul(notes), Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett(notes), Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki(notes), Nuggets small forward Carmelo Anthony(notes), and Celtics small forward Paul Pierce(notes).

"I think what we’ve seen from Kobe in the last two, three years is that he has become an incredible leader," former Lakers great Magic Johnson said about Bryant. "That was the only thing he had to do that was left on his resume. Before, there was no question that he was the best basketball player in the world, like he is now. He was dominant every night, but he didn’t take on that leadership role. … Now, he is the total package."

SN’s Top 50 breakdown

By team
5: Lakers
4: Celtics, Spurs
3: Hawks, Pistons, Rockets
2: Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Jazz, Magic, Mavericks, Nuggets, Raptors, 76ers, Suns
1: Bulls, Bucks, Clippers, Heat, Hornets, Nets, Pacers, Thunder, Trail Blazers, Wizards
0: Bobcats, Kings, Knicks, Timberwolves, Warriors

By position
Point guard: 11
Shooting guard: 12
Small forward: 11
Power forward: 10
Center: 6

SN’s TOP 50 PLAYERS
1. Kobe Bryant, SG, Lakers
2. LeBron James, SF, Cavaliers
3. Dwyane Wade, SG, Heat
4. Dwight Howard, C, Magic
5. Tim Duncan, PF, Spurs
6. Chris Paul, PG, Hornets
7. Kevin Garnett, PF, Celtics
8. Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Mavericks
9. Carmelo Anthony, SF, Nuggets
10. Paul Pierce, SF, Celtics
11. Steve Nash(notes), PG, Suns
12. Deron Williams(notes), PG, Jazz
13. Tony Parker(notes), PG, Spurs
14. Brandon Roy(notes), SG, Trail Blazers
15. Yao Ming(notes), C, Rockets
16. Shaquille O’Neal(notes), C, Cavaliers
17. Pau Gasol(notes), PF, Lakers
18. Chris Bosh(notes), PF, Raptors
19. Amare Stoudemire, PF, Suns
20. Chauncey Billups(notes), PG, Nuggets
21. Kevin Durant(notes), SF, Thunder
22. Manu Ginobili(notes), SG, Spurs
23. Jason Kidd(notes), PG, Mavericks
24. Tracy McGrady(notes), SG, Rockets
25. Joe Johnson(notes), SG, Hawks
26. Derrick Rose(notes), PG, Bulls
27. Ray Allen(notes), SG, Celtics
28. Gilbert Arenas(notes), PG, Wizards
29. Ron Artest(notes), SF, Lakers
30. Vince Carter(notes), SG, Magic
31. Danny Granger(notes), SF, Pacers
32. Baron Davis(notes), PG, Clippers
33. Devin Harris(notes), PG, Nets
34. Ben Gordon(notes), SG, Pistons
35. Al Horford(notes), C, Hawks
36. Carlos Boozer(notes), PF, Jazz
37. Nene, C, Nuggets
38. Rajon Rondo(notes), PG, Celtics
39. Andre Iguodala(notes), SG, 76ers
40. Josh Smith(notes), PF, Hawks
41. Rudy Gay(notes), SF, Grizzlies
42. Hedo Turkoglu(notes), SF, Raptors
43. Lamar Odom(notes), SF, Lakers
44. Shane Battier(notes), SF, Rockets
45. Elton Brand(notes), PF, 76ers
46. Richard Jefferson(notes), SF, Spurs
47. O.J. Mayo(notes), SG, Grizzlies
48. Charlie Villanueva(notes), PF, Pistons
49. Michael Redd(notes), SG, Bucks
50. Andrew Bynum(notes), C, Lakers

SN’s PANEL
Gene Banks
Rick Barry
Elgin Baylor
Butch Beard
Walt Bellamy
Travis Best
Otis Birdsong
Muggsy Bogues
Jeff Bower
Bill Bradley
Terrell Brandon
Allan Bristow
Dee Brown(notes)
Hubie Brown
Mike Brown
P.J. Brown(notes)
Marcus Camby(notes)
Rick Carlisle
Bill Cartwright
Tyson Chandler(notes)
Phil Chenier
Doug Christie(notes)
Archie Clark
Jim Cleamons
Wayne Cooper
Bob Cousy
Dave Cowens
Mike D’Antoni
Don Delaney
Joe Dumars
Mike Dunleavy
Mark Eaton
Craig Ehlo
Mario Elie
Gar Forman
Harry Gallatin
Dick Garmaker
Mike Gminski
Cliff Hagan
John Hammond
Tim Hardaway
Tom Heinsohn
Rod Higgins
Bob Hill
Lionel Hollins
Bob Houbregs
Bailey Howell
Eddie Johnson
Marques Johnson
Bobby Jones(notes)
George Karl
Steve Kerr
Bob Kurland
Frank Layden
Tim Legler
Ronnie Lester
Earl Lloyd
Donyell Marshall(notes)
Bob McAdoo
Rodney McCray
Dick McGuire
Brad Miller(notes)
Earl Monroe
Daryl Morey
David Morway
Tracy Murray
Tom Nissalke
Norm Nixon
Kevin O’Connor
Will Perdue
Geoff Petrie
Bob Pettit
Randy Pfund
Scot Pollard(notes)
Gregg Popovich
Kevin Pritchard
Jack Ramsay
Frank Ramsey
Arnie Risen
Oscar Robertson
Scotty Robertson
Jimmy Rodgers
John Salley
Flip Saunders
Charlie Scott
Bill Sharman
Purvis Short
Jim Spanarkel
Steve Stipanovich
Ed Stefanski
Rod Thorn
Jay Triano
Kelly Tripucka
Jack Twyman
Dick Van Arsdale
Kiki Vandeweghe
Stan Van Gundy
Dick Vitale
Chet Walker
Bobby Wanzer
Mark Warkentien
Slick Watts
Bill Wennington
Jerry West
Lenny Wilkens
Pat Williams
Brian Winters

For much more on the NBA’s 50 greatest players, pick up the Dec. 7 edition of Sporting News at Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.

[Inhuman]

interesting.

[Boognish]

Whelp, that that settles the debate once and for all. Right guys? Right?

[amb1ent]

nba experts clearly forgot to take into account winshares in the playoffs as the primary #1 option with homecourt advantage, adjust for pace

[oaktownwarriors87]

Rudy Gay is ahead of Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, Shane Battier, Michael Redd and Elton Brand?

Shaq>Gasol?

Who are the retards that made this list?

[Jimmy Recard]

I think most unbiased Laker fans would admit that LeBron>Kobe.

Can't go wrong with either one though.

[Kabookalu]

Shaq is above Gasol and Bosh....

[Puertorique]

Tim Donaghy and Dick Bavetta approve this vote.

[oaktownwarriors87]

At least we are clear on it now. Charlie Villanueva >>> Andrew Bynum, Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler, Monta Ellis, Kevin Martin, LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden, Andirs Biedrins, Mehmet Okur, Chris Kamen etc. etc.

[oaktownwarriors87]

Who wouldn't take OJ Mayo over Caron Butler?

[Puertorique]

OJ Mayo is 21 possibly 22 spots lower then he is, and with each step that Rose steps up Mayo should be there with him.

Also no Brandon Jennings on this List?

Wow Talk about out of touch. I would put Jennings low since he's a rookie, but to not be on the list??

Wow.

[CzBoobie]

When you have Shaq ahead of Gasol and Bosh and McGrady on 24th, you know the list is pretty much based on reputation...

Also funny to see 4 Kobe's teammates in top 50, LeBron with one and way overrated.

[oaktownwarriors87]

When you have Shaq ahead of Gasol and Bosh and McGrady on 24th, you know the list is pretty much based on reputation...

Also funny to see Kobe with 4 teammates in top 50, LeBron with one and way overrated.

The sad thing is that the teammates of Kobe are way under-rated on the list.

O'Neal in place of Gasol
Gay in place of Odom
T-Mac in place of Artest

Yeah, that team would be a lot better

[jirojan]

impressive list, and i agree that kobe is better than lebron...however some of the players are there are on there on legacy alone

[vinnycorleone]

EDIT

[oaktownwarriors87]

The sad thing is that you know about half those people voted Shaq as a top 15 player

I would love to see this, they can each have three bench players.

The all ranked team
C Harford/Nene
F Villanueva
F Tukoglu/Gay
G McGrady
G Davis/Mayo

VS

The non ranked team
C Lopez/Gasol
F Aldridge/Jamison
F Butler/
G Martin/
G Ellis/Jennings

[215paperboy]

OJ Mayo is 21 possibly 22 spots lower then he is, and with each step that Rose steps up Mayo should be there with him.

Also no Brandon Jennings on this List?

Wow Talk about out of touch. I would put Jennings low since he's a rookie, but to not be on the list??

Wow.

if you're gonna have jennings, evans should be on there 1st

[Vincent 666]

Not suprising.

The majority of past NBA great say Kobe is better than Lebron and Kobe is the best player in the league.

The people who say Lebron is better are the stat/formula geeks.

[CzBoobie]

Not suprising.

The majority of past NBA great say Kobe is better than Lebron and Kobe is the best player in the league.

The people who say Lebron is better are the stat/formula geeks.

Good to know that Jerry West is a stat/formula geek

[kingkirk]

yay....