Kawhi vs LeBron

[RaptorsLife]

So let me understand...
LeBron needed to build a superteam in Miami to win a championship and then needed to build a superteam in Cleveland to win a championship, while Kawhi can just win a championship in any team you put him in?
And some people still think LeBron is better than Kawhi?

Raptors have a lot of talent: Gasol, Ibaka, Lowry - that's actually more than "superteam" in Cleveland. Not to mention Siakam who looks like a star in the making.

Gasol is washed up offensively, ibaka couldn't even win a ring with KD-Westbrook-Harden, Lowry has a broken hand, Siakam is Ben simmons without any ball handling or passing. I'm supposed to buy into your bullcrap that this team is better than wade and bosh? LeBron had 1 comparable playoff year to kawhi 2016 that's it.

You’re hyperboles to the raptors role players are so bad it’s crazy

You can praise Kawhi while having some basic sense

[Gooner]

LBJ is easily better. He's one of the more unstoppable forces on offense the league has seen. And he's an iron man as well when it comes to injuries. Kawhi has a lots of work to do to get there, he's still much younger tho. His Finals MVP he wasn't exactly averaging mind blowing stats against that LBJ-led MIA team.

He won against LBJ and his team, that's all that matters to him.

[Krazykiwi]

As far as career goes . It’s no comparison, Lebron has been the best player since MJ. Peak wise , it’s still Lebron . Right now , I would give a slight edge to Kawhi, Lebron was injured so he didn’t show how good he still is . Next year as we get to see lebron play more we can make a better judgement . But I will say it’s going to awful tough to top what Kawhi has done in this playoffs

[AIfan3]

Y'all really forgot what LeBron was huh ? Laughable thread. Kawhi ain't on peak LeBron level..

[Hobo4President]

Lebron was the best player for a decade and had a top 5 peak all time. Kawhi has been the best player for what? A year?

[rapstarter]

Raptors were 16-5 without kawhi in regular season

Check the cavs records without Lebron lol

That also has to do with the make up of the Cavs team which was built (by LeBron) to maximize LeBron's production. It was a good strategy but one not suitable without LeBron.

[SweetTouch]

LBJ would be toying with these warriors

Would of been sweep 4-0 cavs

[Krazykiwi]

As impressive as Kawhi has been in the finals , A younger even just a slight younger Lebron would be even more dominant . This Raptors team is a very talented good cohesive team . They have everything working, 3 point shooting , a couple of good sidekicks , maybe they lack a true 2nd star player but they have a few that can give you the 2nd star production any given night . Also their overall team / individual defense is amazing .

[lambchop]

Raptors were 16-5 without kawhi in regular season

Check the cavs records without Lebron lol

That also has to do with the make up of the Cavs team which was built (by LeBron) to maximize LeBron's production. It was a good strategy but one not suitable without LeBron.

Kind of true, but even kyrie pre lebron was nothing special in terms of team achievements. And we just saw what Kyries celtics did in the playoffs. A better supporting cast wouldn't really have changed those Cavs performances without lebron, unless they would have had someone to be the 1st option, while kyrie remained Robin. Lebron was the motor of that franchise and catalyst of the team's success.

That said, Kawhi >>>> Lebron right now. It's up to bron to remind everyone how good he is. But I'm not advocate of simply claiming player X is better that someone who has dominated the entire POs, when in fact player X has been irrelevant for a couple of months now.

[nikster]

This is a joke. Lebron is better, he is on a whole other level as a playmaker.

And Lebrons 2016 run is better than this one

[r0drig0lac]

Raptors were 16-5 without kawhi in regular season

Check the cavs records without Lebron lol

exactly

[moistnessfiscal]

If Toronto had LeBron instead of Kawhi right now, the series would've been over because this team would compliment James better than any other supporting cast he had with the spacing, shot creating that this team provides and LeBron being the playmaker he is, would put this team on a whole new level.

[Iplaytolose]

Lebron was the best player for a decade and had a top 5 peak all time. Kawhi has been the best player for what? A year?

Not even the best player for the year I'd say... He's really just peaked this playoffs. Giannis was the best player this year imo.

This is a joke. Lebron is better, he is on a whole other level as a playmaker.

And Lebrons 2016 run is better than this one

Yup, another good point on the playmaking... It's night and day between the two in terms of playmaking, and Kawhi's prowess on offense doesn't make up for it when comparing him against LeBron. He's better shooter than LeBron, but LeBron has came a long way with his shot as well and can hold his own easily in that department.

we're comparing two guys at different stages in their career and even still LeBron is the better player right now. LeBron at 27 years old wasn't a bad player either ... Also LeBron's Cavs beat a way better version of the Warriors, and the Warriors still could come back and win this series vs the Raptors although the chances are extremely low.

[Mrakar]

This season ofc Kawhi is better. Career ofc LeBron..
However i would like to point out that LeBron was in the east for his whole career and this seasons east is probably best east since LeBron was drafted. And this season was perfect for people how made "Lebron is in weak east" argument against him.
8 finals in a row wouldn't be possible in western conference...

[XxIronChainzxX]

So let me understand...
LeBron needed to build a superteam in Miami to win a championship and then needed to build a superteam in Cleveland to win a championship, while Kawhi can just win a championship in any team you put him in?
And some people still think LeBron is better than Kawhi?

Cleveland was not a super team. Kyrie was the only guy there who was worthwhile, and even after his championship most of realgm picked him as a being around 15-20. Love barely counts.

The difference is that Toronto has an insane defense. Putting aside Kawhi, the roleplayers from Gasol, Green, Siakam and Lowry are exceptional defensively. LeBron didn't have that in Cleveland.

[Ke-y]

Kawhi is on his way.. His road to greatness is one of a kind.. A late bloomer who truly got it out the mud.. He can play at every level on the floor in every role in every style on both sides of the ball.. He is the best in the game right now until someone knocks him off.. We are witness

His trajectory has been nothing short of amazing.. Incredibly humble worker just entering his prime so I expect his reign to last the next 5 yrs with a decent team

He has top 10 goat potential when all said and done.. His ability to switch from iso to team mode as the team needs is so valuable

Lebron plays lebron ball which is great but kawhi can play any style.. So unique and impactful

[Vladimir777]

This is a joke. Lebron is better, he is on a whole other level as a playmaker.

And Lebrons 2016 run is better than this one

LeBron’s 2018 run is better than this run.

That being said, Kawhi is **** awesome! And I love the dude.

[mysticOscar]

Kawhi is a much better off ball player which makes him a much portable player.

My knock on Lebron has always been his inability to consistently play well off the ball and needing most offensive possession going through him.

Lebron fans wants me to throw my common sense out of the window and just believe Lebron as one of or the unluckiest all time players when it comes to team mates and coaches when it's his brand of basketball that really puts a limit on his team mates impact.

LBJ is one of the most individual dominant players in history of this league that I have seen....up there with MJ and Shaq...but as a basketball enthusiast...his game just frustrates me of how much he dominates the ball....and fans cant ser how it limits the sum of all parts in the team

[Ambrose]

What a stupid thread. The Raptors beating the Warriors B team doesn't make Kawhi better than LeBron. This season? Sure. At their peaks? Clear gap between the two.

[SeniorWalker]

For career LeBron is clearly better. And for peaks LeBron from 2009-2016 was a better player.

But I'd definitely take this playoff Kawhi over LeBron of the last 3 years. 2018 LeBron was extremely overrated anyway, put up huge boxscore numbers against depleted/mediocre teams. Miami LeBron was far more impressive, one that actually worked in a semblance of a system and consistently drove success on both ends. I'd take that LeBron over this Kawhi.