Has the Torch Officially Been Passed From Kobe to Lebron?

[treis]

Good point, but what's better:

Individual MVP achievement plus the satisfaction of knowing that "you" took your team to the big show, or actually winning the big one? (much less 3 times)

Yeah, but Kobe wasn't the best player on those championship teams, Shaq was. Hence, Shaq was carrying the torch then, not Kobe. Since then, Kobe hasn't accomplished a lot in the league. Duncan, on the other hand, has several MVPs, several Titles, and several Finals MVPs.

[RocketPower23]

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Well, speaking of career your list is good....but i think this is just taking this year into account.

I would put Lebron at 1.

Not really, it doesn't work as a career list seeing as Duncan still has the better all around career then Kobe. Kobe has to win a MVP and a title and then I'd be more in favor of putting him ahead of Duncan. As for the best players, in order, Kobe, Timmy, LeBron and Wade.

[David Robinson]

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On topic: Kobe/Duncan is the best player in the NBA.

Off topic: Do you deny that David Robinson is number 7 to the majority of the world, and therefore truly number 7?
(picture)

However you want to view David Robinson is up to you.

future Hall of famer, 50 greatest, world champion, olympic gold medalist #50 David Robinson #7

[D-Wade]

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Yeah, but Kobe wasn't the best player on those championship teams, Shaq was. Hence, Shaq was carrying the torch then, not Kobe. Since then, Kobe hasn't accomplished a lot in the league. Duncan, on the other hand, has several MVPs, several Titles, and several Finals MVPs.

Point taken, and that's why I have Kobe & Duncan at the top of my list. I have to go by what I see though, and admittedly, I don't watch the Spurs much (they bore the crap out of me, but I respect them nonetheless). I have NBA League Pass, and aside from the Heat I watch the Lakers more than anyone. So I do see more of Kobe than any of these players being mentioned, and there probably is somewhat of a bias even though I'm not a Lakers fan.

I just feel like overall, Kobe is the best since Jordan.

[D-Wade]

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Not really, it doesn't work as a career list seeing as Duncan still has the better all around career then Kobe. Kobe has to win a MVP and a title and then I'd be more in favor of putting him ahead of Duncan. As for the best players, in order, Kobe, Timmy, LeBron and Wade.

Fair list.

[tkb]

I agree with LeBron when he named himself and Kobe as the 2 best players in the league. I also agree with him when he said he considers Kobe nr 1. Having said that he (LeBron) has come a long way as a complete player, and the gap between him and Kobe is very narrow.

I'm impressed by how good he's playing right now. He's got the total package.

[Flash3]

^Though until Duncan's post-season success is no more, I can't see anyone higher than him at the moment.

But, you can very well put Kobe, LeBron & Duncan as 1A, 1B, & 1C.

[INKtastic]

However, the thread title is about "passing the torch" -- which has nothing to do with a SINGLE season. That's an overall assessment.......

No, the term "passing the torch" refers to who is best right now. Not who has had the best career, but who is the best player today.

Certainly no player in their 5th year has had the best career. And it's a bit early in careers to bring up the whole ring debate.

Wade has done two things that Lebron has never done

1 - won a ring
2 - let his team lose 15 in a row.

LeBron will do the first many times, he'll never do the second.

[kno]

Wade has done two things that Lebron has never done

1 - won a ring
2 - let his team lose 15 in a row.

LeBron will do the first many times, he'll never do the second.

You cant judge a player on accomplishments he's expected to do.

Lets wait till he wins these rings before that statement is made.

BTW, your sig is too big. Max size is 400x90.

[Kobay]

Kobe has to decline in order for the torch to be passed.

[kno]

Kobe has to decline in order for the torch to be passed.

not necessarily.

Bryant can keep playing at the level he has been playing.

Bron is a 23 year old beast> His skillset, combined with his athleticism, is unheard of. A one of a kind specimen in today's world.

I feel as if he is the better player, even with Bryant not declining. Bron has grown so much since he entered the league (when he was STILL a force).

The guy is a monster, and you cant take that away from him.

[Flash3]

Magic Johnson (LeBron James) VS MJ (Kobe), who u got?

As similar as Magic and Lebron are, they are also different in their own ways too.

Magic was the quint-essential PG, that would totally DOMINATE today's G's and F's on BOTH ends of the floor.

[crzy]

Kobe Bryant never had the torch, as far as I'm concerned.

[CB4MiamiHeat]

I agree with LeBron when he named himself and Kobe as the 2 best players in the league. I also agree with him when he said he considers Kobe nr 1. Having said that he (LeBron) has come a long way as a complete player, and the gap between him and Kobe is very narrow.

I'm impressed by how good he's playing right now. He's got the total package.

What Lebron is doing now is no different than what he did 2 seasons ago though.

[tkb]

Even though his defense was decent 2 years ago, it's even better this season, so I disagree if you say that LeBron isn't playing the best basketball of his career right now.

[Flash3]

Kobe Bryant never had the torch, as far as I'm concerned.

He definitely had the torch at one time or the other. Whether he still has it or not, that's another question.

[HarlemHeat37]

I don't think "best player in the entire league" is necessarily an accurate way of viewing any of this..it's too difficult to determine the difference between the impact of a big and a perimeter player..

I believe Lebron is slightly better than Kobe, but I don't know if I would say either was the definite best player in the NBA..I would HAVE to include Duncan and Garnett in the discussion..

Kobe vs. Lebron: first of all..everyone needs to stop downplaying their supporting casts..Lebron's cast was GREAT defensively last year, and it isn't like he anchors the D..he isn't a bad defender, but isn't good enough to anchor a D..he didn't single-handedly lead the Cavs to the finals like many believe..they were one of the best defensive and rebounding teams in the NBA, so let's give them SOME credit..

as for Kobe's supporting cast..it isn't bad at all when they are healthy..when Bynum is there, Kobe has a legitimate GOOD supporting cast, and it showed with the way they were playing..

they don't have supporting casts that match Duncan, or Garnett, or Dirk or Nash..but all of those players have shown results with their superior supporting casts, so let's show some love to them, and to the other 2's supporting casts..

I would rank Lebron slightly ahead of Kobe, but not because of this game..just because of his leadership..I believe it's better than Kobe's, and until Kobe proves to me what he can do with his team this season with a healthy Bynum, I'll keep Lebron ahead of him on the leadership scale..

Duncan and Garnett always need to be mentioned though..the stats don't do them justice at all..they are the 2 most unselfish players in the NBA..they are 2 of the best offensive/defensive mixes in the NBA..they just don't need to do it until it matters..I can't speak for KG because we haven't seen him in the playoffs in a minute, but Duncan shows he's the best player in the playoffs all the time..

let's see what all of these guys do in the playoffs..Dwight Howard, Paul and Nash included as well..

[Idunkonyou2]

Kobe never had it to begin with. He has never won MVP and his teams with out Shaq have been average at best.

[Flash3]

Kobe never had it to begin with. He has never won MVP and his teams with out Shaq have been average at best.

Shaq didn't win his 1st MVP until Kobe rounded into form and they both got on the same page; team wise.