Better player? 2011 Kobe or 2025 LeBron

[1993Playoffs]

Just going off memory, both guys were 25ppg , LeBron more rebounds and assists

Kobe was 32 in 2011. Who is better

[One_and_Done]

In the highest leverage moments it's definitely Lebron.

[MiamiBulls]

Just going off memory, both guys were 25ppg

Kobe led the the NBA in 2011 in per possession scoring, averaging 39.6 pts per 100

LeBron is currently averaging 35.2 pts per 100

LeBron James is significantly more problematic defensively than what Kobe was in 2011 especially when accounting for relative defensive positional assignments.

Lakers only have a +0.1 Net Rating with LeBron on the floor. Lakers defense is 15th ranked with LeBron, Top 5 ranked Defense without LeBron.

[tsherkin]

Just going off memory, both guys were 25ppg

Kobe led the the NBA in 2011 in per possession scoring, averaging 39.6 pts per 100

LeBron is currently averaging 35.2 pts per 100

True, but volume isn't an end in itself and Lebron is 60.8% TS (+2.8% rTS), whilst Kobe was at 54.8% (+0.7%). And Lebron is the better 3pt shooter, which helps his spacing effect, but also he's living inside of 10 feet, and then also murdering the world from 10-16. Kobe had a down year getting to the rim (by far the worst of his career at that point) and was bombing away from the perimeter because he was struggling to get in close. AND he had the worst season of his career to date on his long twos that season.

So strictly from a scoring perspective, yeah Kobe had the volume, but he was basically lofting low-quality jumpers from deep and not getting to the rim, while Lebron is murdering it on the interior. Size matters, but this past decade, Lebron's also been a better 3pt shooter than Kobe, and that has also helped.

Food for thought.

[Peregrine01]

Bron.

[1993Playoffs]

Just going off memory, both guys were 25ppg

Kobe led the the NBA in 2011 in per possession scoring, averaging 39.6 pts per 100

LeBron is currently averaging 35.2 pts per 100

True, but volume isn't an end in itself and Lebron is 60.8% TS (+2.8% rTS), whilst Kobe was at 54.8% (+0.7%). And Lebron is the better 3pt shooter, which helps his spacing effect, but also he's living inside of 10 feet, and then also murdering the world from 10-16. Kobe had a down year getting to the rim (by far the worst of his career at that point) and was bombing away from the perimeter because he was struggling to get in close. AND he had the worst season of his career to date on his long twos that season.

So strictly from a scoring perspective, yeah Kobe had the volume, but he was basically lofting low-quality jumpers from deep and not getting to the rim, while Lebron is murdering it on the interior. Size matters, but this past decade, Lebron's also been a better 3pt shooter than Kobe, and that has also helped.

Food for thought.

Do you lean LeBron? Totally different players at different points in their careers but I think it’s close nonetheless

[tsherkin]

Kobe led the the NBA in 2011 in per possession scoring, averaging 39.6 pts per 100

LeBron is currently averaging 35.2 pts per 100

True, but volume isn't an end in itself and Lebron is 60.8% TS (+2.8% rTS), whilst Kobe was at 54.8% (+0.7%). And Lebron is the better 3pt shooter, which helps his spacing effect, but also he's living inside of 10 feet, and then also murdering the world from 10-16. Kobe had a down year getting to the rim (by far the worst of his career at that point) and was bombing away from the perimeter because he was struggling to get in close. AND he had the worst season of his career to date on his long twos that season.

So strictly from a scoring perspective, yeah Kobe had the volume, but he was basically lofting low-quality jumpers from deep and not getting to the rim, while Lebron is murdering it on the interior. Size matters, but this past decade, Lebron's also been a better 3pt shooter than Kobe, and that has also helped.

Food for thought.

Do you lean LeBron? Totally different players at different points in their careers but I think it’s close nonetheless

I think it's pretty clearly Lebron for those particular seasons, personally.

[MiamiBulls]

Just going off memory, both guys were 25ppg

Kobe led the the NBA in 2011 in per possession scoring, averaging 39.6 pts per 100

LeBron is currently averaging 35.2 pts per 100

True, but volume isn't an end in itself and Lebron is 60.8% TS (+2.8% rTS), whilst Kobe was at 54.8% (+0.7%). And Lebron is the better 3pt shooter, which helps his spacing effect, but also he's living inside of 10 feet, and then also murdering the world from 10-16. Kobe had a down year getting to the rim (by far the worst of his career at that point) and was bombing away from the perimeter because he was struggling to get in close. AND he had the worst season of his career to date on his long twos that season.

So strictly from a scoring perspective, yeah Kobe had the volume, but he was basically lofting low-quality jumpers from deep and not getting to the rim, while Lebron is murdering it on the interior. Size matters, but this past decade, Lebron's also been a better 3pt shooter than Kobe, and that has also helped.

Food for thought.

Yet with LeBron on the floor the Lakers have the 13th ranked Offense in the NBA & the 7th ranked Offense with LeBron off the floor. The Lakers are not good Offensively in 2025 with LeBron on the floor.

In 2011 the Lakers had the no. 1 Offense with Kobe on the floor & had a bottom 10 Offense with Kobe off the floor.

A player can be more efficient scoring and still provide inferior scoring value relative to their respective teams.

Using your logic you could say Karl Malone provided more scoring value and was a better scorer than Michael Jordan in the Regular Season because attacked the rim more, took higher percentage shots, and was significantly more efficient than Jordan in 1997 Regular Season.

Imo Jordan in 1997 Regular Season still provided more effective overall scoring value to his team than Karl Malone did for Utah.

I am not a big subscriber to the (Points * Efficiency = Better Offensive Value) postulations.

[70sFan]

We'll see how James ends his season, but I don't think it's nearly as one sided as some imply, though I do like James better for the sheer fact that he's a smarter player.

[tsherkin]

Yet with LeBron on the floor the Lakers have the 13th ranked Offense in the NBA & the 7th ranked Offense with LeBron off the floor. The Lakers are not good Offensively in 2025 with LeBron on the floor.

In 2011 the Lakers had the no. 1 Offense with Kobe on the floor & had a bottom 10 Offense with Kobe off the floor.

A player can be more efficient scoring and still provide inferior scoring value relative to their respective teams.

Using your logic you could say Karl Malone provided more scoring value and was a better scorer than Michael Jordan in the Regular Season because attacked the rim more, took higher percentage shots, and was significantly more efficient than Jordan in 1997 Regular Season.

Imo Jordan in 1997 Regular Season still provided more effective overall scoring value to his team than Karl Malone did for Utah.

I am not a big subscriber to the (Points * Efficiency = Better Offensive Value) postulations.

Sure, that's one way to look at it. The sample is a bit noisy given the trade and injuries and everything like that, though, so I'm not sure the raw rORTG between Lebron on and off is actually a super usable sample.

Kobe volume gunning at barely above league-average efficiency with Pau, Odom and Bynum smashing it for large chunks of the season isn't really a proper comparison point to Lebron on a team where he's had Luka for a dozen games and AD being healthy and productive pre-trade.

[Joao Saraiva]

Bron aged a lot better than many people predicted. Kobe aged a lot worse.

I can't believe Bron at 40 is even a comparison to a near prime Kobe (given between 11 and 13, 13 was clearly Kobe's best year).

LeBron understanding his role and giving the keys to let Luka run it, playing more off ball, turning into a better 3PT shooter than he was are absolutely key, and I think his portability might give him the edge cause he's more willing to do the role needed for the team to win.

[tsherkin]

Bron aged a lot better than many people predicted. Kobe aged a lot worse.

I can't believe Bron at 40 is even a comparison to a near prime Kobe (given between 11 and 13, 13 was clearly Kobe's best year).

I wouldn't call 2011 a "prime" year for Kobe. It was a very clear down year for him, and 2012 followed in much the same way but worse. He had his "last gasp," so to speak, in 2013, and then of course bonked his Achilles the year after.

LeBron understanding his role and giving the keys to let Luka run it, playing more off ball, turning into a better 3PT shooter than he was are absolutely key, and I think his portability might give him the edge cause he's more willing to do the role needed for the team to win.

Luka has certainly helped, but Lebron's seasonal numbers are pretty remarkable, as is his play in 2025 pre-Luka. His size and ability in the post, coupled to his 3pt shooting, have been extremely useful to him in terms of that offensive longevity.

[BIGJ1ER]

From memory, lebrons suffering from seem extreme on/off variance this year, with both his teammates and opponents shooting inversely well when he's on/off. Someone on twitter broke it down a while ago, I couldn't find the post just now though, but it would help to explain a historically dominant impact guy seemingly having a random awful on/off split this year. He's obviously clearly not at his prime though.

I'd lean lebron as most this thread has though, for similar reasons to 70s fan. I trust lebron more, I think he's a smarter player, and 11 was a clear decline for Kobe. If this was a true prime season for Kobe, I'd take him.

[SlimShady83]

As a Kobe homer and Kobe's work ethic alone I choose him. Ain't no way I'm choosing Bron over Kobe. Esp 25 Lebron, heck no matter the year of Bron.

Might be allstar, but It says It all.

Watch on YouTube

[Cavsfansince84]

Gotta give Kobe some credit for playing 82 and also coming off of 3 straight finals runs that year. If LeBron had had Luka from game 1 to help him load manage more I might take him here but I think I gotta go with Kobe.

[jjgp111292]

As a Kobe homer and Kobe's work ethic alone I choose him. Ain't no way I'm choosing Bron over Kobe. Esp 25 Lebron, heck no matter the year of Bron.

Might be allstar, but It says It all.

Watch on YouTube

Oh BROTHER

[homecourtloss]

As a Kobe homer and Kobe's work ethic alone I choose him. Ain't no way I'm choosing Bron over Kobe. Esp 25 Lebron, heck no matter the year of Bron.

Might be allstar, but It says It all.

Watch on YouTube

It’s actually astonishing to me that someone can spend 13+ years on these boards and think about the game the exact same way that they did 13 years ago as seen in this unironic post and others.

[EmpireFalls]

Kobe so far. although if LBJ has a supreme postseason run he could take this.