Full Player Comparison: Kobe Bryant vs LeBron James breakdown

[Jwilllebron44]

I want to see an analysis or breakdown of each player. Which player was the best in each category I have listed, give me an analysis of why which player was the best in each quality?

Choose which player was better of each Kobe or LeBron

Scoring:
Shooting:
Mid-Range:
3 Point:
Clutch:
Rebounding:
Playmaking:
Passing:
Finishing Ability:
Slashing Ability:
IQ:
Leadership:
Defense:
Better offensive player:
Ballhandling:
More Skilled:
1 vs 1:
Peak:
Prime:
Talented:
Athleticism:
Defense:
Impact:
Efficiency:
Greater legacy:
Better Overall Player:
Kobe/LeBron all time rank :

[Odinn21]

Too much indulgence and assumption about Bryant being close enough to James.
Bryant was the better shooter and that's where his superiority in those aspects begins and ends.

[eminence]

Too much indulgence and assumption about Bryant being close enough to James.
Bryant was the better shooter and that's where his superiority in those aspects begins and ends.

I'd give him ballhandling/footwork as well, but it's not a long list, and LeBron's biggest edges wind up being quite a bit larger - better driver, better passer, more switchable defensively.

[kayess]

I want to see an analysis or breakdown of each player. Which player was the best in each category I have listed, give me an analysis of why which player was the best in each quality?

Choose which player was better of each Kobe or LeBron

Scoring: Though Kobe's scoring arsenal was more varied and prettier to look at, James' at-rim pressure makes him the more effective /better scorer
Shooting: Probably the clearest edge between them - aside from help/at-rim defense. Kobe's just a much better shooter in general, broken down below
Mid-Range: Huge edge to Kobe; while LeBron's %s have been better recently he can't match Kobe's consistency and volume here
3 Point: Probably LeBron overall. Definitely on corner/spot-spot-up 3s
Clutch: Not really a fair comparison. One's one of the clutchest players ever, with a whole career's worth of ATG playoff performances... and the other's Kobe Bryant
Rebounding: LeBron, but Kobe's great for a guard (though they're listed at the same height). Just really comes down to size and how close they are to the basket on average
Playmaking: Kobe's playmaking is underrated, but LeBron's one of the all-time playmakers, so him. His passing ability and vision at his size, his massive threat to score, and his willingness to make the right play all come together to just blow out Kobe in this department
Passing: Again, Kobe's underrated here but LeBron's one of the very best passers ever (certainly only up with Bird in the non-PG department)
Finishing Ability: LeBron sits in a tier with MJ, Giannis, Shaq as the GOAT finishers, so them. Just an unreal combination of size, speed, strength allow him to blow by slower players, bully faster ones, and finish at the cup through all but flagrant-foul level contact
Slashing Ability: Same as above but minus Shaq
IQ: Overall it's Bron - but something has to be said for (even if it's exaggerated to mythic proportions) Kobe always being in attack mode
Leadership: Tough to say, they seem equally effective. As much as has been made of Kobe calling out teammates ('Charmin'), LeBron's atrocious body language doesn't get nearly the same flak, or the stuff with the Lakers' core being traded.
Defense: LeBron by some distance; Kobe used to be consistently great at man-to-man, then slipped in his later years. In stark contrast, LeBron's not only the more impactful defender overall, (much better at helping and not getting lost ball watching, can switch onto multiple positions very effectively, can credibly defend the rim, etc.) he put up herculean defensive efforts in the playoffs (most notably the 2016 Finals), and great defensive regular seasons even after turning 30.
Better offensive player: LeBron. Mid-range and FT are really the only areas on O that Kobe has an edge in
Ballhandling: Not sure actually. Kobe's seems more refined for sure, and IIRC has a lower TOV%, so probably him?
More Skilled: Again Kobe likely has more skills he's above average at, but LeBron's combination of skills just produce better results. Idk if that fits your definition of skilled
1 vs 1: LeBron would just back Kobe down every time
Peak: LeBron has a whole plethora of seasons you could call his peak - and all of them trump anything Kobe's ever done
Prime: LeBron. 2009 till basically 2020 LeBron gives you 11 seasons where you are guaranteed serious championship contention as long as you have some support. While the same can be said for 2000-2010 or so Kobe, it's less years and to a lesser degree
Talented: On the physical side of things, obviously LeBron
Athleticism: Kobe's a great, top-tier athlete; but LeBron's on the MJ tier of athleticism
Impact: LeBron, as evidenced by literally every result we've seen in the past 10 or so years, borne out in the +/- family of stats.
Efficiency: LeBron, and don't let the 'but Kobe took inefficient shots because he had to! otherwise he would've been more efficient than LeBron!' crowd fool you
Greater legacy: Sports-wise, probably Kobe. His untimely death helps in that regard, but he was always bigger globally than LeBron. Something about his fierce individualism speaks to the selfishness in everyone, and overshadows all his flaws (e.g. the rape allegations, amongst other unsavory things - though I guess if millions still listen to Chris Brown for 100% bona fide assault then this is nothing) in a way that LeBron's greatness does not (I'm surprised people have forgotten so quickly about Bron essentially shilling for China)
Better Overall Player: LeBron
Kobe/LeBron all time rank : LeBron's somewhere at the top tier; and Kobe's a couple tiers below, below guys like Magic, Bird, Hakeem - almost GOATs

[Dr Positivity]

Scoring: Lebron
Shooting: Kobe
Mid-Range: Kobe
3 Point: Kobe
Clutch: Lebron
Rebounding: Lebron
Playmaking: Lebron
Passing: Lebron
Finishing Ability: Lebron
Slashing Ability: Lebron
IQ: Lebron
Leadership: Lebron
Defense: Lebron
Better offensive player: Lebron
Ballhandling: Kobe
More Skilled: Kobe
1 vs 1: Kobe
Peak: Lebron
Prime: Lebron
Talented: Lebron
Athleticism: Lebron
Defense: Lebron
Impact: Lebron
Efficiency: Lebron
Greater legacy: Lebron
Better Overall Player: Lebron
Kobe/LeBron all time rank: Kobe 10-15, Lebron 1-3

[feyki]

I want to see an analysis or breakdown of each player. Which player was the best in each category I have listed, give me an analysis of why which player was the best in each quality?

Choose which player was better of each Kobe or LeBron

Scoring: KB
Shooting: KB
Mid-Range: KB
3 Point: KB
Clutch: KB
Rebounding: LBJ
Playmaking: LBJ
Passing: LBJ
Finishing Ability: LBJ
Slashing Ability: KB
IQ: LBJ
Leadership: LBJ
Defense: EQ
Better offensive player: LBJ
Ballhandling: KB
More Skilled: KB
1 vs 1: WTF?
Peak: LBJ
Prime: LBJ
Talented: KB
Athleticism: LBJ
Defense: Same.
Impact: LBJ
Efficiency: LBJ
Greater legacy: LBJ
Better Overall Player: LBJ
Kobe/LeBron all time rank : LBJ.

I would love to analyze every aspect of the game, but your way is on the other way.

[kayess]

Too much indulgence and assumption about Bryant being close enough to James.
Bryant was the better shooter and that's where his superiority in those aspects begins and ends.

I'd give him ballhandling/footwork as well, but it's not a long list, and LeBron's biggest edges wind up being quite a bit larger - better driver, better passer, more switchable defensively.

He's new so I presume he's asking with the intent to learn?

Otherwise OP if you want a tl;dr, this is pretty much it (add FT shooting)

[Hawk]

Scoring: Lebron
Shooting: Kobe
Mid-Range: Kobe
3 Point: Lebron
Clutch: Lebron
Rebounding: Lebron
Playmaking: Lebron
Passing: Lebron
Finishing Ability: Lebron
Slashing Ability: Lebron
IQ: Lebron
Leadership: Lebron
Defense: Lebron
Better offensive player: Lebron
Ballhandling: Kobe
More Skilled: Kobe
1 vs 1: Lebron
Peak: Lebron
Prime: Lebron
Talented: Lebron
Athleticism: Lebron
Defense: Lebron
Impact: Lebron
Efficiency: Lebron
Greater legacy: Lebron
Better Overall Player: Lebron
Kobe/LeBron all time rank : Lebron

[Dupp]

Scoring: Lebron
Shooting: Kobe
Mid-Range: Kobe
3 Point: Lebron
Clutch: Lebron
Rebounding: Lebron
Playmaking: Lebron
Passing: Lebron
Finishing Ability: Lebron
Slashing Ability: Lebron
IQ: Lebron
Leadership: Who knows really.
Defense: Lebron
Better offensive player: Lebron
Ballhandling: Kobe
More Skilled: Lebron
1 vs 1: Dunno Maybe Kobe but has no relevance to
Basketball
Peak: Lebron
Prime: Lebron
Talented: Lebron
Athleticism: Lebron
Defense: Lebron
Impact: Lebron
Efficiency: Lebron
Greater legacy: Lebron
Better Overall Player: Lebron
Kobe/LeBron all time rank : Lebron 1-4, Kobe 8-13ish

[Jwilllebron44]

I see a lot of good summary of both of these players. Both of them are great, but as you can see as it all breaks down, LeBron is the superior player..........