LeBron vs. Kobe (prime)

[robertjanssen007]

In their PRIME, who is going to be the better basketball player?

So it's Kobe these last three seasons vs. LeBron 5-7 seasons from now.

[robertjanssen007]

Yes, there's a reason why I'm doing this. I'll elaborate after I get some votes/comments.

[mr.ankle]

Well since He is going to his fifth NBA Final compared to Lebrons one . It's a no Brainer its Kobe .

[penbeast0]

LeBron is already in his prime. It may last another 5 years but what you see now is what you are likely to get barring some improvement in his jump shot and foul shot.

That said, it's pretty impressive . . . this is the first year there haven't been complaints about Kobe's selfishness, LeBron has always been considered an unselfish player. On the other hand, LeBron's defense is good, but hardly great. Kobe's D has always been excellent.

[Cigamodnalro]

Alex English

[Cybulski37]

LeBron is already in his prime. It may last another 5 years but what you see now is what you are likely to get barring some improvement in his jump shot and foul shot.

That said, it's pretty impressive . . . this is the first year there haven't been complaints about Kobe's selfishness, LeBron has always been considered an unselfish player. On the other hand, LeBron's defense is good, but hardly great. Kobe's D has always been excellent.

I completely disagree. There is still SO much LeBron can improve upon. Jumpshot, post game, FTs.. he's bound to do it, he's a very hard worker. He's only 23. No one has ever peaked at 23.

Anyway, for me this is easy. It's arguable that 23 year old LeBron is better than Kobe right now. By the time his prime rolls around, he should be clearly better.

[KNICKS1970]

LeBron is not in his prime. An athlete's athletic prime is around the mid-20s to early 30s. Every player is different, but for argument's sake I think a player's absolute peak (when a player's athleticism and experience comes together) usually occurs at around 26-30.

LeBron SHOULD be better, but that doesn't mean he's going to be. I think it's fair to say that LeBron has more potential than Kobe ever had, but that Kobe is a much harder worker than LeBron. Kobe's goal has always been to be the greatest basketball player of all time. Whether or not he gets there is up for debate, but there's no question that being the best ever is ultimately his goal. LeBron's ultimate goal is to be a billionaire.

And I don't mean to knock LeBron. As far as personal preference goes, I've been a LeBron fan since seeing him in high school, while I've never liked Kobe, but I'm able to give credit where credit is due.

[etopn23]

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I completely disagree. There is still SO much LeBron can improve upon. Jumpshot, post game, FTs.. he's bound to do it, he's a very hard worker. He's only 23. No one has ever peaked at 23.

Anyway, for me this is easy. It's arguable that 23 year old LeBron is better than Kobe right now. By the time his prime rolls around, he should be clearly better.

[penbeast0]

Let's examine that . . . how many players that came to the NBA straight out of HS significantly improved after age 23?

Not to say that that is automatically their best season (statistical variation alone would make that a shocker) nor to say they didn't improve some skills, but generally while they improve some skills they also have settled into their prime both in terms of role and in terms of individual statistics by their 5th year. (team orientation and maturity hopefully keep improving) If I am right the other great HS to PRO players should have a 5th season right in line with their 5 year prime numbers.

Kobe 5.9 reb 5.0 ast 28.5 pts on .464 FG%
Garnett 11.9 reb 5.0 ast 22.9 pts on .497 FG%
Moses 17.6 reb 1.8 ast 25 24.8 pts on .540 FG%

Those seasons look reasonably in line with those players averages for their best 5 year peaks to me, not always perfectly in line but well within a statistical deviation (Garnett's 5 year peak rebounding is about 13.3 but Moses's is his best rebounding year by a bigger margin than Garnett's is less)

[NetsForce]

Kobe easily.

[farzi]

Andrew Bynum or Sasha

[ubernathan]

Lebron. If Lebron had been with Shaq in his prime he would have 3 rings of his own, plus he probably would have won a 4th with Malone and Payton, and then one more.

[NetsForce]

Lebron. If Lebron had been with Shaq in his prime he would have 3 rings of his own, plus he probably would have won a 4th with Malone and Payton, and then one more.

Not if he was playing in the NBA. Maybe if was in the D-League with those guys, but in all honesty the Colorado 14'ers aren't pushovers, not to mention that many of the players on that team are better shooters than Lebron so it'd be a close series to say the least...

[CzBoobie]

LeBron around age of 28 and real talent around him should be scary...I would say scarier than Kobe ever was, but there is big IF of course, will LeBron have anything close to talent kobe has now and had before? Stay tuned...

[chrice]

LeBron is already in his prime.

[prekazi]

LeBron being so great when he's 23 doesn't mean he's in his prime. He has so much room to improve in both technical and mental ways. I know people are afraid to face it but that's the truth.

[kobe#8]

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what are you expecting a 40/12/12 season

[Elway=GOAT]

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what are you expecting a 40/12/12 season

No, but he is 23. Barring injury, he will be better than Bryant. I think its debatable if he is better now, than Bryant is now, or every was.

[CzBoobie]

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what are you expecting a 40/12/12 season

Kobe's numbers have been down this year and most of laker fans say he is at his best right now...So it's (just) not about numbers.

[ubernathan]

I expect Lebron's shooting to improve, that's about it.