However, you are once again only looking at one aspect of D and failing to consider everything. If you are an offensive player who may not have quickness advantage, but have a size advantage, you can just post the defender up and back him down all day, all night. When Jordan tried to guard Magic, Magic posted him up and torched him. It wasn't until Pippen, who is bigger and stronger than Jordan, checked Magic, Jordan was able to take over and win their first championship.
No I considered that - it's just that being a better help defender is more useful then being a better post defender. Yes you can't post up Lebron but few SF/SG play in the post anyway.
There is a certain "evolution" in the NBA so to speak - and the supreme body type is in fact the lanky, ultra quick and thin type. You could really see this when MJ was playing baseball. He was just incredibly thin compared to baseball players who were of course incredibly stocky compared to him.
Different sports attract people of different body types - and while Lebron might be a superior football player or baseball player. I don't think his extra bulk is useful in the game of basketball. It's probably a slight negative.
It's like the difference between AL Jefferson and Garnett? Who has the better body type - Garnett IMHO. If we are talking about the ultimate basketball body I would instead nominate Garnett or in this case Kobe.
Anyway lets just wait until the finals and then you can decide who the better player is. I can't imagine any unbiased viewer will pick against Kobe then..
Pete