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Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe

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Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#1 » by dockingsched » Tue May 19, 2009 4:44 am

http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNe ... PF20090518

i've omitted most of the article and included west's comments.

"He has a chance to be arguably the greatest player ever to play the game."

West, the NBA's executive of the year with the Lakers in 1995 and the Memphis Grizzlies in 2004, said playing both ends of the floor was what made Jordan so great.

"Michael Jordan was the best defensive player in the league but he was also the best offensive player," said West. "It wasn't a one-year fluke, he proved it over time.

"LeBron James will do the same type of things because he's getting better. He's a much more effective shooter. When's he's making his shots from the outside, you can't play him.

"He's just too big, too strong, too quick. And he has incredible body control. But more than that, he's a great team mate. You can see his team mates love him."

James averaged 28.4 points this season and was named the NBA's most valuable player. But Bryant, a three-times NBA champion and 2008 MVP, still remains a force, said West.

"If I had to have somebody make a last-second shot, it would be Kobe Bryant," said West, architect of the great Lakers teams from Magic Johnson years in the 1980s through the Shaquille O'Neal clubs of the early 2000s.

"But even though it's hard for me to be objective, because I brought Kobe to Los Angeles, I do think LeBron has surpassed Kobe as a player."
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Re: Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#2 » by magic1fan » Tue May 19, 2009 4:57 am

lebron james is definately an all time great player,but despite media hype his defense is still suspect. he probably could go down as the goat,but he has alot of stuff to do. i still think kobe is the best. it's hard to argue against the logo,but i think he is underrating lebron's help as most do...
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Re: Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#3 » by slickgreek » Tue May 19, 2009 5:04 am

I think Jerry West is trying to hype up Kobe for the ring this year....
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Re: Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#4 » by Sedale Threatt » Tue May 19, 2009 5:11 am

I think Jerry West is simply speaking the truth. Mainly because LeBron is six years younger and in his physical prime. But still, it doesn't seem like much of a debate any more to me...
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Re: Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#5 » by magic1fan » Tue May 19, 2009 5:12 am

Sedale Threatt wrote:I think Jerry West is simply speaking the truth. Mainly because LeBron is six years younger and in his physical prime. But still, it doesn't seem like much of a debate any more to me...




i thought prime's don't come until 26-29? am i wrong?
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Re: Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#6 » by magic1fan » Tue May 19, 2009 5:13 am

slickgreek wrote:I think Jerry West is trying to hype up Kobe for the ring this year....



i hope kobe doesn't need hyping. i think west is entitled to his opinion,but like i said i just disagree.
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Re: Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#7 » by semi-sentient » Tue May 19, 2009 5:19 am

Sedale Threatt wrote:I think Jerry West is simply speaking the truth. Mainly because LeBron is six years younger and in his physical prime. But still, it doesn't seem like much of a debate any more to me...


Yeah, pretty much.

LeBron is still getting better too.
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Re: Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#8 » by dockingsched » Tue May 19, 2009 5:30 am

i find it surprising (well not really) that people find it really hard to credit lebron as the best player. its ok if kobe is 2nd (i think he's behind wade, don't shoot me), its all about the rings. kobe was the best player while losing in the 1st round, so the "best player" title is worthless.
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Re: Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#9 » by magic1fan » Tue May 19, 2009 5:40 am

dcash4 wrote:i find it surprising (well not really) that people find it really hard to credit lebron as the best player. its ok if kobe is 2nd (i think he's behind wade, don't shoot me), its all about the rings. kobe was the best player while losing in the 1st round, so the "best player" title is worthless.



i don't find it hard to give credit,i think on any given night any of them(wade,lebron,kobe)can be the best,but i just don't see all the stuff that other's see with lebron. i think some people are getting caught up in the media hype. he get's to the hole great.but other than that nothing else about his game really stands out to me.
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Re: Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#10 » by semi-sentient » Tue May 19, 2009 6:29 am

Nothing about his game really needs to stand out. He produces, and at the end of the day that's all that matters. He does have a rep for being only a drive-to-the-basket guy, but I think people have generally overlooked how much his shot has improved. I swear every time I watch a Cavs game that guy is drilling a 3 in someones face. That, and if you can get inside, why the hell not?

Kobe does have more variety than LeBron (and that comes in handy at times) and will always be the more skilled player, but there's something to be said about the overall numbers that LeBron has put up. Simply put, he gets **** done.

Like Jerry West said, give me Kobe for that final shot though -- as well as the 4th quarter in general. The other 3 quarters? LeBron.
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Re: Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#11 » by magic1fan » Tue May 19, 2009 6:56 am

semi-sentient wrote:Nothing about his game really needs to stand out. He produces, and at the end of the day that's all that matters. He does have a rep for being only a drive-to-the-basket guy, but I think people have generally overlooked how much his shot has improved. I swear every time I watch a Cavs game that guy is drilling a 3 in someones face. That, and if you can get inside, why the hell not?

Kobe does have more variety than LeBron (and that comes in handy at times) and will always be the more skilled player, but there's something to be said about the overall numbers that LeBron has put up. Simply put, he gets **** done.

Like Jerry West said, give me Kobe for that final shot though -- as well as the 4th quarter in general. The other 3 quarters? LeBron.



like i said he will be an all time great,but their stats are not that far apart imo, considering minutes played,and the systems they play in. to each their own though,and at the end of the day i would rather have the best team over the best player anyday...
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Re: Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#12 » by lakersfanatic » Tue May 19, 2009 7:33 am

well of course he is now since their age difference is totally against kobe right now. But of course workout ethics is the key as well. We have yet to see Lbj get a major injury. He's playing rock solid right now but once that day comes and most likely it will due to the nature of the sport.. It's up to your physical workout as well as mentaiity to get back to where u were before.

Watching the rockets game how Battier would literally put his hands to cover kobe's vision shows us just how focus kobe really is. IMO.. Until LBJ wins 3 plus rings..kobe is still the greatest player...
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Re: Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#13 » by KObe Bryant » Tue May 19, 2009 7:33 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm0o5_gsF78

This always makes me believe that LeBron may be the best in the league but not against Kobe.
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Re: Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#14 » by magichorsey » Tue May 19, 2009 7:33 am

lol good for Lebron,but if he isn't wearing a laker jersey I really don't care who's better......All that matters is what is hanging from the rafters 8-) and kobe got his will see if Lebron can do the same.....
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Re: Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#15 » by Slava » Tue May 19, 2009 8:53 am

Well.. I didn't expect Jerry West to say that. I expected him to be a bigger Kobe homer than a 16 year old Lakers fan in LA. :wink:
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Re: Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#16 » by crazyeights » Tue May 19, 2009 9:09 am

magic1fan wrote:
Sedale Threatt wrote:I think Jerry West is simply speaking the truth. Mainly because LeBron is six years younger and in his physical prime. But still, it doesn't seem like much of a debate any more to me...




i thought prime's don't come until 26-29? am i wrong?



He said "physical prime." Definition:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg1O49X5k0U&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akMiX_FKCdQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JcUcd3h6o0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzszMBiNOPc&feature=related

Or this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92pAVblBui0&feature=related

It's hard finding nice quality vintage number 8 dunks. That's how you know he's been around for a while.

But no worries, physicality comes and goes...but this, this is what keeps a guy around:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vukMoNEt ... re=related
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Re: Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#17 » by El Hardee » Tue May 19, 2009 2:39 pm

I got to agree with the logo Lebron is easilly the best in the league. I am a hardcore Lakers fan but it is what it is, I have Wade rated above Kobe aswell. I dont think Kobe has ever been the best in the game , not even for 1 season. Duncan was the best then Lebron, Kobe has always been 2nd in my unbiased book.
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Re: Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#18 » by hermes » Tue May 19, 2009 3:46 pm

he's probably right


still take kobe in the 4th though
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Re: Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#19 » by AmusingFiddle » Tue May 19, 2009 3:51 pm

Dear Mr. West,
I respectfully disagree. Overall Kobe is a much much better player. Yes Lebron has the physical ability that Kobe does not possess. But he has yet to prove he can out duel Kobe's cerebral part of the game. Let him get 3 or more rings and then we can have this conversation.
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Re: Jerry West: Lebron is better than Kobe 

Post#20 » by NetsForce » Tue May 19, 2009 4:17 pm

I had this year as Kobe's last year as the #1 swingman in the league...

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