Prime Kobe vs. LeBron

[KB24TBOTB]

This was on the general board and I wanted to know what Laker fans think. Keeping ring's aside, who would you guys say is the better player. IMO Lebron is the better player

[hermes]

its obviously kobe

i heard lebron was taught how to play by crustaceans

[semi-sentient]

It's hard to say given that they were in different situations. I still have a difficult time identifying Kobe's prime years, so we probably have to start there.

Let's assume that 2001-2003 were his best years. Which 3-year version of LeBron would be considered better? Can you compare them statistically and draw any real conclusion based on the fact that the league was different back in the early 00's before slashers got the green light? Was LeBron ever as good as Kobe as a defender for 3 consecutive years while also being one of the best pure scorers in the league?

There are a lot of things to consider, and I haven't even really scratched the surface. Skills? Ability to dominate? Leadership? Fearlessness? Clutch? There are a lot of factors outside of raw numbers that one has to think about.

[TyCobb]

Kobe has more basketball skill by a pretty good margin, but Lebron is more physically gifted by a pretty good margin. I think Kobe is the better basketball player and that Lebron is the better athlete, if that makes sense.

Now with that said, they both can take over games using their different skill sets. Kobe would do it all by himself in a game, Lebron would involve his teammates with his playmaking skills. I have to get give the edge to Prime Kobe though, because he was pretty damn athletic in his Prime as well. Not a physical specimen from a strength and size stand point like Bron, but he had some decent hangtime.

I think Kobe always gets knocked because of his numbers from a efficiency standpoint since he has some of the worst shot selection, from a Superstar, I've ever seen. That hurts him alot, in my opinion.

Got to go with Prime Kobe though. He was the most feared player in the game, from his peers, for quite some time.

[semi-sentient]

... and despite Kobe's shot selection, he's still been a really efficient player. I can only imagine what 2001-2003 Kobe would have done in today's league with advantages that slashers have.

[Shamizy]

I don't consider '01-'03 to be Kobe's prime at all. I'd consider that stretch when he was outright dominating the league and keeping us relevant despite the terrible roster we had as his best years. Which we pretty much wasted away. He was damn near unstoppable, capable of beating teams by himself. If only he had a legitimate running mate at that time...

[KB24TBOTB]

It's hard to say given that they were in different situations. I still have a difficult time identifying Kobe's prime years, so we probably have to start there.

Let's assume that 2001-2003 were his best years. Which 3-year version of LeBron would be considered better? Can you compare them statistically and draw any real conclusion based on the fact that the league was different back in the early 00's before slashers got the green light? Was LeBron ever as good as Kobe as a defender for 3 consecutive years while also being one of the best pure scorers in the league?

There are a lot of things to consider, and I haven't even really scratched the surface. Skills? Ability to dominate? Leadership? Fearlessness? Clutch? There are a lot of factors outside of raw numbers that one has to think about.

Yes, I want people to put all those in consideration, not just stats

[Saint18]

Lebron is NOT the better player, he is the better athlete. I take Kobe in his Prime.... Im not just sayin that either.

[KB24TBOTB]

Lebron is NOT the better player, he is the better athlete. I take Kobe in his Prime.... Im not just sayin that either.

I always thought it that way

[Luxury]

Oh my I'm really enraged to hear Scottie Pippen first say the BS he said on BSPN about Lebron. Then we get these threads opened up allovasudden and people saying Lebron is godlike.

Who did Lebron & co. beat this year? And what kinda team he needed to beat them?

Lebron only beat the wackest 76ers team, an old/tired/injured Boston Celtics, and a Bulls team who I would really say is a modified defense-oriented version of past Deron Williams Jazz team. First off its the 76ers, no explanation, now lets take a look at the Celtics. These Celtics weren't the badass Celtics from the previous years that everyone feared, real talk. The team was old and have been playing in the postseason for just as long as our Laker team has. Rondo was severly injured. Shaq was injured and thought would returned just in time for the playoffs, which ultimately was the determining factor in trading Perkins that absolutely changed the dynamics of the Celtics defensive chemistry. You give Kobe/Lakers this years Celtics, back in 07-08, and what do we have? Three-peat. As much as I wanted the Bulls to win their series, lets be real, they overachieved and they came up short against a team that has 2 out of the 3 best players in the league.

We got teamstackers Miami Cheat who were built to beat teams in a playoff series. Before Pau was Pau, he was an Allstar player who barely broke thru. Lets compare who was better in the NBA at the time, a Memphis Pau Gasol or a Toronto Chris Bosh? It could probably go either way, and thats my point. Kobe has always had less to work with, yet he came thru each and every time while Lebron got a top 3 player and a big man who was considered equivalent to Memphis Pau Gasol.

People seriously take greatness for granted. Why would Kobe or MJ need more assist when they run the triangle? Why would Kobe or MJ need more rebounds if they got Rodman, H. Grant, LO, Bynum, and Pau.

Lastly, Kobe would have died for a team like Lebron's Cavs while he had Smush Parker, Luke Walton, and Kwame Brown. And looking how Lebron played 2010 summer out, Lebron would have literally killed himself if had a team like Smush, Luke, and Kwame Brown.

That's the difference between why their Prime's are distorted, and I'd pick Kobe each and every time. Have a good memorial weekend.

[Leor_77]

This is really tough...If you're talking about having the ability to lead your team to multiple championships, then yeah, Kobe wins the argument, but if you're talking about statistics, we all have to be honest here that Kobe's stats have never been that great.

He is a career 45.4% shooter from the field. Lebron is a career 47.9% shooter, and Wade is a career 48.5% shooter. This one is really tough to get over for me, and I think we all see it in the volume of shots that Kobe takes, especially the bad ones. I think it's unfortunate that Kobe has had to resort to taking bad shots, and that he didn't/doesn't take it to the basket more often. I believe that the athleticism of Wade/Lebron and their ability to take it more consistently to the basket contribute highly to their higher FG percentage, mainly by getting much higher percentage shots, and by erasing missed shots by getting fouls and free throws.

As far as rebounds, assists and steals, I believe that both Lebron and Wade beat him on all of those counts, as far as career average; I believe he beats them on free throw percentage and 3-point percentage, though...

Bottom line is, as much as I appreciate Kobe, his stats don't paint him in the best light.

[iamworthy]

Im still waiting for Lebron to get a post game. Its a crying shame a guy that big, that strong, that athletic, and still zero post game.

[BEazy]

Can Lebron score 81 points with his team down 20 some odd points and win the game? Can Lebron score 62 points in three quarters outscoring the whole entire vsing team? Has Lebron ever hit 60 points 5 times in his career??? Kobe Bean Bryant>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>LeBum James.

btw a past prime Kobe Bryant was more important to the USA Olympic team than LeBum James.

[The_Trade_Seer]

Um ... Lebron hasn't reached his prime yet. The guy is only 26 years old ... Jordan wouldn't even reach his first NBA Finals until the age of 28.

I believe an NBA player's prime years are 27-30, though it can also depend on circumstances, etc.

Anyways, I believe Kobe is the greatest pure scorer who ever lived with Jordan second ... Lebron wouldn't be in my top 5 probably.

However as far as rebounds and assists are concerned, Lebron has the edge over both Kobe and Jordan.

Lebron certainly has the most "ability" and "talent" of the 3 and certainly has the opportunity to become the GOAT ... be he needs at least 6 titles before he can even make a real case for that, especially now that he has a loaded roster in Miami.

[iamworthy]

Um ... Lebron hasn't reached his prime yet. The guy is only 26 years old ... Jordan wouldn't even reach his first NBA Finals until the age of 28.

I believe an NBA player's prime years are 27-30, though it can also depend on circumstances, etc.

Anyways, I believe Kobe is the greatest pure scorer who ever lived with Jordan second ... Lebron wouldn't be in my top 5 probably.

However as far as rebounds and assists are concerned, Lebron has the edge over both Kobe and Jordan.

Lebron certainly has the most "ability" and "talent" of the 3 and certainly has the opportunity to become the GOAT ... be he needs at least 6 titles before he can even make a real case for that, especially now that he has a loaded roster in Miami.

Lebron forfeited his so called GOAT achievement when he left HIS team to play with Wade. Thats just my opinion.

[KB24TBOTB]

Um ... Lebron hasn't reached his prime yet. The guy is only 26 years old ... Jordan wouldn't even reach his first NBA Finals until the age of 28.

I believe an NBA player's prime years are 27-30, though it can also depend on circumstances, etc.

Anyways, I believe Kobe is the greatest pure scorer who ever lived with Jordan second ... Lebron wouldn't be in my top 5 probably.

However as far as rebounds and assists are concerned, Lebron has the edge over both Kobe and Jordan.

Lebron certainly has the most "ability" and "talent" of the 3 and certainly has the opportunity to become the GOAT ... be he needs at least 6 titles before he can even make a real case for that, especially now that he has a loaded roster in Miami.

I see LeBron's athleticism already taking a dip. I don't think he will be nearly as good once his athleticism is gone, because he relies on it a lot. The only reason I put LeBron over Kobe was because of his all round game

[iamworthy]

There must be a way to figure out pound for pound that lebron is a better rebounder because he is 6'8 250 than lets say a kobe bryant. Frankly, its all about what your team ask you to do. Kobe is not asked to be a assist man or a rebounder niether was MJ. Kobe does what he is asked to do...period. Kobe will however get hockey assist which doesnt show up on the stat sheet. This offense isnt set up for Kobe to get assist, we all know that. On of the most amazing things Ive ever seen, as simple as it might sound, was a fast break where a laker was running down the court and kobe had sealed of LBJ in the paint. At that point I said to myself if anyone wants to know how to play the game of basketball just watch that play. LBJ could do nothing about being sealed off by a player much smaller than him. Its called technique. Kobe has technique, LBJ doesnt. Its unfortunate that when we have conversations liek this that it sounds like we are dissing the other guy. LBJ is very good, so is wade, but the dedication Kobe has giving to the game is unheard of in this era. This is why Kobe will continue to get the respect of the older players/GM's like Bird, MJ, Magic, and GM's around the leage while LBJ gets props from the media....who's only doing there job.

[dub81]

Yes Lebron is 6'8 250 and a better athlete but you cannot hold that against him. Obviously you cannot teach size and speed. But agree or not he has a very high basketball IQ and he can damn near guard all 5 positions and be effective. He plays the lanes better than Kobe and he's a better playmaker than Kobe.

To say Lebron is not dedicated to the game as much as Kobe is not a very smart statement. Lebron came into the league and he did not have a jump shot at all. Now he has a 50%fg percentage and he improved his game on the defensive side of the ball. You have to give the young man his props. He's a baller.

I do not think that he has hit his prime yet. You have to give him another 2 years in my opinion but I would take a 26 year old Lebron over a 26 year old Kobe.

[TruSkool]

kobe's prime lasted from his days in court until the time they signed pau gasol...approximately 2004-2008...he flat out DOMINATED teams in those years, and its easy for us to say Lebron is a better player now because kobe has declined a significant amount to blind most of us homers and non-homers.


and you cant just take hardware out of the conversation while comparing 2 great players, because that pretty much negates who's better...might as well ask if who can boil eggs better without water, lebron or kobe?

[iamworthy]

Yes Lebron is 6'8 250 and a better athlete but you cannot hold that against him. Obviously you cannot teach size and speed. But agree or not he has a very high basketball IQ and he can damn near guard all 5 positions and be effective. He plays the lanes better than Kobe and he's a better playmaker than Kobe.

To say Lebron is not dedicated to the game as much as Kobe is not a very smart statement. Lebron came into the league and he did not have a jump shot at all. Now he has a 50%fg percentage and he improved his game on the defensive side of the ball. You have to give the young man his props. He's a baller.

I do not think that he has hit his prime yet. You have to give him another 2 years in my opinion but I would take a 26 year old Lebron over a 26 year old Kobe.

I didnt know LBJ was shooting 50% from jumpshots, I couldnt find that at all. What link are you using? My sites must suck.