The excellent TrueHoop blog on ESPN.com assembled eight bloggers to discuss the ultimate debate among NBA fans: who is the best basketball player on the planet? It's a question that basketball fans have been arguing about the last couple years as LeBron has continued to elevate his game and has reached the bestest-of-the-best level previously occupied only by Kobe. The writers awarded Kobe his first (surprisingly) MVP last year and followed that up by giving LeBron his first this year. Everyone is anticipating a Cavs-Lakers Finals this June that will hopefully settle the debate (for this year at least), although with the trouble the Lakers are having eliminating the Yao-less Rockets many are wondering if they'll even reach the Finals.
One of the bloggers participating in that debate is John Krolik of Cavs:the Blog, another great source of Cavs analysis. The TrueHoop piece only published part of his writings so he put his entire argument on his blog, posted here. It's definately a good read, and he puts to rest many of the Kobe myths (like Kobe is the one you want taking the last-second shot because he's more of a "clutch" player than LeBron). As he says, pretty much every stat you look at will favor Leron so you have to come up with other arguments to support Kobe. Of course, Kobe has three rings to LeBron's zero, but that is mainly a function Kobe having played many more years than LeBron has (not to mention the fact that Kobe played his early years with Shaq while LeBron came to a Cavs team with no talent around him).
The fact is that they're both fantastic players, undoubtedly the two best players in the league right now, with different games. Two or three years ago Kobe was definately the better player, but as LeBron has worked on improving his defense and jump shotting his game has met and probably passed Kobe's. The reason this debate is such a hot topic is because of their differences as players; which one you rank higher depends on what skills you value in a basetball player. Even LeBron fans will probably admit that Kobe is the more aesthetically pleasing player; his moves are so pretty and his jump shot so perfect. LeBron is more of a bruising physical speciman, but his game also has beauty in the mental aspects of it. LeBron sees the floor like no player since possibly Magic Johnson and he's been an elite passer since he stepped on the floor his rookie year. Kobe struggles to involve his teammates at times while LeBron always looks for them first. This is probably why many fans don't view LeBron as the "assassin" Kobe is, because he doesn't usually look to take over games with his scoring (though of course he can when necessary).
Most NBA fans enjoy and appreciate both players, but the debate has also brought a good amount of "hate" on both sides from avid Kobe and LeBron fans. Some Kobe fans find it necessary to constantly criticize LeBron, and vice versa, but personally I don't think that hatred is necessary. They're both great players and worthy of our admiration. As a Cavs fan, I respect Kobe and appreciate his greatness and don't feel it's necessary to tear him down in order to build up LeBron. LeBron's merits speak for themselves. The Lakers are a great team and I hope they do make the Finals so we can see Kobe v. LeBron on the biggest stage. If LeBron wins his first ring against Kobe's Lakers that should be the final nail in the coffin of anyone still claiming Kobe is the superior player.
0 recs | 10 comments
The Kobe vs LeBron Debate
“Two or three years ago Kobe was definately the better player, but as LeBron has worked on improving his defense and jump shooting his game has met and probably passed Kobe’s”
I’ve posted comments the last couple of weeks letting the world over know it’s time, the time for LeBron to snatch the torch from Kobe, the same way he did from MJ. Though it will be a more difficult task than was Kobes, Jordan was already gone once from the game, came back and really never was the same. Kobe is not coming down off the throne willingly. It can and will be done.
oughdahinge - May 16, 2009
I am a big fan of the Kobe being a killer/assassin, and that you Kobe is the best to take the last shot. Why? Basically, the more the media says this, the more that Kobe believes it, (and boy, does he believe it), and the more he keeps hucking up poor shots in close games. This actually is the best thing for the Kobe myth (as he will make some ridiculous late shots), but is not the best strategy for winning games. When forced to choose between these two outcomes (myth or winning), Kobe will always choose for his immediate greater glory, and he is not smart enough to realize that winning will actually help his legacy more.
I personally think LeBron keeps talking up Kobe for the same reason. Besides being an insanely talented player, LeBron is extremely strategically smart.
oxforddave - May 17, 2009
Lebron's a SCIENTIST
Within him is the formula for SUCCESS.
420man! - May 17, 2009
I strongly disagree. Kobe desperately wants to win a championship without Shaq where he is the main star on the team. He knows that will secure his legacy as an all-time great. He’s not as dumb as you’re making him out to be. I don’t know why you would think he would choose immediate glory over winning — he knows winning will determine his legacy. After all, Kobe grew up following and worshiping Michael Jordan, and he wants to be mentioned in the same class as Jordan some day.
I didn’t post this to start a bunch of Kobe-bashing posts on this site. I know that’s fashionable for some people, but Kobe is a great player and you don’t have to bash him to make LeBron look better. They’re both great players and we should appreciate them both. We don’t need to attack Kobe to make LeBron look good.
Buckeye Brad - May 17, 2009
My point was that Kobe believes it is the best for his team if he takes these shots. He is told this every day.
I think the passage you quoted was a bit much by me. Kobe is getting smarter. I see that the Lakers won today (I didn’t watch), but Kobe did not put up a huge amount of points. Instead (at least from the box score) he did the other (more important) things that help the Lakers play as a team, and thus win.
But no one can forget that he chased Shaq away. If you are more interested in winning titles than your own glory, why would you do that?
oxforddave - May 17, 2009
I think Kobe has matured as a player the last few years (and as the Lakers got better players around him). After Shaq first left I think he thought he needed to score 30 every night for the Lakers to win, but now he has better players around him and he’s learned he doesn’t have to do that every night. Gasol and Odom are both capable of scoring in bunches so I think Kobe has stopped taking so many shots. Of course, there are games which he still does that, but I think he’s deferring more to his teammates. He knows he needs them to score to win the game, and I’m sure he’s seen the stats which show the Lakers record when he takes 25+ shots (not good).
I’m not saying he’s a perfect player because of course he’s not, and he’ll never be the passer than LeBron is, but LeBron will never be the shooter that Kobe is. Kobe is much more similar to Jordan in this way. And that’s why he wanted Shaq out of LA — he would never be mentioned in the same breathe as Jordan if he was always playing second fiddle to Shaq. I’m not saying that was the right move but that was his motivation. And Shaq isn’t blameless in that situation, either, so you can’t pin that all on Kobe. But I think Kobe has tried to make himself more of a team player over the past couple years and isn’t always the selfish player that many non-Lakers fans make him out to be.
Buckeye Brad - May 17, 2009
Kobe is and will be one of the best players in the game, as will Lebron when he chooses to retire (hopefully 10+ years from now). Kobe is a scorer…that’s it. That is his style of play and he isn’t gonna change, at least significantly. I still don’t think Kobe believes his taking so many shots, some of them difficult and unnecessary, will help this team, because I think he is seeing that people want him to take FEWER shots. The media is showing statistics where if Kobe takes 25+ shots, the Lakers more often than not lose. And also I think Kobe is beginning to discover the talent on his team. (i.e. today) He scored 18 points, “distributed” the ball, and the Lakers owned the Rockets. Just because he doesn’t pass as often as Lebron, doesn’t mean he is a worse player. MJ was not a passer and he is without a question the best player to ever play the game (yet).
Mind you I am a HUGE Cavs fan; I still think Lebron is/will be better than Kobe, because his game is more complete, especially since he has worked on his jump shot. With a big number of years to work out the kinks, Lebron may rival MJ as the greatest, as did Kobe.
NBA FAN - May 17, 2009
Nice write-up Brad. Especially like the last paragraph… I never understood why it was always seen as mutually exclusive. A real basketball fan should be able to appreciate and enjoy both of these once-in-a-lifetime players.
Turkmenbashi - May 17, 2009
Thanks Turk.
Buckeye Brad - May 17, 2009
This is embarassing...
for Kobe and the media should be blamed for this.
a) Lebron is NOT better than Kobe as a player. He doesn’t have the time put in, he doesn’t have the rings and he hasn’t won a championship yet.
b) Lebron plays in an inferior conference and was swept by the Lakers.
c) Lebron doesn’t have great scorers around him Like Kobe does. Imagine if Kobe was on a team where he was asked to score all the time – he would have. 35-40 points a game.
I also don’t believe there is such a thing as Greatest of All Time – too hard to quantify what that means.
PatrickA - May 20, 2009
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