Who’s Better? Kobe Bryant or LeBron James?

Who is better? LeBron James or Kobe Bryant? The debate rages on. On a pregrame special before the two superstars faced off on January 27, 2008, Michael Wilbon and Bill Walton took on the issues of this debate.

In the end, Walton said that LeBron James was “unequivocally” the better player. Wilbon, in his typical “Pardon the Interruption” fashion, pretty much “pushed” and offered the opinion that the two were pretty much equals. However, he did qualify his answer by saying that if the question were “who would you rather play with?” then he would choose LeBron James.

But in my analysis, there is no question as to who is the better player as it stands right now.

Question 1: Who is the better scorer? – I don’t think you can really question this issue. While LeBron James is averaging 29.6 points per game and Kobe is only averaging 27.7, Kobe is still the much better scorer. His scoring game is more complete and much more fluid than that of LeBron James’s. Kobe is the better shooter, and the better 3-pt shooter, the better free throw shooter, and has a higher true-shooting percentage, albeit by only a little bit. Kobe Bryant also has more of an array of ways in which to score. He has a much better back-to-the-basket game, and his mid-range game is superior due to his better shooting. LeBron’s higher scoring average this season is more or less a component of him taking more shots and being more aggressive, whereas Kobe has actually taken a step back to enhance the growth of his Center, Andrew Bynum. Kobe is the better defender.

Question 2: Who is the better defender? – Before the January 27^th game between the two (where LeBron James’s Cavs won), I would have given this distinction to Kobe Bryant with out hesitation or explanation. However, LeBron did a great job of guarding Kobe Bryant, especially in the 4^th quarter. Kobe had a difficult time getting around LeBron, and on the other side, LeBron was at least a little bit more effective in getting the shot he wanted against Kobe. However, in that one game, I didn’t see enough to change my mind and say that LeBron was the better defender. Kobe just came off a summer where he effectively guarded each nation’s best player every game, and there was not a single player that he guarded who approached their usual averages. Kobe is definitely the better defender.

Question 3: Who is the better passer? – The answer to this can be simply explained. On 20% of LeBron’s used possessions, he gets an assist, whereas Kobe only gets an assist on 15% of his uses. Kobe also turns the ball over at a higher rate. There’s little question that LeBron is the better and more complete passer.

So what conclusion have I reached? Kobe is the better player, hands down. Look, he’s not leaps and bound beyond LeBron’s grasp, but he is more experience, a more clutch player, and he is a perennial First Team All-NBA Defender, whereas LeBron has yet to have been given that distinction. So say what you will King James lovers, but #24 is the better player…for now.

No related posts.