Kobe or LeBron, LeBron or Kobe. It is the debate that has shaken the basketball world to its core for centuries, or at least for the last two years. One is a 30 year old, three time NBA champion, that had lost his appeal to fans, thanks to a slutty white girl in Colorado, but has gained it back over the last few years by being a dedicated teammate and role model to young players. The other is the smooth 24 year old with unmatched athleticism that sells Sprite and Car Insurance much better than Grant Hill did in his prime.
If left to choose between these two superstars to build a team around, it would definitely be difficult, but, at the same time, it would be a blessing. No one shoots like Kobe. No one drives like LeBron. No one is as clutch as Kobe. No one is as appealling to ticket buyers as LeBron. You are fine either way. There is no wrong choice. However, I wanted to take a look at what separates these two individuals. What makes LeBron better than Kobe? What makes Kobe better than LeBron.
IMAGE: Lebron, hands down. Saturday Night Live. The commercials. Only Tiger Woods has a better image as a sports figure, and thats because he plays a "white" sport and can appeal to wider audiences (in terms of race, ethnicity and gender). Kobe has done his own fair share, but his brand has obviously suffered in aftermath of the alleged sexual assault in Colorado. He became probably the most hated player in the NBA, and did not do himself any favors by requesting a trade a few years ago. A move that has caused many Lakers fans to question his legacy. Of course, that would all be resolved with a championship without Shaq. Kobe has comeback though in terms of image. There was the funny commercial of him jumping over a speeding car and the one where he is riding a horse warning people of "broken ankles." He has steadily seen his appeal approve. I mean, the dude even changed his number from 8 to 24, to try to rid himself of his tainted image. However, in terms of branding and image, LeBron has the upper hand, and will continue to place himself in a category along with Woods, Jordan and Beckham as being sports figures that could sell a refrigerator to an eskimo.
CLUTCH: Who do you want taking the last shot in a game? Who do you want calling the right play in a decisive Game 5? Who has been there? The answer is obviously Kobe Bryant. The man has taken shot after game-winning shot, and never disappoints. When the shot-clock has been turned off, there is no other player in ALL of sports that elevates to the level of Kobe Bryant. He transcends the word clutch. The epitome of a game 7 player. Kobe Bryant takes the ability of Robert Horry to hit game-winning shots and does it without looking like a 6'10" gumby-human (I will patent that nickname). By contrast, until last year's playoffs when he went off on Detriot, LeBron was seen as anti-clutch. While he is working on breaking that label, he has a long way to go to enter Kobe's realm of clutchness. In reality though, he may never reach this level of Kobe or Jordan's game, because he is NOT the shooter they were and are. There is something about a game-winning shot that lives in your mind, rather than a game-winning lay-up. The difficulty. The shear brilliance in elevating over the opponent and drilling a 22 foot jumper in the closing moments is beyond memorable. LeBron will win games, but he won't do it with many jump-shots. He will do it by driving in and throwing it down on 7'3" Lithuanian wastes of space.
SHOOTING: Kobe Bryant. Reasons listed above.
ATHLETICISM: I dare you to name one other HUMAN BEING that can do the things that LeBron James does on the basketball court. I'm waiting. There is no one. You are wasting your time. He honestly does not seem mortal. It's unfair watching what he does to people like Rodney Stuckey, David Lee, and cast of others. He makes them look like they are 5 year old kids playing with Daddy. He is probably the only athlete ever that could pick up any thing and turn professional at that sport. Tennis? He will play the net the entire game and reach every shot. Golf? Have you seen his biceps? 400 yard drives. Football? Seriously? Baseball? Not even the guys on steroids look like him. Hockey? Who would stand in front of his way while he was skating? While Kobe has won a dunk contest in his past and has his share of highlights, this goes to LeBron.
DEFENSE: Kobe. I would discuss this, but who wants to read an entire paragraph about DEFENSE? Probably only fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers or Alabama football...
NESS (borrowed from You, Me & Dupree): This is the closest category between the two stars. This is what separates the men from the girls. The Larry Birds from the Sue Birds. The Michael Jordans from the Tommy Jordans. The Jerry Rices from the...you get the point. This has been called a multitude of things. X Factor, IT, Mojo...etc. Its obviously that both of these guys have it. But who has more? As of this moment, I'd say the edge goes to Kobe by the slightest of margins. However, this is changing. Kobe has been the MAN for the last few years, but if he loses the championship this year, it may mark the end of him holding the title as having the most of IT. LeBron is getting better and better. He is becoming more of everything. Its like when he crosses someone over, he gains their powers... Sort of like the ball from the Space Jam movie. Admittedly, though, LeBron says that he obsesses over Kobe's games. He claims that he watches Kobe every single game that he is on. I doubt that happens vice versa. Yes, he is looking for weaknesses in Kobe's game, but he is also looking for how Kobe has become Kobe. If this were a horse-race, I would call it a photo-finish in favor of Bryant. However, in only a few years, Kobe will be getting very close to retirement, while LeBron enters his prime.
Both players will obviously be Hall-of-Famers. It is also obvious that they are in the category with Bird, Jordan and Magic. Who is the better player? Kobe, right now. LeBron by 2011, without a doubt. One thing that is for sure after reviewing all of these players, it seems that if you are referred to by one name, you are destined for greatness in the NBA. Sorry Sasha Vujacic. Nicknames, given by yourself, don't count.
Next post: Duke's Paulus to Michigan as QB?!?!?!
If left to choose between these two superstars to build a team around, it would definitely be difficult, but, at the same time, it would be a blessing. No one shoots like Kobe. No one drives like LeBron. No one is as clutch as Kobe. No one is as appealling to ticket buyers as LeBron. You are fine either way. There is no wrong choice. However, I wanted to take a look at what separates these two individuals. What makes LeBron better than Kobe? What makes Kobe better than LeBron.
IMAGE: Lebron, hands down. Saturday Night Live. The commercials. Only Tiger Woods has a better image as a sports figure, and thats because he plays a "white" sport and can appeal to wider audiences (in terms of race, ethnicity and gender). Kobe has done his own fair share, but his brand has obviously suffered in aftermath of the alleged sexual assault in Colorado. He became probably the most hated player in the NBA, and did not do himself any favors by requesting a trade a few years ago. A move that has caused many Lakers fans to question his legacy. Of course, that would all be resolved with a championship without Shaq. Kobe has comeback though in terms of image. There was the funny commercial of him jumping over a speeding car and the one where he is riding a horse warning people of "broken ankles." He has steadily seen his appeal approve. I mean, the dude even changed his number from 8 to 24, to try to rid himself of his tainted image. However, in terms of branding and image, LeBron has the upper hand, and will continue to place himself in a category along with Woods, Jordan and Beckham as being sports figures that could sell a refrigerator to an eskimo.
CLUTCH: Who do you want taking the last shot in a game? Who do you want calling the right play in a decisive Game 5? Who has been there? The answer is obviously Kobe Bryant. The man has taken shot after game-winning shot, and never disappoints. When the shot-clock has been turned off, there is no other player in ALL of sports that elevates to the level of Kobe Bryant. He transcends the word clutch. The epitome of a game 7 player. Kobe Bryant takes the ability of Robert Horry to hit game-winning shots and does it without looking like a 6'10" gumby-human (I will patent that nickname). By contrast, until last year's playoffs when he went off on Detriot, LeBron was seen as anti-clutch. While he is working on breaking that label, he has a long way to go to enter Kobe's realm of clutchness. In reality though, he may never reach this level of Kobe or Jordan's game, because he is NOT the shooter they were and are. There is something about a game-winning shot that lives in your mind, rather than a game-winning lay-up. The difficulty. The shear brilliance in elevating over the opponent and drilling a 22 foot jumper in the closing moments is beyond memorable. LeBron will win games, but he won't do it with many jump-shots. He will do it by driving in and throwing it down on 7'3" Lithuanian wastes of space.
SHOOTING: Kobe Bryant. Reasons listed above.
ATHLETICISM: I dare you to name one other HUMAN BEING that can do the things that LeBron James does on the basketball court. I'm waiting. There is no one. You are wasting your time. He honestly does not seem mortal. It's unfair watching what he does to people like Rodney Stuckey, David Lee, and cast of others. He makes them look like they are 5 year old kids playing with Daddy. He is probably the only athlete ever that could pick up any thing and turn professional at that sport. Tennis? He will play the net the entire game and reach every shot. Golf? Have you seen his biceps? 400 yard drives. Football? Seriously? Baseball? Not even the guys on steroids look like him. Hockey? Who would stand in front of his way while he was skating? While Kobe has won a dunk contest in his past and has his share of highlights, this goes to LeBron.
DEFENSE: Kobe. I would discuss this, but who wants to read an entire paragraph about DEFENSE? Probably only fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers or Alabama football...
NESS (borrowed from You, Me & Dupree): This is the closest category between the two stars. This is what separates the men from the girls. The Larry Birds from the Sue Birds. The Michael Jordans from the Tommy Jordans. The Jerry Rices from the...you get the point. This has been called a multitude of things. X Factor, IT, Mojo...etc. Its obviously that both of these guys have it. But who has more? As of this moment, I'd say the edge goes to Kobe by the slightest of margins. However, this is changing. Kobe has been the MAN for the last few years, but if he loses the championship this year, it may mark the end of him holding the title as having the most of IT. LeBron is getting better and better. He is becoming more of everything. Its like when he crosses someone over, he gains their powers... Sort of like the ball from the Space Jam movie. Admittedly, though, LeBron says that he obsesses over Kobe's games. He claims that he watches Kobe every single game that he is on. I doubt that happens vice versa. Yes, he is looking for weaknesses in Kobe's game, but he is also looking for how Kobe has become Kobe. If this were a horse-race, I would call it a photo-finish in favor of Bryant. However, in only a few years, Kobe will be getting very close to retirement, while LeBron enters his prime.
Both players will obviously be Hall-of-Famers. It is also obvious that they are in the category with Bird, Jordan and Magic. Who is the better player? Kobe, right now. LeBron by 2011, without a doubt. One thing that is for sure after reviewing all of these players, it seems that if you are referred to by one name, you are destined for greatness in the NBA. Sorry Sasha Vujacic. Nicknames, given by yourself, don't count.
Next post: Duke's Paulus to Michigan as QB?!?!?!
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