Kobe vs. LeBron

The Great Debate. All the commercials (STILL can't get over those puppets!!!!!!). All the accolades-- 40% of the All NBA's First Team and All Defensive First Team, the last 2 MVPs, two top records in the NBA. The incredible hype surrounding their inevitable NBA Finals dream matchup (oops...didn't see the Magic coming). With all due respect to Dwyane Wade (why does he spell his name like that? it never made sense to me) and Sasha Vujacic (indulge me), Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are clearly the two best players in the NBA. This fierce debate has raged on the entire season. Everyone has weighed in except for the two players themselves. Stories have been written about how LeBron realized over the summer while playing for the Redeem Team it was Kobe's unrivaled work ethic, attention to detail, and commitment to playing defense that made him the awesome force that he was on the court. LeBron applied himself with some of Kobe's drive and had his best all around season of his brief but brilliant career, emerging as a defensive force with a better jump shot. Rumors circulated about how the two were driven to top each other's performances even when they weren't on the same court. We all witnessed the epic 48 hours at Madison Square Garden (where was Spike Lee to document this?? Isn't he supposed to be a diehard Knicks fan? This was Kobe doing REAL work and LeBron was too) where Lebron answered Kobe's sensational 61 with a 52-9-11 line of his own. Though LeBron's Cavs team finished with the best record in the NBA, it was Kobe's Lakers who won both of their regular season meetings. Neither Bryant nor James had exceptional performances in either game and spent little time defending one another, saving their energy for the offensive end. It was to be decided in the Finals, once and for all, who was the best player in the world. But alas, fate had other plans. The LeBrons were run off their own impenetrable home court by Superman and his magical friends from Disney World (also known to some as the Orlando Magic), leaving the oft-asked question hanging in the air without an answer: who is truly the best player in the NBA? Let's take a look.

The Nicknames
LeBron goes by King James or The Chosen One. Kobe can be called the Black Mamba. What does this have to do with anything? I'm not sure, but I'm on a sugar rush rivaling Lamar Odom so I'm just typing stuff. Anyways, let's roll with it. Who's got the best nickname? King James is fitting; LeBron seems a rather kingly individual, owning his own endorsement empire and ruling the city of Cleveland by himself. The Chosen One? Ehhh...he's no Neo (not to mention he hasn't won an NBA title yet). By all accounts, Kobe gave himself the nickname Black Mamba. Negative points there. However, the most lethal snake in the world is a fitting moniker for the most lethal assassin in the game. It also just sounds cool and is unique.
Winner: Push

The Commercials
LeBron's State Farm commercials are hit or miss. The one where his friend's car gets broken into and he dances to some song is a horrible attempt at humor. I see nothing funny in it, and he's dressed weird. On the other hand, the one with him playing for the Cleveland Browns is great. Anyone who can swat a field goal attempt like that is a keeper. Also props for the LeBrons commercials that ran a few years ago http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsoP6bjADic. Kobe has seen his commercials dramatically drop since the rape allegations several years ago. The ankle insurance one was pretty good, as was the one where he says he wants to be hated on while he's working out. But this old Adidas one of him playing a little kid 1-on-1 is an absolute classic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80-MhBTdCWg. And those puppets? (You knew I would go there) In all fairness, the LeBron one is just way funnier than the Kobe one in every commercial. I would rather hang out with the LeBron puppet than LeBron. LeBron's greater range of enjoyable commercials barely beats out Kobe's classic.
Winner: LeBron (barely)

Scoring
Interested now? These two can both score, they finished second and third in the NBA in scoring this past season. LeBron's career 27.5 ppg average is currently the 3rd best in NBA history, while Kobe's career 25.1 ppg average is good for 9th (though those numbers are skewed a bit by his first couple of seasons where he didn't see too much of the court). Kobe has 2 scoring titles to LeBron's 1. But the numbers don't tell the whole story. You have to look at how they get their points. LeBron's game is centered around his raw, unmatched athleticism. His terrifying combination of power, speed, quickness, agility, jumping ability, and strength make him a nightmare to cover. He is the best open court player in th NBA, a 1 man fastbreak. In the half court, he's most effective driving the ball to the basket, either off the pick and roll or through an iso. His athletic skills allow him to make impossible layups and ferocious dunks, while his physicality draws a quick whistle from the refs (ignoring his patented crab dribble helps too). LeBron was second in the NBA in free throws attempted and finally started making teams pay, shooting a career best 78% from the line. His jump shot was also much improved, and his range is virtually unlimited (he makes half court shots sitting down with just a flick of his wrist). While LeBron has the size and strength to dominate in the post, he has not yet worked on that part of his game, instead relying on his athletic prowess to get to the rim.
Kobe, meanwhile, has the most refined offensive game in the league. There's no move he hasn't mastered. He can blow by you, pull up with perfect balance, fade away, fall away, step back, lean in, hang in the air, rise with no rhythm, shoot off the dribble, use his left hand, or post you up. There's just no stopping him. What are terrible shots for anyone else are like layups for Kobe, and if you try to take away one part of his game, he can beat you with five others. At this point in Kobe's career, he can no longer recklessly attack the basket. His body just can't take it. Over his career he has made the adjustment to becoming a deadly 2-point jump shooter, much like Michael Jordan did in his latter days as a player. His incredible footwork also makes him one of the best low post scorers in the game given his size. Kobe's complete offensive arsenal trumps LeBron's raw athleticism.
WInner: Kobe

Shooting
Yes, this is different from scoring. Both can get their points, but how efficiently do they get them when the lane is closed to them? As stated above, when you take away one of Kobe's options he has five more at the ready. While LeBron has made significant strides in this area, Kobe is still far ahead. In this case, the numbers really do tell it all:
LeBron- 34.4% 3-pt jump shots, 37.5% 2-pt jump shots, 78.0% ft
Kobe- 35.1% 3-pt jump shots, 43.9% 2-pt jump shots, 85.6% ft
Winner: Kobe

Defense
Kobe has had the significant edge in this category the last few years, but after LeBron observed Kobe's commitment to the defensive end during their Olympic run, he added that to his own game. Their defensive styles are different. LeBron is a high-flying weak side shot blocker who can chase anyone down from behind (just ask Jason Richardson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC6qYglQWgI). He also reads passing lanes exceptionally well and picks off anything that's not on target. As of this year, he has gained proficiency in playing other guys straight up and locking them down when he has to. LeBron is also an excellent rebounder, though his size and position allow him to grab more rebounds than Kobe, who is a fantastic rebounding guard in his own right. Kobe's philosophy is more geared to being a free safety. In order to conserve maximum energy for the offensive end, Kobe spends long stretches guarding the other team's weakest perimeter player, laying far off of the likes of Ronnie Brewer and Rajon Rondo, conceding open jump shots he knows they rarely make in order to help his teammates out. Kobe makes his own share of spectacular blocks and is always among the league leaders in steals as well. But when it comes down to crunch time, Kobe can lock down the best of them. Jeff Van Gundy described Kobe as "one of the best one-possession defenders in the history of the game". It's more than just one posession that he is capable of locking someone up. When he has to, Kobe becomes an elite defender that hounds the other team's best scoring option. We saw this in the Nuggets series where Kobe spent the whole series switching between checking Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, and J.R. Smith. During the Olympics, it was Kobe's role to shut down the opposing team's best perimeter scorer, whether it was China's Sun Yue, Argentina's Manu Ginobli, or Spain's Rudy Fernandez, earning him the nickname of the Doberman (I didn't include that one above because I've never heard him referred to that at any other time). If it came down to crunch time and you had to get a stop, it's Kobe you want on the other team's best guy, not LeBron (unless he's chasing down a breakaway...sorry J-Rich).
Winner: Kobe (slight edge)

Athleticism
You've got to be one of the best athletes in the world to compete at the highest level in the NBA. While both of these guys fall under that category, LeBron is a physical freak of nature that the league has never experienced before. At 6-9 with some reports having him at around 275 pounds, it's amazing how LeBron is still the quickest and fastest guy on the court most of the time. Bill Simmons described him as a "frightening cross between Karl Malone and Dr. J". Such a power/speed combination has never before entered the league, and LeBron uses it to his advantage. He can make it from half court to the rim in 3 and a half steps on the break. Absolutely ridiculous. It will be fascinating to watch if he indeed participates in the Slam Dunk Contest next season. While Kobe was an amazing leaper in his younger days, his body has worn down over the 1100+ games he's played and a high-flying throwdown is rare to see anymore. This one isn't close.
Winner: LeBron

Entertainment Value
These two bring different styles of play to the court and therefore amaze fans in different ways. LeBron's raw athleticism and amazing physical gifts allow him to do things most human beings only dream of. His "wow" factor is through the roof and he's good for about 4 and a half high-flying highlights a night. Kobe's game is more down to earth and human. He uses a dazzling array of moves and shots to leave fans and opponents in awe. No one in the NBA takes tougher, more contested shots than Kobe Bryant, and no one can make them look easier. I'd like to see someone else drop 40 points on the combination of Shane Battier and Ron Artest. This comes down to the Casual Fan Test. If a casual fan were watching, would he or she be more entertained by Kobe or LeBron. While both are amazing, Kobe's game might seem a little...well...ballhoggish at times. Even though normally "bad" shots are makeable for Kobe, they still look like bad shots. Meanwhile LeBron soars through the air and dunks on 2 people's heads. While Kobe will leave you shaking your head in wonder, LeBron will get you out of your seat.
Winner: LeBron (slight edge)

Passing
While this may seem like a no brainer, it isn't. Sure LeBron puts up the gaudy assist numbers, but Kobe still gets his 5 a game. The discrepancy in this case is due in large part to the different offensive systems that the two teams run. The Cavs run everything through LeBron, who has the ball in his hands virtually every trip down the floor. Then, either he drives to the basket and finishes, pulls up if he's feeling his jumper, or drives to the basket and kicks out to the open shooter if the defense collapses on him enough. The sheer number of times that LeBron is in a playmaking position boosts his assist totals. You're a fool if you don't think Kobe can average 10 assists a game. Kobe's vision is just as good as LeBron's. The difference the Lakers' triangle offense. For the first two-thirds of the shot clock, the Lakers run the triangle. On most plays, at least 3 different guys touch the ball, often all 5 of them. This system limits Kobe's assist opportunities as the ball is always in motion from one player to another. The Lakers were 4th in the NBA in assists per game (ahead of the Cavs) despite not having a single player average 5 assists a game (Kobe led the way with 4.9). And if they couldn't get a shot in the triangle, the last third of the shot clock was "give it to Kobe and get out of his way". Normally in that situation, he's not giving the ball up. However Kobe's passing skills are tremendous and when his teammates knock down their open shots, his assists start piling up, like the last two games against Denver where Kobe averaged 9 assists per contest. However, LeBron is a more willing passer (sometimes too willing, watch the last play of game 1 vs. the Magic) and his ability to see over the defense makes it easier for him. The triple doubles speak for themselves (though his puppet mentioned them too).
Winner: LeBron (slightest edge)

Crunch Time Performer
LeBron's miracle shot still resonates around the league as about as impressive a game-winner as you will ever see. But Kobe is known as the best closer in the game. Looking over the range of their careers, Kobe has been the more consistent clutch performer. He has several more game-winners to his credit and the way he taken over 4th quarters time and time again is amazing. This season's playoffs has been an example of just that. The way Kobe has closed out games and carried the Lakers to big victories, especially on the road is remarkable (see games 3 and 6 of the Nuggets series). LeBron spent most of the 4th quarters this season on the bench, as the Cavs steamrolled most of their opposition. In the Magic series, when LeBron had to carry the team on his back in the 4th quarter of every game, he came up short numerous times. Don't get me wrong, he played phenomenally and got little help from his teammates, but the bottom line is he's sitting at home while Kobe is still playing for a championship. A criticism throughout his career is his tendency to pass up the big shot with the game on the line (see game 1 of the Magic series). With the game hanging in the balance, the ball needs to stay in the hands of the best player, not a struggling shooter who's never hit a big shot in their career, no matter how open they are. And LeBron's ability to draw fouls (no small thanks to the refs, who blow their whistles seemingly every time LeBron drives hard to the basket) is the ulitmate weapon in the clutch. He can get to the free throw line virtually at will, where it's a lot easier to get the points you need (see game 4 of the Magic series). Kobe's ability to hit his jumpers also give him an edge in crunch time. Here are some stats:
In the clutch (defined by 82games.com to be 4th quarter or overtime, less than 5 minutes left, neither team ahead by more than 5 points):
LeBron- 46.3% on jump shots, assisted 20% of the time, 85% ft, 4.8 turnovers per 48 minutes of clutch time, 55.9 pts per 48 min clutch
Kobe- 46.9% on jump shots, assisted 15% of the time, 92%ft, 3.0 to/48 min, 56.7 pts/48 min
As you can see, Kobe shot better from outside the paint, with more tough shots (being assisted less means he had less open looks off of passes and more contested shots) and also much tougher shots since teams play off LeBron to entice him into shooting a jumper meaning he gets clean looks at the basket. The ability to ice a game at the free throw line is also a huge asset to winning games. With Kobe, it's almost automatic. With LeBron, there's still a hope. Also, Kobe takes significantly better care of the ball. LeBron's 2 more turnovers are a huge negative. Their scoring output in clutch time is basically the same, with Kobe having the slightest of edges there (they were 1st and 2nd in the NBA respectively in that department). The ultimate litmus test came in the Beijing Olympics, with a gold medal for Team USA on the line. In the 4th quarter of that game, it was Kobe the Redeem Team turned to to bring them home, not LeBron, and Kobe delivered, punctuating another great performance with a gigantic 4-point play that fouled out Spain's Rudy Fernandez in the the waning minutes. Overall, Kobe's countless daggers and shooting ability tops LeBron's ability to draw fouls and sometimes shaky decision making down the stretch.
Winner: Kobe

Intangibles/Leadership
Much has been said this season about LeBron being such a better teammate than Kobe. He's funny, easy to talk to, and keeps his whole team loose. The Cavs were said to have the best chemistry in the league, demonstrated by their pre-game antics such as the team photograph that became so popular. He was a willing passer and kept his teammates involved in the offense. When it came time to receive his MVP, he held the ceremony at his old high school, his entire team showed up, and he gave them all some cool flip cameras. This was supposed to be how LeBron got this team to the best record in the NBA and back-to-back sweeps in the playoffs. But did that laid-back attitude come back to hurt the Cavs? It was a dream season until the Magic showed up to play. The Cavs were yet to be tested, yet to face any adversity. And in the face of it, they wilted. Kobe is not the perfect teammate, far from it. He's a recluse, much like Michael Jordan was in his day. Kobe's interaction with his teammates largely consisted of evil looks, eye rolls, and criticism. He demanded the best of his teammates, all out effort all the time, something this Lakers team in particular struggled with, blowing large leads regularly and not playing with the force they were capable of. That, in combination with last year's trouncing at the hands of the Celtics gave this team a label of "soft", the opposite of Kobe's personality. He is a cold-blooded killer who always plays with maximum intensity and he expects the same of his teammates. His frustration with his fellow Lakers has been well documented, as he was furious over the Lakers not trading away Andrew Bynum and demanded a trade of his own a couple summers ago. But sometimes the guy who cracks the whip and stays on his guys is the one that prevails. The Lakers faced a much tougher road than the Cavs did in this postseason (the Lakers played the Jazz, the 8th seed in the West, in the first round. Those Jazz had a better record than the Hawks, the 4th seed in the East, whom the cavs faced in round 2). Yet, the "soft" Lakers battled their way through the much "tougher" and more physical Jazz, Rockets, and Nuggets on the way to their second consecutive Western Conference title, while LeBron's Cavs lost the first tough series that came their way (a series in which they had home court advantage and were heavily favored to win coming in). While LeBron may be more beloved to his fans and teammates, the bottom line is Kobe pushed his team to overcome the challenges they were presented with. And the fact remains that Kobe is still playing while LeBron is not.
Winner: Kobe (slight edge)

1-on-1
Talk about a dream matchup. What if they played 1-on-1? LeBron has the advantage in the size and athleticism departments, while Kobe has a wider array of skills. Their pride and competitive spirit would ensure a thrilling game that would be filled with spectacular shot-making, highlights, and defense. The result would no doubt be close, but Kobe's combination of a superior jump shot and lock down defense probably gives him the edge.
Winner: Kobe (barely)
Overall- Kobe: 6-4-1

To sum up, these two are completely different players whose different styles make it difficult to compare them. Both possess tremendous strengths that the other cannot match. LeBron may be the best athlete in the NBA, bit Kobe possesses the most and best basketball skills. At this point in their careers, LeBron can do things that Kobe physically cannot anymore, while Kobe has made improvements to his game that LeBron will get a chance to do in upcoming years. But when broken down into smaller categories, it is clear that Kobe is still a slightly better player. While LeBron's numbers cannot be matched, there are no statistics to account for Kobe's desire, work ethic, force of will, or intensity. It's those little things that has Kobe in a position to win his 4th career NBA championship, while LeBron broods over a missed opportunity for his first title. For the time being, 24 is still greater than 23.

P.S. Stay tuned for the NBA Finals preview! Coming SOOOOON!!