Because of his gigantic talents, his overwhelming power, his freight-train speed, his resounding dunks and his chase-down blocks of breakaways, most NBA watchers believe LeBron James to be the best player in the league.

LeBron is a force or nature. Skill wise? Not on Kobe’s level.

When Lebron scores more efficiently than him overall?

that he would be as efficient. Kobe improved his game more in his first seven years than Lebron has in his firts 6-7 years. He is still the same player that we seen come into the league. He has just become stronger and faster but that is it. What will happen when those attributes start to decline? So far, he hasn’t shown any type of commitment by improving his jump shooting or low post game.

at this point in terms of skills and talents and accomplishments I don’t think that The King is even better than Wade.

That’s not really a comparison. If LeBron had Kobe’s skill set, he’d have multiple rings at this point. The other inarguable component is that LeBron is by far Kobe’s superior as an athlete, as his unstoppable forays to the basket will indicate. I don’t buy the “he has more rings” argument because a large part of that is circumstance; we don’t discount Barkley, Malone, and Stockton that much for being ring-less because they were forced to play out their prime in the MJ era. Both are fairly similar defenders as they tend to play a free safety role on defense, although I’d give Kobe a slight edge when he decides to play shutdown defense due to his smarts.

As such, we’re left with measuring Kobe’s skill set against LeBron’s ability to finish; the former is essentially unstoppable, but the latter is probably more consistent. To illustrate, Kobe can hurt you from practically everywhere on the floor (long range, midrange, post, drives, free throws, etc.) whereas LeBron simply has one extremely well-honed skill (driving to the basket). As such, Kobe can’t really be stopped, as he’s solid across the board — you really just have to hope he’s cold, but he’s not extremely efficient from everywhere. LeBron can be slowed down, however, if you can somewhat negate his ability to drive to the basket. That said, only the best teams have an adequate defensive scheme and the players necessary to slow him down. If he’s able to drive with relative impunity, he can’t really be stopped.

Only other thing you can throw in is the intangibles (i.e. leadership), in which I’d agree with Rosen that I consider LeBron’s antics pale in comparison to Kobe’s limitless desire to win and improve himself, but that’s also a realm of subjectivity open to interpretation.

As such, I’d posit that LeBron is probably the better player at the moment simply due to how overwhelming he is, despite his limited skill set, while Kobe is the more complete player (and arguably one of the most complete players in the history of the game). The relative value of either is again subjective, and I don’t particularly care for taking sides on what has become a relatively inane debate.

LBJ still needs to develope his game. While Kobe is complete in my eyes.

I hear these “arguments” or adjectives all of the time, but what is it that makes anything LBJ’s done overwhelming? His stats certainly don’t point to overwhelming. Not to the point where it makes him_better_ than a more complete player in his prime. He hasn’t averaged some absurd numbers. Nothing overwhelming. Very good though.

If he is preferred because of his style. I can live with that. But overwhelming? Not yet.

I think that LBJ has had pretty good teams. He’s never had a team as bad as Smush, Kwame, and Devean George on his team as the starters. (And one can’t forget the oft-hurt Chris Mihm) A bust, an undrafted, and the first D3 player to be drafted. (And one of the most undersized centers in the league) That said, I’ve noticed the Cavs do better when Lebron passes more and shoots less. He gets assists, but overall I feel him more detriment than truly the only reason they win. Idk if the stats back it up cuz i don’t feel like looking atm, but I’m sure they win just as much win he scores <30 when he scores >30. Like when he plays more like Magic and less like Vince he’s so much better for them. Just saw a game the other day where the ball definitely wasn’t going to him, but he tried to grab it anyway and almost lost it. He finished, but I feel like what people said about Kobe dominating the ball is true for Lebron as well. Like Mo Williams was better than average with the Bucks. When Michael Redd was gone he facilitated the offense to a respectable number of wins and was rly the only reason they were winning. Now, he’s been much less consistent, starting in the playoffs when LBJ started to dominate the ball more. Just saying, I don’t think its coincidence that they were so good last year throughout the season and stalled big time in the playoffs and against better teams. When they seem to be in trouble he starts eating up possession after possession the same way people said Kobe did but no one seems to say this with Lebron even though he’s playing with much better talent. The same problem Kobe had, but with better and more proven talent. Not saying he doesn’t pass, but you all have seen when he dribbles the clock all the way down and has to throw up something trivial.

Overall, I’d pick Kobe, Wade, or Paul to win now. Maybe Lebron in the future, but I still think D. Wade could have more upside if he had a team even similar to what LBJ has and I think the same with Paul. Melo is like a step down just because he is pretty one-dimensional and a score only player with little defensive acumen thus far. I have more than one-player at each because they are all not far off in terms of capabilities. Kobe’s being highest, but having the shortest time of return for the pick. Lebron has upside, but only if he wants to and his jump shot is still iffy and doesn’t even have consistent release. A product of the fact he consistently puts on muscle to be able to have his way. If he was leaner he’d be less a factor driving, but could focus more on his jumper and it would prolly improve faster. If he played more like Magic from that point on, then I’d take him. Few of the other players I mentioned have to do that much for me to take them. And his efficiency is escalated against poor teams that can’t guard him, but is really nullified once he plays actual competition, excluding the outliers like the Detroit playoff series he rly does not perform as well against any of the better teams when it counts for both sides.

LeBron James and the Cavaliers were already struggling with their rhythm in Shaquille O’Neal’s return from injury.

When Michael Jordan started giving Gerald Wallace pointers on how to play LeBron, Cleveland was doomed.

Listening intently to Jordan and attacking a foul-prone James, Wallace had 31 points and 14 rebounds, and the Charlotte Bobcats took advantage of the disjointed Cavaliers in a 94-87 victory on Friday night.

The surprising Bobcats won their third straight game following a seven-game losing streak behind Wallace, who beat James in numerous 1-on-1 matchups in the post — at the urging of the Bobcats managing partner sitting courtside.

“He’s rooting, but he also has his suggestions on how we should play,” Wallace said of Jordan. “He’s just like any other fan. He just happens to be Michael Jordan — and he’s also the boss.”

That’s hilarious. Jordan undercutting James.

well said Gils_ I completely agree Lebron has a long way to go when it comes to Kobe’s level in my opinion