Since so many people rec'd it and suggested it should be it's own fanpost, here it is (late and all). It's pretty much the exact same thing I wrote, so If you already read it, don't bother! I'd rather you bask in the epic diaper battle between Matt Barnes and Lamar Odom.

Also, big ups to Ico24 whose fanpost inspired whatever I wrote.

Also, this is all my opinion, and I want it to be clear that I love and respect LeBron James' game.

Here are the ten reasons, in order of importance(some of these might be filler, but dominance entails many aspects) why Kobe is better than LeBron James, even as he ages :

10. The Kicks:

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Yeah, they’re important to fans.

9. The Number.

He’s the NBA’s Jack Bauer.

Almost literally. LeBron is just now realizing he’s been wearing MJ’s jersey.

8. The Franchise.

He’s had to live up to the expectations set forth by the NBA Logo, and the greatest showman the game has ever seen. Guess what? He embraces it. Some might see this as a resume thing, but I don’t think it is. I think it’s something that he deals with everyday.

To excel and make the fanbase of one of the most, if not the most storied franchise in all professional sports, question whether or not he has surpassed the greatest icons in our history, not just resume wise but as far as impact, is truly remarkable. Undeniable. And he’s not done yet.

LeBron is already the best player in the history of that team, and thus the respect and adulation given to him is earned, yes, but not with as large a climb as Kobe goes through.

7. The Personality.

Kobe, by almost all accounts, is a polarizing figure. You either love his tenacity, his drive, or you hate it and mistake his confidence for arrogance. What wins it for me? He doesn’t care. No matter what you say, he doesn’t care.

Why is that commendable? Because quite honestly, LeBron is much more likable from an objective standpoint. Hell, how can you not laugh and like this kid while he does this?

At the end of the day however, I prefer Kobe’s demeanor. I love that the guy loves to be hated. I love that he lets it fuel him. I love that his approval rating is in championship trophies, not ESPN spotlights.

I love LeBron’s personality as well, but I’m just not sure I want that much Mark Madsen in my superstar forward.

6. The Aesthetic.

Let me bring in a football reference really quick. I’m a Rams fan (save your jeers, I know we suck). At the very least during these trying years, I’ve been witness to the brutality Steven Jackson (2nd in the league in rushing last season on a 1-15 team) dishes to opposing defenses. It is quite beautiful. As great a back as he is, the way he does it can never be as beautiful as the way Marshall Faulk(Hall of Fame Class 2011/12) used to do it.

Kobe is Marshall Faulk in this scenario. LeBron is more of the bruiser, the Steven Jackson in this case. The way he does it is so much more aesthetically appealing. Which brings me to:

5. The Arsenal.

Watch the video. It’s one of my favorite Kobe videos ever, appropriately titled “Clinic.”

Let’s take LeBron out of the question really fast and ask, what could Jordan do on the court that Kobe cannot? Hell, I’m not sure I ever saw Jordan do this. Every jab step, pump fake, spin move, crossover, layup, mid air adjustment, fadeaway, bank shot, the footwork. Every single aspect of the game, offensively and defensively has been studied and perfected by this craftsman we know as the “Mamba.” LeBron’s repertoire is, let’s say, a little more condensed.

4. The System.

The biggest argument LeBron lovers/fans (funny how I’m a fan too) have is that LeBron is a better player because of the statline. Let’s face it, if you look at the numbers, it’s LeBron.

But hey? Let’s see numbers and systems in the NFL. Last season, Matt Schaub threw for 270 more yards than Peyton Manning did, with a Quarteback rating just a point below Manning’s. Manning was only sixth in overall QB rating. Schaub also threw for about 400 more yards on the year than eventual Superbowl MVP Drew Brees.

Does anyone here still think he’s better than Manning or Brees?

Honestly, all it takes to clarify the slightly lower production on Kobe’s part is the classic Ice Cube explanation.

I really couldn’t have said it any better, well, without the cursing and all.

I would’ve probably said “I don’t want to hear about that shit” as well though. :)

3. Kobe Doin’ Work.

I think the Spike Lee documentary was fascinating. He’s the general. He is the leader. This team has it’s lulls, as do all good teams. But that guy will be the first person to tell you that the team needs to work harder, and you can bet this team will be ready come playoffs because of Kobe and Phil. The IQ Kobe has on the court, I just marvel at it. Maybe LeBron does the same things, but I just can’t envision it. I always saw this from Kobe, the doc just gave me a clearer lens (and a a hearing aid).

2. The Defense.

I’ve heard complaints about Kobe being too much of a roamer/free safety defender lately, but in reality it’s just him playing the percentages. He knows when to crank it up and in which situations to do this.

I still don’t see LeBron doing it actively enough. I’ve watched at least 20 of his games this year, non-Laker related, and there’s a reason that if you Youtube “LeBron James Lockdown Defense,” the first 4 videos are Kobe Bryant related (seriously, try it). Sure, if you youtube “LeBron James blocks (insert name),” you’ll get plenty of results, and the blocks/steals are a big part of defense as well, but they aren’t the whole package that Kobe brings to the table.

Spiking a ball 20 rows into the stands doesn’t prove you’re a great defender. Kobe does it as well. LeBron is improving, but he’s not there yet on that front.

1. The Clutch.

He’s missed a few, but damnit, if there’s any aspect where these two are night and day, it’s clutch situations. I’m not even talking stats. How many times has Kobe straight bailed us? I won’t even put the 6 or 7 Youtube videos from this season alone here (Quick edit: Hell, I wrote this before Kobe hit his 7th later that night). We’ve seen them enough and we’ve seen them throughout the years.

As a matter of fact, I don’t anticipate LeBron will ever reach Kobe/Jordan’s stratosphere in this category. After Utah, Kobe started showing a knack for nailing these looks. He’s done it a lot over the years since. It’s something that seems almost innate to me. Either you’ve got that cold-blooded killer in you, the literal lack of care for the consequence of a miss, or you don’t.

LeBron’s hit a few, but I think it’s a case of the amount of opportunities you have. I just remember all these free-throw line misses LeBron had in the Orlando series, as well as turnovers. It’s a lasting image.

This argument might be settled in the Finals in June. It probably won’t be settled either way for me. Kobe would have to decline. If anything, he’s playing better than last season, and it was looking like one of his better seasons at the midway point. That indicates to me that, championship or not, some better health might mean an even better season (aka a prolonged first half of this season) next season.

Barring serious injury, this guy is going to continue to dominate till he’s 34-35. Crap! I should’ve mentioned that reason! It might be the biggest one of them all:

The Adaptability.

The strong survive because they adapt to the changing world. At this, not even a LeBron fan would argue there’s anyone better.