King of the NBA: Sorry, Kobe, it’s LeBron
At just 23, Cavaliers star already the best player in the league
 Stephen Dunn / Getty Images In their head-to-head matchups, Kobe Bryant has lost five straight to LeBron James. |
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Kobe or LeBron? LeBron or Kobe? Choosing who's better is like picking a favorite Springsteen album. Or deciding between Maui or Kauai, The Godfather or The Godfather II, plain M&Ms or dark chocolate M&Ms.
Close calls, one and all. You might say there are no right or wrong answers, and you would be correct — except for the choice of Kobe Bryant or LeBron James.
There's a right answer regarding that one, and the right answer is LeBron. At 23 years, one month and change, he has become the best basketball player on the planet.
This has nothing to do with LeBron being six-plus years younger than Kobe. This is about now.
With apologies to Tim Duncan, if I were building a team to win a championship this season, LeBron would be my first pick and Kobe would be my second.
I want my best player to control the ball and, for all Duncan does, he does not run the Spurs' offense.
Until about a month ago, I always argued for Kobe over LeBron. But pay attention to LeBron's numbers, his physical dominance and the fact that he has elevated the Cavs to the East's best record since Christmas. You could change your thinking, too.
I still say Kobe has a prettier game and is more fun to watch. Kobe exudes basketball player.
LeBron exudes physical freak. At 6-8, 245 pounds, LeBron has two inches and at least 25 pounds on Kobe. Yet he is faster, can jump higher and is far more powerful.
"At his size, what he can do is not fair. It's just not fair," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni says.
Before Kobe fanatics start blasting away with the e-mails, they should understand that siding with LeBron is not a knock on Kobe. This could be Kobe's finest season, which is saying a lot for someone who once averaged 35.4 points and has made the All-NBA first team five times. Given his best supporting cast since the Lakers' Shaq days, Kobe has become more of a teammate and less of a "gimme the ball and get outta my way" scorer. If the season ended today, he would finish no worse than third in the MVP voting.
But the road to the MVP will go through LeBron. As Kevin Garnett's chances have diminished because of an abdominal strain, LeBron's chances have improved. He has put up the most impressive numbers in the league (30.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists) without a lot of support, which means opponents key on him every night.
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Offense: Scouts agree that Kobe is a better shooter even though LeBron's shooting percentage is higher. Kobe, however, has far better numbers from the 3-point and free throw lines. Kobe also has a better midrange jumper, but, says one scout, "LeBron doesn't need a midrange game. He shoots the 3 or he attacks. When he goes to the rim, he sheds bodies. No one can stop him."
One exec insists LeBron is a playmaker first, scorer second, yet he is the only player averaging at least 30 points. That's some playmaker. Edge: LeBron — this season, anyway.
Defense: Some scouts say Kobe is "way overrated" as a defender, but he's a regular on the all-defensive team. LeBron, who averages more steals and blocks, continues to improve with experience. Both have shown they can be shutdown defenders when they want to be. Edge: Kobe, because he wants to be a little more often than LeBron does.
Rebounding: LeBron is a 6-8 forward, Kobe is a 6-6 guard. LeBron should be better. Edge: LeBron.
Passing: LeBron often has drawn comparisons to Magic Johnson because of his ability — and willingness — to distribute the ball. Kobe ... hasn't. Edge: LeBron.
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Intangibles: A coach would feel comfortable putting the ball in the hands of either at the end of a close game, but Kobe's competitive drive is "almost criminal," D'Antoni says. LeBron has a quieter intensity, but he also is driven — after all, he carried the underdog Cavaliers to the Finals last season. Edge: Kobe, partly because he just looks more intense.
Head to head: LeBron's winning streak is up to five with a sweep of this season's two games. Because they play different positions, the two rarely guard each other. But when LeBron decided to defend Kobe in the final minutes of a tight game at Cleveland in December, he outscored Kobe 6-0 down the stretch. In L.A. last month, LeBron again outscored Kobe in the final two-plus minutes and also hit two free throws to ice the Cavs' victory. In the season series, LeBron outscored Kobe 72-54 while taking 61 shots to Kobe's 43. Their shooting percentages, assists and rebound totals all were close. Edge: LeBron.
Bottom line: It's LeBron, in a close decision. But a correct decision.
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