LeBron James is a better player than Kobe Bryant was. After Game 3, the age old debate should have ended for good.
With the and-one that led to LeBron James passing Kobe Bryant for third all-time in postseason points, what we witnessed was a moment where a microcosm of James’ career could be found in a history-changing bucket.
As LeBron went coast-to-coast, blowing past Monta Ellis and Thaddeus Young on the way down the lane, he was bumped in mid-air by Kevin Seraphin. He used his right hand to get a layup off from the left side.
We heard the whistle. James stepped to the line. He sunk the free throw.
In that moment, James passed Bryant to be third all-time in playoff points in 19 fewer games. The first of three legends James is set to pass in playoff points in this postseason.
The man who surpassed Bryant to be the youngest player in NBA history to reach 28,000 points once again bested Kobe in a statistical category that always favored the Black Mamba, according to the narratives. James even had more threes in the postseason than Kobe after Game 3.
The guy who people would think was the better shooter and scorer than James, isn’t.
Sure, Kobe has a better shooting stroke and he never tries to let his foot off the opponent’s throat. That plays into why Bryant is a better free-throw shooter than James as well.
However, James has been the better three-point threat and consistently evolves as a scorer, coming into seasons with new ways to score in his bag. In the post, he’s both powerful and highly-skilled, which is what makes him so dominant when he’s inside. These factors, combined with his passing ability and physical prowess, makes James hard to stop.
He doesn’t have to take what the defense gives him anymore. He can take what he wants.
He’s a consistent mismatch on the court. Not simply because he’s better than his matchup but because his size, skillset and athleticism is unprecedented.
That only lends itself to his efficiency, which, as you can see dwarfs Bryant’s in both the regular season and the playoffs.
| Rk | Player | G | GS | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | eFG% | FT | FTA | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kobe Bryant | 1346 | 1198 | 36.1 | 8.7 | 19.5 | .447 | 1.4 | 4.1 | .329 | .482 | 6.2 | 7.4 | .837 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 25.0 |
| 2 | LeBron James | 1061 | 1060 | 38.9 | 9.8 | 19.6 | .501 | 1.4 | 4.0 | .342 | .536 | 6.1 | 8.2 | .740 | 7.3 | 7.0 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 27.1 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 4/23/2017.
| Rk | Player | G | GS | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | eFG% | FT | FTA | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kobe Bryant | 220 | 200 | 39.3 | 9.2 | 20.5 | .448 | 1.3 | 4.0 | .331 | .480 | 6.0 | 7.4 | .816 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 25.6 |
| 2 | LeBron James | 202 | 202 | 42.1 | 9.9 | 20.7 | .479 | 1.5 | 4.5 | .323 | .514 | 6.8 | 9.1 | .743 | 8.8 | 6.8 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 28.1 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 4/23/2017.
To be frank, nobody has an answer for
Hercules
Superman masquerading as an NBA player with Magic Johnson-level passing and the ability to play every position on the court.
Passing ability that Kobe displayed at times but that LeBron never fails to put on display. Nonetheless, an ability that never impacted James’ ability to affect the game as a scorer, despite Bryant’s mindset that James passes too much.
LeBron is efficient; he plays to his greatest strengths while being able to hit shots from all over the court, just in case. In transition, he’s more or less unstoppable.
That’s what makes the better passer also the better scorer.
On the other side of the ball. Defensively, Kobe was a more intense defender than James. However, James’ physical abilities gives him a great ability to recover and contest shots. In the same vain, James’ ability play every position on the court is still impressive enough to close the gap between the levels of intensity in their on-ball defense. Off-ball, both players excelled at jumping the passing lanes but James’ transition defense has been better.
When you think of chasedown blocks what pops into your mind first? James’ block on Andre Iguodala at the end of Game 7? His block of Jason Richardson’s 360 dunk attempt? James is the progenitor of a signature defensive move. A feat that Bryant can’t match.
As far as the mental side of the game both players obsessed with greatness. In a game, they have different approaches as Kobe was more of a do-it-myself type of player for 48 minutes while James played more of a team game. However, both played with the desire to win every game they were a part of.
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While James has also been more of the business-savvy player off-the-court and even has a Hollywood flair, Bryant is still a cultural icon that matches James off-the-court because of his rabid and loyal fan base.
Yet, James’ squeaky clean reputation and his endeavors to provide and support education for children and adults with the LeBron James Family Foundation, a scholarship at the University of Akron and soon, a public school, nudges the needle towards The King rather than the Mamba, who has had a murky off-court history but has also been one of the game’s greatest ambassadors.
What left is there to judge the two on?
Clutch performances? Winning?
In the regular season, Bryant has taken the cake in clutch moments. James has knocked down 19.6 percent of his shots with 5 seconds or less in the 4th quarter or overtime in the regular season compared to Bryant who knocked down 25.2 percent of the same shots in the regular season.
In the playoffs, it’s been James who has been more clutch. He’s knocked down 43.8 percent of his shots with 5 seconds or less in the 4th quarter or overtime in the playoffs compared to Bryant who has knocked down 24.0 percent of the same shots in the postseason.
Wow, right? Since the postseason is more important than the regular season and should draw the best out of players, it’s fair to say that James is more clutch than Kobe as well.
As far as rings go, which is what we mean by “winning” in the NBA world, Bryant has five championship rings and a 5-2 record in the NBA Finals. James has 3 rings and a 3-4 record.
However, we all know that at least two of James’ Finals matchups (2007, 2015) were doomed from the start. With that said, if he gets to five rings, and especially if he defeats the Golden State Warriors again to get his fourth ring, James should match Bryant in being a “winner” as a player.
Even if he never wins another ring, James has passed Bryant in assists, rebounds and blocks in the regular season and points, assists, rebounds, blocks, steals and three-point attempts in the postseason while having better efficiency from the field and three-point range.
He’s been a physical force on the court and one of the game’s best leaders off-the-court. He’s been more clutch in the bigger moments and has been the most unique force the game has ever seen. What more does LeBron have to do to be better than Kobe?
Nothing.
Related Story: Ranking LeBron's Game 3 Performance
Who’s better? Kobe Bryant or LeBron James? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.