Who is the best basketball player?

[RWTP24]

Who is the best basketball player, LeBron or Kobe? Well, it is official now. Everyone needs to stop asking that question. It is 100% clear Kobe is the best player in the NBA and will be for a few years to come. All the talk about this “King LeBron” needs to stop. Last time I checked, you need to do something amazing you get the name “King.” On a finally note, Kobe had 4 championship and LeBron has 0. Kobe is a finisher, LeBron is not.

[bsox0407]

Lebron does not have an as good a supporting cast.

 

Right now.

Bynum>>>>Shag

Gasol>>>>>Hickson

Artest

Kobe>>>>>Parker

Fisher>>>>Mo WIlliams.

 

Kobe didn't win without a really good team around him. A Championship team has more than just one great player.

 

Shaq right now is barely an all-star. Gasol is an All-star.

 

Look at Garnett. Without a good team he did not win a Championship. Comes to the Celtics with Ray(who had the same thing with Seattle) met Pierce who was also the same. and then they won a championship.

[bsox0407]

Plus Let us look at who comes off the bench. Odom a starter(possible All-star) anywhere else come off the bench for the Lakers. Then The Cavs best is West maybe Anderson V.

[redsoxrules]

Lebron hands down

 

Kobe has a way better team around him

 

Lebron also has the better stats

[redsoxrules]

Who is the best basketball player' date=' LeBron or Kobe? Well, it is official now. Everyone needs to stop asking that question. It is 100% clear Kobe is the best player in the NBA and will be for a few years to come. All the talk about this “King LeBron” needs to stop. Last time I checked, you need to do something amazing you get the name “King.” On a finally note, Kobe had 4 championship and LeBron has 0. Kobe is a finisher, LeBron is not.[/quote']

 

LOL .... you do realize that Lebron is still only 26 right ?

 

he'll have a few championship before he's done

 

I'd love to see Kobe win a championship with a s***** supporting cast , oh wait he cant , we saw that in previous years before last year

[Flynnatic10]

LOL .... you do realize that Lebron is still only 26 right ?

 

he'll have a few championship before he's done

 

I'd love to see Kobe win a championship with a s***** supporting cast , oh wait he cant , we saw that in previous years before last year

 

he won 3 with SHAQ when he was in his early 20's...

[bsox0407]

he won 3 with SHAQ when he was in his early 20's...

 

Shaq was good then.

[Keeper]

The best player in the game right now is clearly LeBron. Kobe has lost a step. And although Kobe might be a better finisher, I've seen them both disappear in big games. That's why I always laugh when people say LeBron is or will be considered the GOAT.

[Flynnatic10]

Shaq was good then.

 

thats my point shaq led the team in the late 90's and early 00's

[schillingouttheks]

thats my point shaq led the team in the late 90's and early 00's

 

... you're not disagreeing with anyone. The point was that superstars need good teammates to win... what are you trying to argue?

[Emmz]

The last I checked the Championship is a team accomplishment. Lebron is the statistical giant of the NBA right now in a Jordanesque manner. He's easily the best.

[redsoxrules]

Lebron's post season stats are quite impressive

 

29.3 PPG 8.4RPG 7.6 APG

 

 

you cant win championship on your own , although he almost did a few years ago

[suns]

I seriously think the cavs would have won the championship if mo played defense and amare instead of AJ.

[schillingouttheks]

I seriously think the cavs would have won the championship if mo played defense and amare instead of AJ.

 

lol this sentence is hilarious. I guess if you magically add one of the best players in the league to your team, they probably would win....

[See Red]

People forget that Kobe carried some ridiculously bad Lakers teams to the playoffs in the post-Shaq, Pre-Gasol era.

 

He won 45 games in the Western Conference with this supporting cast...

 

Lamar Odom

Kwame Brown

Andrew Bynum (as a Rookie)

Brian Cook

Devean George

Devin Green

Jim Jackson

Sasha Vujacic

Luke Walton

Aaron McKie

Stanislav Medvidenko

Chris Mihm

Smush Parker

Ronny Turiaf

Laron Profit

 

And you know what? That team lost two less games that year then the Cavs lost this year. You'd have a hard time finding an example of a guy doing more with less.

[YanksHater213]

I used to say LeBron through and through, but I'm putting him below Kobe these days. LeBron just doesn't seem to have what it takes to get over the hump. He's a whining cry baby. He gets "hurt" every time he gets touched. He needs to make excuses instead of give credit. When things don't go his way he gets mopey and it clearly has a large effect on his team. He had his best supporting cast in years, arguably the best team in the NBA, and it was pretty much his no shows that lost them that series. Kobe would never let that happen. The supporting cast argument really only works when you have s***** supporting casts, and not only did he have a great one this year with more than enough above average role players to win, but he had far and away his best one to date. Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, Shaq, Varejao, Ilgauskas, Gibson, West, Parker, Moon, Hickson, etc.

 

Kobe's got I'd say around 1-2 years more max playing at his highest level, then Kevin Durant takes over, especially if we see LeBron go to New York. As he's been getting older, he's been passing more, being an overall better teammate, more importantly, improving his defense, and overall becoming a more wiser basketball player (kind of like the transformation we saw Pierce undergo, from immature diva to team guy).

 

Right now for me:

1. Kobe

2. Durant

3. Lebron

3a. Wade

[Emmz]

Lebron has a good supporting cast? Maybe if Jamison and Shaq are in their primes. Not now, he was working with scrubs. Lebron isn't a cry baby either, he plays hard and he doesn't get hurt every time he's touched, as you say. Durant better than James is just just silly.

[YanksHater213]

When you're as good as LeBron, and command the amount of touches a guy like he does, you don't need to place other super prolific players. I was actually surprised with how well Cleveland built this team with tough, hard nosed, and scrappy role players. Jamison is hardly past his prime, his numbers in Washington were pretty on par with his career average, and saw a nice little dip with a boost in efficiency once he got to Cleveland. Yeah, Shaq is past his prime, but he's got enough size and gas left in the tank to be an effective role player below the hoop, which is all they ask him to do. Mo Williams is a very good scorer, then you add in Varejao, Ilgauskas, Hickson, West, Gibson, Parker, and Moon, all in the general upper echelon of role players and you're going to sit there and tell me his supporting cast isn't good? It's probably one of the best in the league considering bench depth, not just starting lineups.

 

You must not watch the guy if you don't think he's a baby. He gets away with more than any other player than any player that I've ever seen, and when he gets touched, he feels the need to exaggerate to the nth degree. It's a shame and one of the reasons why basketball is going down the tubes.

 

I figured a lot of people would be ignorant to my Durant opinion so let me explain a bit. First off, a guy averaging 25+ ppg in three seasons before he turns 22 is ridiculous, I don't even need to explain that. But to bring them from perennial cellar dweller since Allen and Lewis left to a playoff spot and finishing 18 games over .500 shows a lot more value and heart than a guy like LeBron shows. Look at their roster, past Westbrook, Green, and Harden, they've got literally nothing. Ibaka, Collison, Maynor (who I think will turn out to be good though), Krstic, Sefolosha, DJ White, Ollie, and Etan Thomas. That's literally a who's who of (excluding Maynor) players taken off the scrap heap. Durant led them to a 50-32 regular season, and gave the Lakers a legitimate run in the first round. Durant is a SPECIAL player, but not many people realize it because OKC has been an afterthough.

[Emmz]

When you're as good as LeBron, and command the amount of touches a guy like he does, you don't need to place other super prolific players. I was actually surprised with how well Cleveland built this team with tough, hard nosed, and scrappy role players. Jamison is hardly past his prime, his numbers in Washington were pretty on par with his career average, and saw a nice little dip with a boost in efficiency once he got to Cleveland. Yeah, Shaq is past his prime, but he's got enough size and gas left in the tank to be an effective role player below the hoop, which is all they ask him to do. Mo Williams is a very good scorer, then you add in Varejao, Ilgauskas, Hickson, West, Gibson, Parker, and Moon, all in the general upper echelon of role players and you're going to sit there and tell me his supporting cast isn't good? It's probably one of the best in the league considering bench depth, not just starting lineups.

 

You must not watch the guy if you don't think he's a baby. He gets away with more than any other player than any player that I've ever seen, and when he gets touched, he feels the need to exaggerate to the nth degree. It's a shame and one of the reasons why basketball is going down the tubes.

 

I figured a lot of people would be ignorant to my Durant opinion so let me explain a bit. First off, a guy averaging 25+ ppg in three seasons before he turns 22 is ridiculous, I don't even need to explain that. But to bring them from perennial cellar dweller since Allen and Lewis left to a playoff spot and finishing 18 games over .500 shows a lot more value and heart than a guy like LeBron shows. Look at their roster, past Westbrook, Green, and Harden, they've got literally nothing. Ibaka, Collison, Maynor (who I think will turn out to be good though), Krstic, Sefolosha, DJ White, Ollie, and Etan Thomas. That's literally a who's who of (excluding Maynor) players taken off the scrap heap. Durant led them to a 50-32 regular season, and gave the Lakers a legitimate run in the first round. Durant is a SPECIAL player, but not many people realize it because OKC has been an afterthough.

 

Durant only scores, he doesn't play defense, something you knocked Lebron for, who plays pretty damn good defense. Also, you can't just have roleplayers on a team. You could have a team full of good rollplayers, and they'll finish with a sub-.500 record if you don't have a couple of go-to guys. Lebron is the only one on Cleveland. Shaq is no longer a go-to guy, Jamison is no longer a go-to guy. Think about it, Kobe has Pao Gasol, Ron Artest, used to have Shaq, etc. His team is LOADED. If you think that Cleveland's supporting cast for Lebron compares to that, then I don't know what to tell you.

 

If Lebron is with the team that Kobe has, or if Kobe/Durant have Lebron's team, Lebron's a NBA Champion this year, and Kobe/Durant are barely making it into the playoffs. Lebron James IS the Cavs.

[italstallianion]

I like the idea of putting Durant over LeBron, but I think that it needs to wait a few seasons.

[YanksHater213]

Durant only scores, he doesn't play defense, something you knocked Lebron for, who plays pretty damn good defense. Also, you can't just have roleplayers on a team. You could have a team full of good rollplayers, and they'll finish with a sub-.500 record if you don't have a couple of go-to guys. Lebron is the only one on Cleveland. Shaq is no longer a go-to guy, Jamison is no longer a go-to guy. Think about it, Kobe has Pao Gasol, Ron Artest, used to have Shaq, etc. His team is LOADED. If you think that Cleveland's supporting cast for Lebron compares to that, then I don't know what to tell you.

 

If Lebron is with the team that Kobe has, or if Kobe/Durant have Lebron's team, Lebron's a NBA Champion this year, and Kobe/Durant are barely making it into the playoffs. Lebron James IS the Cavs.

 

Durant plays better defense than you are leading on here. I never knocked LeBron's defense - his athleticism leads him to be a pretty damn good defender, but he's nothing to brag about when he has to man up, and he's sometimes led to complacency, especially when he's upset with his team (see games 5 and 6). Kobe would never do that. I used to hate Kobe's guts, but after seeing the way the LeBron has acted, I completely turned here, Kobe would never not try.

 

Obviously you can't just have role players, but LeBron is their go to guy so they absolutely can get away with a bunch of role players. You mention Kobe having Gasol, who his only real threat, Bynum, Odom, and Artest are all absolutely role players on that team. His team isn't loaded like you're saying, they're front loaded. Their bench is just alright, Cleveland's bench blows them out of the water.

 

Kobe has played on some pretty putrid teams himself, the mid-2000's Lakers were pretty awful post Shaq. The team that See Red posted up is a terrific example of just how much Kobe was able to carry that team. They have guys that turned out to be good (Bynum, Butler) but were nowhere near the players they are now.

 

You also have to understand, I'm a Celtics fan. I LOATHE Kobe Bryant. I think he's a no good rotten rapist. For me to say that he's a better player than LeBron takes a lot for me to say.

 

I also think you're completely dismissing Durant for no reason at all. He's always been on AWFUL teams, and has had to be the centerpiece of a team that really has never had anything. This year he carried them and put together a great run in trying to beat that Lakers. They turn around that game 5 which they lost by 3 points, you might be looking at a OKC vs. Suns WCF to be completely honest. They did that with literally nothing off the bench. It was Durant, Green, Westbrook, Harden, and everyone else. That in and of itself is a great accomplishment for Durant, to put his team on his back like that and take them to a game six vs. the Lakers.

[italstallianion]

And I'm a Spurs fan, so I hate Kobe about as much as Celtic fans do.

[Emmz]

Durant is a Chris Bosh who has fancier moves. Hell, at least Chris Bosh can box out, and grab some rebounds. I remember bashing Bosh's offense, but Bosh has a higher FG%, only averages about minimally lower PPG than Durant, and grabs 10 boards every year too.

 

Lebron James grabs MORE REBOUNDS than Kevin Durant does. Lebron James shoots for a higher percentage, and has been doing what Durant has been doing offensively for the past 5 years. You talk about Durant doing all this before the age of 22, Lebron did EVEN BETTER than Durant did before the age of 22. Offensively, and defensively, Lebron is better. Both men have weak supporting casts, but Lebron is definitely better than Durant.

[bsox0407]

And I'm a Spurs fan' date=' so I hate Kobe about as much as Celtic fans do.[/quote']

 

I hate Kobe as well but not for him being a good basketball player but for being a rapist.

 

Lebron is also affected by when he shoots poorly he plays bad defense. But when he shoots well he plays good defense.

[Emmz]

Durant plays better defense than you are leading on here. I never knocked LeBron's defense - his athleticism leads him to be a pretty damn good defender, but he's nothing to brag about when he has to man up, and he's sometimes led to complacency, especially when he's upset with his team (see games 5 and 6). Kobe would never do that. I used to hate Kobe's guts, but after seeing the way the LeBron has acted, I completely turned here, Kobe would never not try.

 

Obviously you can't just have role players, but LeBron is their go to guy so they absolutely can get away with a bunch of role players. You mention Kobe having Gasol, who his only real threat, Bynum, Odom, and Artest are all absolutely role players on that team. His team isn't loaded like you're saying, they're front loaded. Their bench is just alright, Cleveland's bench blows them out of the water.

 

Kobe has played on some pretty putrid teams himself, the mid-2000's Lakers were pretty awful post Shaq. The team that See Red posted up is a terrific example of just how much Kobe was able to carry that team. They have guys that turned out to be good (Bynum, Butler) but were nowhere near the players they are now.

 

You also have to understand, I'm a Celtics fan. I LOATHE Kobe Bryant. I think he's a no good rotten rapist. For me to say that he's a better player than LeBron takes a lot for me to say.

 

I also think you're completely dismissing Durant for no reason at all. He's always been on AWFUL teams, and has had to be the centerpiece of a team that really has never had anything. This year he carried them and put together a great run in trying to beat that Lakers. They turn around that game 5 which they lost by 3 points, you might be looking at a OKC vs. Suns WCF to be completely honest. They did that with literally nothing off the bench. It was Durant, Green, Westbrook, Harden, and everyone else. That in and of itself is a great accomplishment for Durant, to put his team on his back like that and take them to a game six vs. the Lakers.

 

But you're blowing him up to be better than Lebron, when Lebron has done everything that Durant has done. You're dismissing Lebron based on his attitude more than anything. He is the best player, he gets rebounds, he can pass, he can play tough defense, and he obviously is one of the best offensive players, and imo, the best offensive player in basketball. Lebron James is the only person in the NBA who is ever compared to Michael Jordan, and that's for a reason. He's the real deal. He takes his team on his back, and he's made it to the NBA Finals with a pretty awful supporting cast before.

[italstallianion]

I agree with Lebron being better than Durant, but I think Lebron is a clear #2 behind Kobe.

[Keeper]

This is an interesting discussion, but I would say LeBron is a much better all-around player than Durant. And while I agree that LeBron did have a decent supporting cast this year (particularly the bench depth), the starters that Kobe plays with are superior to the starters that LeBron plays with. That's indisputable. The one thing I really don't like about LeBron is the crab dribble move. If that's not traveling, I don't know what is.

 

Durant is a scoring machine, and I don't think anyone expected OKC to do what they did this year. I give Durant and Westbrook all the credit in the world for the turnaround. To me, Durant is a more athletic version of Nowitzki. LeBron is the total package. Kobe is also the total package, but like I said before he has lost a step.

[Emmz]

I think Wade is arguable for after Kobe as well, Lebron James is just the obvious choice for the best player in basketball, to me it's a no-brainer. I don't think his attitude should change that.

[YanksHater213]

Whoa, whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa.

 

Durant is Bosh with fancier moves?

 

What?

 

I don't even know where to start with this but I'm pretty much taking all of your opinions on basketball with a grain of salt from now on, but I'll do it anyways.

 

Kevin Durant is not a power forward. He plays shooting guard and small forward, and sometimes plays the PF when OKC goes very small. Kevin Durant is a scorer, Chris Bosh is not. Chris Bosh gets his points off of dunks and his mid-range jumper. Not only can Durant post up, but he can shoot from the outside, score on the inside, AND drive to the basket. Kevin Durant is so much more versatile and better in pretty much every area offensively than Bosh that I'm literally absolutely baffled that you could even begin to compare the two in the same sentence. You put Durant on Toronto, that's a playoff team, no questions asked. Just because Durant is around the same height as Bosh doesn't mean its alright to call them comparable as players.

[Emmz]

This is an interesting discussion, but I would say LeBron is a much better all-around player than Durant. And while I agree that LeBron did have a decent supporting cast this year (particularly the bench depth), the starters that Kobe plays with are superior to the starters that LeBron plays with. That's indisputable. The one thing I really don't like about LeBron is the crab dribble move. If that's not traveling, I don't know what is.

 

Durant is a scoring machine, and I don't think anyone expected OKC to do what they did this year. I give Durant and Westbrook all the credit in the world for the turnaround. To me, Durant is a more athletic version of Nowitzki. LeBron is the total package. Kobe is also the total package, but like I said before he has lost a step.

 

I agree that the Cavs have bench depth, but their starters outside of Lebron are noticeably weaker than most of the playoff caliber teams this year. Their starters were really not very good. They had a lot of bench players who could easily have been switched to start over some of those starters though.

 

Kobe is very good all around, he plays hard, tough defense, obviously a scoring machine, but I don't know that even in his prime, if he's as good as Lebron James is. Kobe Bryant is one of the best players in NBA history, but Lebron James has a legitimate chance to be in the same league and Michael Jordan.