Who Is Really the Better Player?
Lebron James is arguably the best all-around player in NBA history. With a career averaging 27 points per game, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists, a regular fan would say he is the most proficient player which would crown him being the greatest of all-time, but I believe being considered an all-time great runs deeper than statistics.
Being able to make all types of plays during the first three quarters of a game is great, but when the game has been competitive to the very last second, it takes more tenacity and a killer instinct or being clutch to win the tight games. Lebron doesn’t demonstrate that ability to flip the switch often enough to classify as the greatest, hence; is why Kobe Bryant is the better player
Even though LBJ has appeared in more finals than Kobe by one, he’s only won three of those finals meanwhile Kobe has won five out of seven of his finals appearances averaging 25.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. Lebron, on the other hand averages 27.6, 9.9 rebounds, 7.4 assists which shows that takes more than simple stats to win it all.
“I’m extremely willful to win, and I respond to challenges. Scoring titles and stuff like that… it sounds well [but] I don’t care how it sounds- to me, scoring comes easy. It’s not a challenge to me to win the scoring title, because I know I can.” says Kobe in an interview on Brainy quote.
The Black Mamba indicated that accolades such as a scoring title, MVPs, etc. aren’t the biggest things concerning him, but winning games by any means is all that was on Kobe’s agenda throughout his historic career. Whether scoring 81 points in a game or just scoring 17 with 15 boards, Kobe simply had the will to succeed which is the true definition of being clutch.
Lebron James on the other hand had many opportunities to demonstrate that he had the drive to win at all costs, but failed to show the tenacity that Kobe possess when the game mattered the most. In his second NBA Finals appearance (this time with the Miami Heat) Lebron James seemingly disappeared in game 4 of the series. As being the first scoring option on the team, James only took 11 shots and only made 3 with 4 turnovers while his teammates, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh combined for over 56 points, but still came up short to the underdog Dallas Mavericks losing 4 straight games.
Lebron grew since then picking up 3 ring, numerous MVPs, and so on, but he still doesn’t show ability to flip the switch on a consistent level as the all-time greats. Two years ago during the 2016 Finals, It wasn’t James who gave Cleveland their first ring, but it was Kyrie Irving who it a highly contested fadeaway baseline jumper to seal the deal against the defending Golden State Warriors which depicts once again that Lebron is greatly dependent on his teammates to take over the game rather than being the alpha he is during the first 3 quarters.
For that reason, Kobe will forever be the better basketball player in comparison to Lebron James because of his instinct to win, something that Lebron has struggled to show throughout his entire career.
