Lebron is the best

[peskypesky]

The most dominant player ever was Wilt. Easily the most unstoppable force the NBA had ever seen.

He had athleticism that would make LBJ look like Jason Kapono. I suggest you youngins read up on your history before you start with the

"LEBRONZ IS DA BESTEST EVA!" threads.

Wilt definitely was an incredible force, and his stats are ridiculous, but I think the thing that hurts his reputation is his relative lack of success at winning championships. It's hard when I talk with youngsters and I try to tell them how great Wilt was, and they say, "Well, then how come he only won twice, when Jordan won 6 times and Shaq's won 4 and Tim Duncan's won 4?".

I know basketball is a team game, but when we talk about the greatest ever, the Championship thing seems to carry a lot of weight.

[peskypesky]

Spurs fans hate Kobe simply because he has crushed their championship hopes. There is no other reason, don't believe their BS. They're a relatively rational fanbase towards every team EXCEPT the Lakers because the Lakers have crushed them so many times in the playoffs.

Understand this, and then you can understand why their fans call Kobe a chucker and a choker.

I agree with you that as a Spurs fan, it's hard not to hate Kobe. But guess what? I still vote for him to be an All-Star and I still call him the best SG in the game today.

And it's not just Spurs fans who have been critical of his play. I've heard countless "experts" and even Lakers fans saying that for the Lakers to start winning again, Kobe had to learn to share the ball more and learn how to make his team-mates better. And he has done that. Kobe has matured and become a better player and a team leader. I give him props for that.

That being said, I give Lebron the nod over Kobe due to Lebron's rebounding, blocking and muscular drives to the basket. Kobe fans can counter with Kobe's superior perimeter and FT shooting. I give them that.

It's a close call. No doubt. But i still hate them both!

[DazedAndConfused]

Kobe can't do anything right. Such is the burden he has had to bear as of the result of being the only real successor to MJ.

How can you follow MJ? He had about as perfect an NBA career as you can have. There is simply no touching that man.

[peskypesky]

Kobe can't do anything right. Such is the burden he has had to bear as of the result of being the only real successor to MJ.

How can you follow MJ? He had about as perfect an NBA career as you can have. There is simply no touching that man.

Tim Duncan and Shaq are the real successors to Michael Jordan. 4 rings each in the post-Jordan era.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

lol this is funny.

Just because Lebron has the ball in his hands all the time and scores more doesn't mean he's better.

I guess this is why Kobe is taking more shots than him per game and averaging a grand .5 points less than LeBron this season.

[DazedAndConfused]

Tim Duncan and Shaq are the real successors to Michael Jordan. 4 rings each in the post-Jordan era.

Tim Duncan and Shaq are POST PLAYERS. God damn you're dumb. ing stop drinking tap water over there in SA, I'm pretty sure they don't clean that .

[DAF86]

lol this is funny.

Lebron is not better than Kobe. Just because Lebron has the ball in his hands all the time and scores more doesn't mean he's better. Kobe lets the game come to him, and his overall approach is more decisive.

Have you even seen Lebron play this year? He's dominating in every aspect of the game, he isn't just a scorer. And by the way Kobe is taking more shots than him but making less points.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Tim Duncan and Shaq are the real successors to Michael Jordan. 4 rings each in the post-Jordan era.

There will never be a successor to Jordan. Even with the rule changes that Jordan caused because Stern has made it his top priority to find the next Jordan even if it means compromising the integrity of the game, no shooting guard will ever win multiples les while getting virtually no offense from the PF or C.

[Obstructed_View]

Kobe can't do anything right. Such is the burden he has had to bear as of the result of being the only real successor to MJ.

How can you follow MJ? He had about as perfect an NBA career as you can have. There is simply no touching that man.

There are a lot of guys that have followed MJ. As of this point, none of them deserve to be mentioned in the same breath with him either, and at least we as fans of those players are smart enough not to even pretend that there's any comparison. Such is the burden the rest of the NBAs fans have to bear as a result of the delusions of Lakerfan.

[DazedAndConfused]

Kobe Bryant is the only player that CAN be mentioned in the same breadth as Jordan since he retired.

He's the only player that comes close as far as offensive skills, repertoire, killer instinct, and clutchness go.

Your blind hatred is amusing. Spurs fans are generally classy but I can see so easily how much you hate the Lakers and Phil Jackson for knocking your team out of the playoffs so many times this decade.

4-1 .

[KidCongo]

Kobe Bryant is the only player that CAN be mentioned in the same breadth as Jordan since he retired.

He's the only player that comes close as far as offensive skills, repertoire, killer instinct, and clutchness go.

Your blind hatred is amusing. Spurs fans are generally classy but I can see so easily how much you hate the Lakers and Phil Jackson for knocking your team out of the playoffs so many times this decade.

4-1 .

And LeBron isn't mentioned in the same breath as players such as Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.

LeBron James is currently a better basketball player than Kobe Bryant.

[TheMadHatter]

And LeBron isn't mentioned in the same breath as players such as Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.

LeBron James is currently a better basketball player than Kobe Bryant.

Kobe has been playing at an elite level for over a decade.

We'll see if Lebron has that kind of longevity, I doubt it.

And Lebron will never be mentioned in the same sentence as MJ until he starts winning rings. Getting swept in the Finals is not going to cut it.

[Spur-Addict]

Kobe has been playing at an elite level for over a decade.

We'll see if Lebron has that kind of longevity, I doubt it.
And Lebron will never be mentioned in the same sentence as MJ until he starts winning rings. Getting swept in the Finals is not going to cut it.

I don't know what footage you've been watching MadHater, but there isn't anything that would indicate he wouldn't outside of a serious injury. He came into the league and played better than Kobe at the same age and has been progressing at a rapid pace.

[DazedAndConfused]

I don't know what footage you've been watching MadHater, but there isn't anything that would indicate he wouldn't outside of a serious injury. He came into the league and played better than Kobe at the same age and has been progressing at a rapid pace.

His game is still all about his athleticism. IMHO his biggest strength is what will ultimately hinder him when he gets older. Why work on your jumpshot, footwork, post game, etc. when you can just bulldoze your way to the basket for an easy dunk 9/10 times?

[Spur-Addict]

His game is still all about his athleticism. IMHO his biggest strength is what will ultimately hinder him when he gets older. Why work on your jumpshot, footwork, post game, etc. when you can just bulldoze your way to the basket for an easy dunk 9/10 times?

Do you seriously think that he will not continue to develop his game? Do you think he will not continue to polish his game? If you honestly think this you are delusional. SERIOUSLY.

[baseline bum]

Kobe has been playing at an elite level for over a decade.

We'll see if Lebron has that kind of longevity, I doubt it.

And Lebron will never be mentioned in the same sentence as MJ until he starts winning rings. Getting swept in the Finals is not going to cut it.

Really? Because when I bring up the 99 sweep, all Laker fans can tell me is Kobe was just some shadow of himself who wasn't very good and that was the only reason the Spurs won, much less than dominated in that series.

[DazedAndConfused]

Of course Lebron will develop his game.

But he doesn't have the shooting touch necessary to keep him as effective as he gets older. Kobe has that shooting touch which is why he can still be very effective at the age of 30.

[Spur-Addict]

Of course Lebron will develop his game.

But he doesn't have the shooting touch necessary to keep him as effective as he gets older. Kobe has that shooting touch which is why he can still be very effective at the age of 30.

And improving your shooting touch isn't apart of developing one's game? Come on sir, lets be real. Furthermore, his shot has been progressing, so the evidence is there. His distance, and tendency to take and make tough jumpers has increased.

[024]

lebron is already better than kobe when he was 24. right now i say it's about even. i think lebron has a better court vision than kobe. he manages to get his teammates involved more often. his driving ability far surpasses kobe's and his jumpshot is coming along. bryant is still the better scorer but possesses a lower FG percentage. laker fans can't say lebron's athleticism won't help him when he's thirty because the comparison is in the present.

if you want to talk about the future, lebron in his prime, barring any injuries, with a more developed game + his athleticism will be one of the most dominant players since shaq. lebron has not even reached his full potential yet. surround him with a better team instead of a borderline all star, has beens, and scrub shooters and he will truly dominate. the league has seen how adding one borderline all star on the cavs can impact the team. imagine him actually playing with one or two true all stars. lebron's impact will be compared to shaq and jordan. duncan is also in the equation too because of his four rings but people won't remember him for his utter dominance like shaq and jordan. duncan will likely be remembered for his intelligence, fundamentals, and consistency. oh, i also don't think lebron is the best player in the nba right now. bryant isn't either. it's dwyane wade.

[DazedAndConfused]

And improving your shooting touch isn't apart of developing one's game? Come on sir, lets be real. Furthermore, his shot has been progressing, so the evidence is there. His distance, and tendency to take and make tough jumpers has increased.

Shooting touch in the NBA is something you either have or you don't.

Many are quick to point that Jordan never had a midrange game until later in his career. That may be true, but he was always a career > 80% F/T shooter. The touch was always there, just never developed because he didn't need to rely on it when he was in his athletic prime.

Can you imagine Lebron trying to manufacture points the way Kobe has to now at the age of 30? To be as effective as Jordan was later in his career and the way Kobe is now requires a whole other level of offensive skill that Lebron does not possess right now. He still does not have a post game despite his humongous advantages in the post.

[Spur-Addict]

Shooting touch in the NBA is something you either have or you don't.

Many are quick to point that Jordan never had a midrange game until later in his career. That may be true, but he was always a career > 80% F/T shooter. The touch was always there, just never developed because he didn't need to rely on it when he was in his athletic prime.

Can you imagine Lebron trying to manufacture points the way Kobe has to now at the age of 30? To be as effective as Jordan was later in his career and the way Kobe is now requires a whole other level of offensive skill that Lebron does not possess right now. He still does not have a post game despite his humongous advantages in the post.

So players cannot change their shot or form? Players cannot improve upon their ability to shoot from the floor?

A prime example of someone who primarily shot in the paint, but who also expanded their shot is Tony Parker.

[Spur-Addict]

Parker went from shooting 67% from the line in his rookie season to 80% this year. That's a huge improvement. His jumper improvement isn't up for debate because it just has improved. That's evident whether you like it or not. So it's possible, and it isn't a shot in the dark if you have the tools to do so.

[KidCongo]

I've seen Lebron win a game on a drive to the basket, but has he ever won a game with a jumphot or FT's?IMO he doesn't compare to Kobe when it comes to clutch shooting and to me that is the difference between the two.

[Armando]

[pauls931]

Getting swept in the Finals is not going to cut it.

I attribute that to the east sucking major ass to where any team making the finals that year had not business playing the west. The finals were the Suns vs the Spurs that year...