http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/sierra/2009/02/14/kobe-is-great-but-get-me-lebron/ Interesting read, at least these guys really know how to play therefore their judgment is pretty credible. Some notables from the article: - most of them acknowledge Kobe's overall basketball skill level and IQ - most of them also want to have LeBron's NATURAL GIFTS (kinda like saying LeBron was blessed with his talent and Kobe had to work hard to achieve what he has... )
I've heard variations of this statement time and time again from other players. It's really hard to compare their careers though because both entered the league under different circumstances. Kobe was role player in his early years and never had a team built around him until Shaq was dealt. LeBron was Cleveland's franchise player from day one and they've surrounded him with the right role players with a stable front office. LeBron has clearly had the better season and deserves to be the MVP this year. I hope he continues to develop his game and refine his skills on both ends. You have to give him credit for taking advantage of his natural abilities. There's a lot of players with similar natural ability, but aren't willing to put in the work to maximize it.
I think the time they entered also plays a big factor since nowadays, more and more players are choosing to bulk - up in order to prepare themselves for the pros, but back in the day players like Kobe, Tmac, KG, VC (i considered him really big compared to KB back then) all came in real skinny. Yes, he's a shoe in for this year's MVP. Come to think of it, Josh smith is a very similar player in terms of natural gifts.
kobe23, i have to ask you, what's your definition of natural gifts? If by that you mean, physical prowess then yes, Lebron is definitely more gifted. But really, I think they're talents are just about the same, aside from Jordan and Vince, i've never really seen anyone stay in the air as long as Kobe, he glides, especially at his physical peak.
my definition of physical gifts is the same as Devin Harris's, al thornton's, leandro barbosa's and al horford's deinition. physical attributes. talent and skill - wise i have to disagree with you... kobe is a notch above lebron btw, hang - time is a myth and an optical - illusion... no one can stay in the air for more than 1 second (not mj, not kobe, not lebron) based on 'sports science'
oh, i know. i was merely going by what i believed your definition of natural gifts were (talent). I most definitely believe he's much more skilled than Lebron. It's not just a notch. It's not even close. and yes, i know there's no such thing as hang time, I just took my physics exams so that whole rendered idea should have been in my head when i wrote it lol. There may not be such a thing as hang time, but he definitely maneuvers his body in a way that makes it seem as though he just hang up there until someone takes a hack at him. Especially in his younger days.
