[MachettiParticipant]

If you had to pick 1 player to start with who would it be? Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul etc. I would think Lebron James will be the best player to ever play the game. After what I witnessed against Detroit in this years playoffs I think when it’s all said and done he will be better than Michael Jordan. I know we have Jordan lovers out there and rightfully so, but Lebron has the best blend of size speed strength, court vision and ability than anyone. Lebron I bet could beat Jordan in one on one any day. Growing up in Boston, and being an avid Celtics fan following since the the early 80’s would you compare Lebron James to Lenny Bias. I know Lenny never played in the pros, but you could see he had Lebron ability.

[michaelds911Participant]

I think everyone would pick LeBron, but you really have to hold judgment on the being better than Michael Jordan. It’s one thing to have the best blend of size, speed, strength, and court vision. It’s another thing to actually channel those gifts and win Championships. M.J. did what LeBron did in Detroit in all of his playoff series. LeBron has to get at least four rings (which i believe he can do), to even be compared to Jordan.

[WälseParticipant]

that agree that not only is Lebron the best going, but in the end he will go down as the best who ever played and he will have the rings to back it up.

[MachettiParticipant]

We talk about championships, but people fail mention Bill Russell had 11 of them. Nobody ever mentions Russell as the greatest or greatest big to play the game. I agree Jordan is probably a better winner, and probably had more passion because Jordan is the most competive person ever, but no denying it James is molded as the most perfect basketball player to lace’em up. he won 60 plus game this year and I think he’ll win his first title too this year as well.

[Al-Farouq AminuParticipant]

1. Lebron
2. Chris Paul (every winning team has an amazing pt, not named the Lakers)
3. Wade
4. superman
5. Kobe (he is starting to slow down as a 12-yr veteran)

[jooksParticipant]

it’s not howard because he had two moves on offense!

For me it’s kobe because he is a mix athletic,technical,defense,offense and when he is on fire,he is unstoppable

[NBAdraftRoom.comParticipant]

I believe by the end of his career he will put all questions to rest about who the greatest of all time is. The only thing at can hold him back is injuries. If he stays healthy the league will be his for years to come.

As for Kobe, i believe he’s peaked and will not be getting better than he is now. Lebron still has years of improvement ahead of him.

[billykParticipant]

For Lebron to get on Jordan level he needs atleast 3 NBA titiles, 1, Defensive player of the year, couple finals and regular season MVP and thats to start a debate. For all we know Lebron could be the Dan Marino of basketball… But no doubt he has the tools and the mentality to surpass Jordan. Its coo we get see what he can accomplish in the next ten years..

[damaynman150Participant]

Obviously, if you had to pick one player right now, its gotta be LeBron. Guy is just scary good, and only getting better.

Other than that, I go big with Howard at 2 (and hire Hakeem the Dream to coach him for offensive moves!), followed by CP3, Flash, and here’s a surprise: Derrick Rose.

The rookie over Kobe? Yep, Rose is by far the most athletic PG in NBA history and I really considered him OVER Paul, but he’s just not proven enough quite yet. Check back next year…

[Al-Farouq AminuParticipant]

For Rose to surpass Paul will be very hard.
Derrick must work very hard on his shooting,
get A LOT more steals, and must understand the game extremely well like Paul does.

Remember ! Paul’s rookie year stats are a little bit better than those of Rose’s, even being smaller and a lot less athletic.

[damaynman150Participant]

You’re right: its hyperbole at this point to rate Rose over Paul, and I most certainly don’t think he is better yet. But that said, I think Paul’s CEILING is slightly less than Rose’s due to the fact that he’s undersized and not the Five-Star athlete Rose is. But the key thing is that its really like comparing Bob Cousy and Magic Johnson so dont get me wrong: both are fantastic players and who knows, could end up being Top Five PG’s ever when all is said and done.

[Stanford hoopsParticipant]

ji know hes not int he debate as far as starting a team around but i must admit is is starting to become one of the best point guards in the leauge..i just wonder if he ever gets a jumper because if he does…………………

[diecity boyParticipant]

1. Lebron James ( He has the most talent, most potential, best all around player in the league)
2. Chris Paul (Best point in the league, makes everybody around him better and still gets his)
3. Kobe Bryant ( Closest thing to MJ, has that killa Instinct, hardest worker in the league)
4. Dwight Howard ( Best big in the NBA, great finisher around the basket, walking double double)
5. Dwayne Wade ( Very Very talented, can do it all)

[Mr.Duke 1426Participant]

He is already becomng one of the top defenders in the league. If you care to look, lebron finished second in this years defensive player of the year voting! He can only improve with the work ethic and gifts he was born with. His jumpshot is improving rapidly and will eventually me on par with some of the best in the league today. Let’s all remember that jordan wasn’t a very good shooter coming out of college and his first year in the proes. Lebron is a mix of magic and Jordan. He will go down as the best player ever to step on a basketball court.

[nthegoodlifeParticipant]

KOBE. He’s the BEST and he’s the perfect example of a professional athlete. If age comes into play, I guess LBJ. I just hate to take a guy who has a sling as his shot form. For me to love LBJ on the level everyone else does, he must develop a decent looking shot (might sound silly, but a REAL PROFESSIONAL would). He has all the talent one could ask for, just work on that J.

[bigboom1Participant]

I dont think you can say that Lebron is by far the better player than Kobe. Most analysts.ex pro players think that kobe is it. He just has that intangible “it” factor, the killer instinct to turn it on at anytime. I think Kobe unbelievable skill level is just as impressive as lebron’s physical attributes. I would have to say Lebron is the most gifted athlete the world really has ever seen. The combination of size, strength, explosiveness, quickness, leaping ablity and speed is simply unbelieveable. I don’ think he’s peaked in terms of how good he is, but I think the next two years he’ll reach his peak in numbers. Reasons why, I think this is he’s going to preserve his body to keep his career longer and not burn out during the regular season as he’s going to take alot of years on his body if he continues at the rate he’s going. His game is really dependent on his ability to always have the ball driving and dishing. If you look at Kobe and MJ, they really changed their games later on in their career to more shooting for less dependency on their bodies, thus they exerted themselves less to keep their eyes on the prize. If you look at Kobe this year, he’s really coasted and let his teammates make plays as he’s going to need them

[WälseParticipant]

lebron is clearly better than kobe. i agree that the ex-pros say kobe is the best. i think they’re idiots. i dont think that the ex-coaches do anymore. read what you will into that. for those who arent yet convinved…

http://theeclecticquill.com/2009/02/13/kobe-vs-lebron-the-definitive-debate/

[nthegoodlifeParticipant]

Clearly better? Give me a break. Maybe you don’t understand this thing called basketball, but using clearly is way out of line. They’re both great enough to make an argument for (so the word “clearly” isn’t justified). On that note, Kobe has “IT”, LeBron has the free throw line (haha- had to say it). Seriously though, LeBron lacks a few things, such as a jumper and proof of that instinct (not saying he doesn’t have it —it’s just that we know Kobe has it). Both are great though.

[bigboom1Participant]

That didn’t really change my mind or give me with some new information that I didn’t already know. Kobe’s team is more stacked so he has a lesser role, thus less stats. Not to mention he has a more balanced offensive scheme with the triangle offense as oppose to the cavs who basically have lebron run isolations all game. It would be stupid to argue that Kobe has had a better season statistically then Lebron, no one is doubting that. Having a better stats doesn’t mean a player is better.

[WälseParticipant]

are you implying that Kobe’s impact could match Lebron’s even in the years between Shaq & Gasol? those stats encompass the last five seasons. i think the evidence is pretty overwhelming.

[billykParticipant]

Proof of instinct??? I think Lebron has a killer instinct especially this year that guys has been SCARY competive on defensive and offensive….. He just needed the right players around him.

[WälseParticipant]

are you revoking my posting privileges nthegoodlife? sorry that i dont understand basketball on the level of someone like yourself, but i truly believe that Lebron has clearly surpassed Kobe as a basketball player. i think coaches, analysts, and radio guys are in agreement as well from what i’ve been hearing of late. in the last few weeks i think Lebron has established himself as basketball’s “alpha male” so to speak. let me apologize, however, for my lack of understanding. in the future i will run all my posts by you before i click “post comment”. as for “the instinct” do you mean Kobe is willing to take any and all shots regardless of if its a good one or not when the game is on the line? is his “instinct” the reason he shoots 25% on game winning or tying shots at the end of games? is his “instinct” the reason he’s got 56 field goal attempts against 1 assist in those situations over the last 5 seasons? is this “instinct” even a good thing? why is it a okay to completely disregard your teammates at the end of games? even His Airness passed the ball to Kerr and Paxton when it was the right play. for me, instinct is making the right play at the right time. i’m not going to question your basketball knowledge. everyone here has some. but know that i dont just post crap just to do it. just because we’re told that Kobe is the ultimate closer, does not make it so. at least not for me.

[nthegoodlifeParticipant]

I wasn’t really implying you shouldn’t post anymore, after all if you live in America, you’re entitled to your First Amendment. Back on topic, I still think clearly doesn’t imply. But whatever, one thing we can agree with though, STATS are not everything! Sometimes “IT” is defined by actually watching an entire game and then judging.

[WälseParticipant]

stats, indeed, are not everything. but neither is reputation. perhaps you should watch an entire game objectively. i’m letting you know that Kobe’s “IT” factor is partly an illusion. you seem to remember every important shot that Kobe makes, and disregard all of those that he misses. if i’m wrong, then prove it before insulting my opinions. maybe you’re the one who is out of line.

[nthegoodlifeParticipant]

I’ll live with Kobe taking my shot and be more than comfortable with whatever the outcome may be. However, to know that in final seconds of a game, I give the ball to LeBron knowing he can’t shoot for sh*t, then I’m out of my comfort zone.

[WälseParticipant]

you know that Lebron shoots a higher percentage. you know he’s a better finisher at the rim. you know that he’s likely to get fouled and he’s a 78% shooter at the line. and you know that if he has an open teammate he’ll find him. also Lebron is shooting 34% in end of games situations to Kobe’s 25% and has hit 17 game winners or tiers to Kobe’s 14 over the last 5 seasons. considering all of that, i dont understand how you wouldnt trust Lebron while you would trust Kobe.

[Author]

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