Kobe is a better basketball player than Lebron James

Thanks for the topic Kingjames. I think it ironic that my opponent chose this name when he thinks Kobe is a better player. Proceeding with the debate. ==My case== C1) Tangibles On nearly every tangible measurement, Lebron is better than Kobe. ---Offense--- Lebron averages more points per game, has more assists, and has a better shooting percentage than Kobe. Lebron averages 27.7 points per game, Kobe only averages 25.3 Lebron averages 7.0 assists per game, Kobe only averages 4.7 Lebron shoots 47.4% from the field; Kobe only shoots 45.4% ---Defense--- LeBron outrebounds Bryant, outsteals him and blocks more shots Lebron averages 7 rebounds per game; Kobe only averages 5.3 Lebron averages 1.7 steals per game; Kobe only averages 1.5 Lebron averages 0.9 blocked shots per age; Kobe only averages 0.6 [1] [2] A triple-double is the accumulation of a double-digit number total in three of the five categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots) in a single game. Lebron has more triple-doubles than Kobe, even though Kobe has played hundreds more games than Lebron. [3] C2) Intangibles Kobe is very hard to work with. Phil Jackson, in his book The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul chronicles the Laker's 03-04 season and calls Bryant "uncoachable." Shaq departed the Lakers after the 2004 NBA Finals citing a heated feud with Kobe. In contrast, Lebron shows a great deal of team spirit and leadership, prompting him to win the Team Captain position on the USA Olympic team in 2008. "Off the court, he has cajoled his teammates, reminding Dwight Howard to push himself more and telling Kobe Bryant to quit gambling so much for steals . . . [James said:] ‘it's a team camaraderie thing for me. I'm all about team.'" [4] ==Rebuttal== Kobe has won more championships than James simply because Kobe has been on a better team, until now. Kobe has been alongside big man Shaquille O'Neil for 3 of his championship wins. 3 of his former teammates Karl Malone, Gary Payton, and Shaq are future Hall of Famers. For his most recent win, he was alongside Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, and Pau Gasol, a clutch center, as well as Ron Artest, a great defensive player, and Sasha Vujacic, a great sixth man. The only decent player on the Cavaliers was Mo Williams, and they only acquired him in 2008. On the Miami Heat, alongside Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, Lebron James has a much better shot at a championship. Kobe has also been playing twice as long as Lebron, so he has had many more chances at a championship ring. Given that James has a longer career ahead of him and a much better team this year, it is extremely likely that he will catch up to Kobe's impressive list of championship wins. Even if he doesn't, Lebron is still a better player. Lebron wasted 7 chances already at a championship by playing for the Cavs; Kobe had a shot at a championship from his career start. The only proper way to compare the two is head to head, removing the variability from the teams they have played on. In a head-to-head comparison, Lebron clearly wins. ==Citations== [1] http://sports.yahoo.com... [2] http://sports.yahoo.com... [3] http://www.suite101.com... [4] http://sportsblog.projo.com...