Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are two of the best players in the NBA, and it's difficult to compare them in many ways. Kobe is a better defender than LeBron, but LeBron is a better scorer. Kobe Bryant has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team nine times, while LeBron has been named five times. The defensive award is voted on by opposing coaches, so this means that they believe Kobe is a better defender than LeBron.