Big Showdown...sort of

Tonight, Kobe Bryant makes his season debut at Quicken Loans Arena to face the man child everyone calls the King.

Though a bit hobbled, Kobe’s got a hurt shoulder and a pulled groin, and despite the fact that he’s been less than Kobe-like in his past few, the obvious question arises. Who’s better? 

To be fair, Lebron James has a sprained finger on his non-shooting hand that kept him out of five games, so it’s not like #24 is the only one suffering serious injury…Kobe didn’t even have to miss any games for his…

Let’s just say it like it is. Lebron is a freak. He’s a football linebacker with point guard handles and vision, wide receiver dexterity, and superhuman hops. He’s just so physically imposing he’s impossible to guard or stop.

Kobe is on the other end of that spectrum. While no slouch as far as body mass and muscle, Kobe’s lithe and agile, solid and wiry. Strong yes, freak no. He’s pure finesse while Lebron’s sheer might.

Kobe is a master of deception and trickery. He can contort his body, get off incredible shots, attack from literally anywhere on the court. He has range as far and wide as Texas and a skill set as limitless as China’s population. Kobe will take you to the blocks. He can fade away. He will pump fake you to draw the foul. He’ll up and under. He’ll dunk on you. He’ll rain thirty-footers on your head.

Lebron on the otherhand, uses his superior athleticism to simply go over and through and around everyone. His freak athleticism allows him to do things that mortal humans just can’t even fathom. He’s also noticeably improved his J, though that free throw percentage is atrocious for a more perimeter-type player.

There is no possible way to determine who is the better player. Lebron puts up outrageous statistics 29, 6.6, 6.7 this year. He’s the closest thing to Oscar Robertson, to Magic Johnson we may ever see.

Kobe, well, everyone knows who Kobe’s game is closest to. 

And we’ll leave it at that.