with them playing tonight, pretty good time to debate. i think theyre the top talent in the nba, and by a decent bit. (not that i wouldnt concider taking duncan, garnett, or howard over both of them). but as far as just talent, they are about as good as it gets.

kobe is the better defender, clearly more polished, and underrated in certain areas (passing, big time).

i like lebron better though. if were talking underrated, i would say his workethic is pretty underrated. people see him loafing through games and think hes lazy. but you dont get as good as james without working hard at it. but this also brings me to why i like him better than kobe. he has the better sense of 'when it matters'. its true he loafs, sometimes for entire games at a time. what garnett and kobe really never figured out, but james did, is that you cant single handedly carry a team for 3200 minutes a year and then raise your game in the playoffs. there is nothing wrong with saying, 'ok, lets see you guys do it for a while'. james gets blasted for it too, nationally and locally. hes wise beyond his years, imo. plus hes only 22 for another week.

I like Kobe better and think he's the better player.

This has more to do with the game, but I'm surprised the Lakers are where they are right now, playing as they have been.

i should say im a fan of both of them. i like watching premier talent. i also like watching carmello, who i think is the best scorer of anyone. wade doesnt make the list though, his game is ugly.

You can't deny Wade is so courageous though.

i should say im a fan of both of them. i like watching premier talent. i also like watching carmello, who i think is the best scorer of anyone. wade doesnt make the list though, his game is ugly.

Let me put it this way: I'm indifferent to, if I don't like, every player when they aren't playing/torching the Pistons.

The advantage has to go to Kobe right now. His insane offense, strong defense, championship experience. Three rings and the guy is still unquestionably hungry.

At 22, LeBron still has plenty of time and, scary to say, upside to eventually surpass Kobe. Another few years of getting his dreams crushed in the post-season and he'll be 25/26, finally surrounded with the right cast and ready to own the league for a decade.

I didn't watch the game, but the +/- is notable:

Kobe: +8
LeBron: -7

It looks like the bench won it for the Cavs, not LeBron.

Kobe's better but Lebron gets more ref love which helps even out the scales.

Is LeBron related to D-WADE?

I like Kobe better and think he's the better player.

I agree, but it's close and Lebron is only 22

Kobe has more versitility in his game. He can hit fade aways and do things Lebron can't. Bron has improved his 3 quite a bit, but he's still mostly a slasher. As his jumper improves he'll be better than Kobe some day.

I don't care who's better. As of right now, neither of them have a good enough supporting cast to keep their teams relevant past the 1st round...

I agree, but it's close and Lebron is only 22

Kobe has more versitility in his game. He can hit fade aways and do things Lebron can't. Bron has improved his 3 quite a bit, but he's still mostly a slasher. As his jumper improves he'll be better than Kobe some day.

My only problem with Kobe is he settles for way too many jumpers. Especially in last season's playoff series vs. the Suns.

Kobe gets the edge because of experience. He's been through most situations that LeBron has yet to face. Give LBJ a few years and he'll be the best player in the league, but as of right now Kobe is the better player.

Granted, I'd rather have LeBron. Kobe's ego is way too big, give me the guy with the smaller ego that doesn't throw teammates under the bus. Also, LeBron is just going to keep getting better, where-as Kobe has reached a plateau.

Kobe hasnt beat Detroit in a best of 7 yet has he??!?!?!?!

Ouch....

Low blow.