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According to Jerry West, LeBron James is the best player in the NBA.

With all due respect to the Logo, he’s wrong. Lebron had the better season, statistically – as ESPN’s John Hollinger would remind you, again and again. A note: how objective is it for a espn writer to argue for a player’s superiority using a ratings system he himself came up with? 

A more balanced viewpoint is in order, using not only statistics but observation, and a whole lot of common sense.

Defense:

Lebron joined Kobe on this year’s All Defensive First Team, which Kobe accomplished seven times and counting. Certainly Kobe has been a more consistent defender over his career. Moreover, Kobe was the defensive stopper for Team USA in the Olympics last summer, when the stakes have never been higher for these players or the NBA.

But how about right now, as of this moment? Due to Lebron’s better shotblocking (from the weakside), and helped by the contrast principle (Lebron didn’t care about defense before the Olympics), I would say he’s a better team defender, while Kobe the better individual defender. This certainly seems the case as Kobe relishes the opportunity to guard the opponent’s best perimeter scorer, while Lebron mainly helps from the weakside.

Kobe still has the defensive edge, simply because Lebron is not a game changer on defense (not like Andrei Kirilenko a couple years ago) from the small forward position. On the other hand, Kobe can lock down and limit the opponent’s best offensive threat, which is frequently more valuable.

Some criticize Kobe’s tendency to leave role players to help his teammates. However, this has actually been a mainstay in the Lakers’ defensive strategy. While the Lakers may get burned in a game or two because of this, over the course of a year, or even a series, forcing guys like Ronnie Brewer, Rondo, and others to become scorers for their team has proven to be an effective strategy. 

But make no mistake, when a team has a star offensive player, Kobe will be on him and be very effective. His ability to change the game with his defense explained why Kobe nearly matched Dwight Howard in the All-Defensive Team voting, which the coaches voted for. Meanwhile, Lebron was runner up for the defensive player of the year – which seems contradictory, until one realizes that the media votes for that distinction. The All-Defensive Teams are selected by NBA head coaches, who clearly deem Kobe the better defensive player.

Rebounding:

Lebron averages a couple more rebounds. Due to his size advantage, it’s not surprising. This is a clear advantage for Lebron. However, Lebron’s no Shawn Marion (double digit rebounder small forward).

Passing, ballhandling:

Lebron averages a couple more assists (and turnovers), which is more indicative of the differences between the Cavs and the Lakers’ offenses than any superior skill. The Cavs run their offense through Lebron. For Kobe, although the ball inevitably gravitates toward him, especially in the fourth quarter, the triangle offense involves too many trigger passes and requires a certain amount of ball movement that makes it difficult for any player to average more than 5, 6 assists. 

In fact, 82games.com rates Lebron’s passing one point higher than Kobe’s, 10 – 9. Also ballhandling, 23 – 22. Close enough to be a wash. 

Shooting/scoring:

Kobe’s a better jump-shooter, one of the finest midranges in the game, and a high percentage finisher. Lebron is a decent jump-shooter, and a terrific finisher. The difference lies in the kinds of shots each takes – Lebron takes far more closer shots, so he ends up with a higher field goal percentage. This comes as no surprise, because many of Lebron’s points come off dunks. Likewise, he draws more fouls. At this point, Lebron was like Kobe earlier in his career – relentless going to the basket, and putting constant pressure on defenses. Which one is better? Lebron has the statistical advantage on average, but what happens when teams are able to slow down Lebron’s drives? In that sense, he’s not quite as versatile and balanced a scorer as Kobe is. 

Kobe’s faced some elite individual and team defenses, and maintained his season and career averages. Shane Battier, Ron Artest, Andrei Kirilenko, and even Ronnie Brewer are among the league’s best, if not best, wing defenders. And Houston was among the league’s best team defenses this season.

Lebron’s next playoff series against the Magic will test the versatility in his game. Can he win from the outside? Can he impose his will on the Magic? Will he be limited at all? I think he’ll have to adjust – and again in the Finals, if we get there, because he had trouble against the Lakers (and Kobe’s defense). In the two season matchups against the Lakers, he shot 25% and 36%, which speaks to both to the merits of Kobe’s defense and the limitations of Lebron’s offense.

How about Wade?

Dwayne Wade also deserves some mention. During the Olympics, both he and Kobe showed which players rose to the occasion when faced by adversity. 

Nonetheless, Wade has his weakness: a somewhat unreliable perimeter game. Although Wade clearly needs better teammates, against a prepared, decent defense (Atlanta), he was limited to well below his season fg% and a very high turnover rate. 

Kobe suffered a similar fate against Boston last year (as did Lebron), but that team, for that one season, was quite possibly one of the greatest defensive teams in the history of the NBA.

Back on point, as it stands, due to his individual ability on defense, and more versatile offensive moves, Kobe is still the best overall player in the league. Jerry West, even while lauding Lebron’s game, qualifies his statement with Kobe’s superiority in the clutch – something that most NBA head coaches agree upon.

“If I had to have somebody make a last-second shot, it would be Kobe Bryant.”

So for the intangibles, the assassin mentality, the ability to rise to the occasion when the game on the line, most informed people would pick Kobe.

And to me, that says it all. Beyond the stats, hype, and spite.

The redemption of USA basketball is a testament to what kind of qualities Kobe has, spoken and unspoken things that Lebron simply does not possess. Not only did Kobe demonstrate a quiet, substantial leadership, leading by example, dedicating himself on defense, and taking over the game when his teammates (and fellow stars) looked overwhelmed.

The true mark of Kobe’s quintessential qualities can be found in the improved games of his understudies, who discovered how deep they must reach into themselves, their bodies and their souls, to achieve greatness.