Greatness is an interesting concept. It carries the implication that a particular person, when compared to others, is comprehensibly or perceivably better.
This is by no means limited to the sporting world — take hip-hop legends Jay-Z and Kanye West, for example. Jay-Z will go down as one of the greatest rappers of all time, but West could find his name in those books at some point too. Much of the same can be said for two hard court superstars as well: Kobe Bryant and Lebron James.
Bryant is nearing the end of his career and has achieved record-breaking recognition while the other is heading down a similar path and could ultimately, like Kanye West, rewrite the books.
Who’s better? Who’s better right now? Who would you want when the game is on the line? Will Kobe win his sixth title before Lebron wins his first? It’s all up for debate, and let’s face it, there is no right answer. The two men have an uncanny ability to put points up and are two marquee faces of the NBA, due in part to their pure talent. Lebron is the all around player who is arguably the most athletic specimen in the world of sports, while Kobe’s resume is well-documented and is often regarded as the one of the closest we’ll see to his airness, Michael Jordan.
The case for James:
James, for all his talent, will always be chastised until he does what other superstars have done: win a championship. But, if you’ll pardon the tautology, Lebron James is Lebron James. He will never be Jordan, and seemingly lacks the competitive edge Kobe splashes on the court, but there has never been a player like Lebron James. Between his skill-set, size, power, and persona, James is a once-in-a-lifetime talent. And finally, James, in his ninth season, is beginning to find his role on a star-studded lineup in Miami. The championship banners ought to rain down in the Heat’s American Airlines arena in the near future and Lebron will be a major reason why.
The case for Bryant:
Kobe Bryant can simply flash his five rings when anyone decides to critique his career. The Black Mamba can reference every NBA analyst as soon as someone decides to disregard the Jordan comparison. The man has ice in his veins and has done it all in his career. Yet, he is striving for more in the latter half of his career. Kobe was once a high-flying highlight reel and has since adapted to develop a strong post-game, similar to Jordan. Kobe’s mid-range jumper is nearly unguardable. If you think his drive might not be there after five championships and 16 seasons, lay those questions to rest unless you know another athlete who is currently taking cortisone shots to his wrist prior to each game.
The verdict:
Can there be one? The basketball heavyweights will forever live in a world where their professional achievements will be compared to generations before and after; it’s a part of the business. Kobe’s competed with past and present stars and has rings to show for it but his MVP days are likely behind him. Lebron is in his prime and should check the same number of items off the list by the time his career is over. Bryant, like Jay-Z, is the older, more successful player in the game, still competing with the youngsters. James, like Kanye brings freshness to the game and aspires to achieve the same as his competitor.
Right now, Jay-Z is still rapping about Michael Jordan. For all Bryant’s greatness, the only one who can change that tune is James. And right now, Bryant has the upper hand on James. James has time on his side, however; Kobe best be watching his throne.
