West’s answer to one of the NBA’s most debated topics may come as a surprise.
The Kobe-LeBron debates go back to when James first entered the league. After he made an NBA Finals appearance in 2007 and won his first MVP award in 2009, King James went neck-and-neck with Black Mamba for the best player in the world title.
Considering that Bryant was still at his peak in 2009, having won the league MVP a year earlier, being discovered by West, you would think the former Lakers point guard would choose Bryant out of bias. But his answer was surprising.
“Well, to me, it’s a no-brainer, LeBron James…Even though it’s hard for me to be objective because I brought Kobe to Los Angeles, I do think LeBron has surpassed Kobe as a player,” said Jerry.
Despite James calling Bryant the “best player in the game” multiple times in his first few seasons in the NBA, fans feverishly debated who the better player truly was. Regardless of your pick, there’s no denying these two were the top two players in the game.
James has sustained greatness longer than any player in the NBA’s history. That, in turn, helped ‘The Chosen One’ break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record for the most points in NBA history. Bryant, meanwhile, is lauded by many as the greatest Laker ever and the closest there ever was to Michael Jordan.
Kobe vs. LeBron
James has gotten the better of Bryant from a record standpoint. The Kid from Akron went 16-6 against his arch-rival over 13 seasons. However, individually, Bryant and James stack up favorably head-to-head. Bryant scored 30 points or more in seven matchups against James, while No. 23 had done it in eight games.
Between the two hoop legends, they have five MVPs, four Finals MVPs, seven NBA titles, and a whopping 30 all-star appearances. Unfortunately, NBA fans never got to witness the game’s two marquee players square off in the NBA Finals.
“I know the world wanted to see it. I wanted it — we wanted it. He held up his end and I didn’t hold up my end, and I hate that. I hate that that didn’t happen,” James once said.
Had we gotten this matchup, one of these legends would’ve gotten the edge in the all-time rankings, as championships typically hold the most weight in these debates.
Why West choseBron
It’s important to note that West answered this question in the present time. While James clearly hadn’t surpassed Kobe from an all-time ranking standpoint in 2009, he deserved to be in the conversation for the best in the world.
James carried a limited roster to the NBA Finals at 22 years old, which might’ve swayed West’s vote in his favor. Also, James was a willing passer by nature—more Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan. West, as an all-time great point guard himself, probably saw similarities in James’ game to his own.
Regardless of who the better player was, both legends will always be celebrated. Bryant’s basketball legacy lives on, while James isn’t done painting his masterpiece.
