The LeBron James Thread

[Hawaii_Stars]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I think efficiency is the reason Kobe gets harped on for shooting so much.

For his career, he's a 45.4% shooter and his highest season is 46.9%. Meanwhile, LeBron is a 49.0% shooter and his lowest season average (excluding his rookie year) is 47.2%. As well, LeBron has better TS% (57.5 compared to 55.5) and eFG% (52.4 to 48.7).

I think Lebron should shoot a better fg% bc the dude is physically better than most people who he plays against. It's like Shaq's fg% is so high bc he was bigger and stronger than most. They both get easy buckets.

[Melbournelad]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

In regards to criticism of his shooting, Kobe has had the unfortunate joy of playing for the most highly publicized team in the league (outside of the Heat now) and in one of the biggest media markets for his entire career. Therefore, every game he's been in the limelight, so people see him chucking more than anyone else.

As well, his reputation as a ball-hog who doesn't like to pass doesn't help matters when it comes to that.

Yeah also his reputation as a ball hog doesn't really make much sense either. I haven't checked the exact stats for assists like I did for FG%, but I am pretty sure Kobe has been among the top 2 in assists for an SG most of his career.

[ojandpizza]

I wonder how scary Kobe's number's would have been if he was the number 1 option on the Lakers from day 1....... Since you brought up a Kobe vs Lebron stats, here is some other stats that are interesting.

Through their first 10 years in the league Lebron has played in 58 more games, 5135 more minutes, 2408 more fg attempts, 1424 more ft attempts, and 505 more turnovers.
If you want to go by averages, Lebron averages 4.1 more minutes, 1.8 more shots, 1.3 more free throws, and .43 more turnovers.

If Kobe was given the keys, his numbers would certainly be better than they are. How can you realistically compare people? It's all fanboy talk of why a certain individual feels their favorite player is better than someone elses. What is the most funny thing to me about the stats is people always say Kobe shoots too much, but he averages less shots than Lebron for his first ten years and his career.

Kobe's biggest issue with what you're talking about was that he wasnt as "NBA ready" as a rookie as LeBron was.. I don't believe he even started as a rookie and I don't think his second years was as good as LeBrons rookie season was.. Someone correct me if I'm wrong I didn't go back and check anything.. Both of them will retire with some of the best numbers in league history.

[JerseySuave4]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I wonder how scary Kobe's number's would have been if he was the number 1 option on the Lakers from day 1....... Since you brought up a Kobe vs Lebron stats, here is some other stats that are interesting.

Through their first 10 years in the league Lebron has played in 58 more games, 5135 more minutes, 2408 more fg attempts, 1424 more ft attempts, and 505 more turnovers.
If you want to go by averages, Lebron averages 4.1 more minutes, 1.8 more shots, 1.3 more free throws, and .43 more turnovers.

If Kobe was given the keys, his numbers would certainly be better than they are. How can you realistically compare people? It's all fanboy talk of why a certain individual feels their favorite player is better than someone elses. What is the most funny thing to me about the stats is people always say Kobe shoots too much, but he averages less shots than Lebron for his first ten years and his career.

speaks even more to how ready Lebron was from Day 1, came right into the league and was putting up numbers from game 1.

[Sportsforever]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Kobe's biggest issue with what you're talking about was that he wasnt as "NBA ready" as a rookie as LeBron was.. I don't believe he even started as a rookie and I don't think his second years was as good as LeBrons rookie season was.. Someone correct me if I'm wrong I didn't go back and check anything.. Both of them will retire with some of the best numbers in league history.

speaks even more to how ready Lebron was from Day 1, came right into the league and was putting up numbers from game 1.

There is a huge difference in Kobe Bryant being an 18 year old rookie on a 55-60 win Laker team with Shaq and Lebron being an 18 year old rookie on one of the worst teams in the league. Sorry, but I don't think that points at all to how ready/unready either of these guys were for the league.

[ojandpizza]

There is a huge difference in Kobe Bryant being an 18 year old rookie on a 55-60 win Laker team with Shaq and Lebron being an 18 year old rookie on one of the worst teams in the league. Sorry, but I don't think that points at all to how ready/unready either of these guys were for the league.

Shouldn't that make it easier for him?

If you really think Kobe was just as NBA ready as LeBron as a rookie then I guess I have nothing to say, we'll just have to be in disagreement.. It not a knock on Kobe at all, LeBron has been more NBA ready than lots of rookies, and lots of rookies have been more NBA ready than LeBron.

[Hawaii_Stars]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

It's not about who was more NBA ready. The point was if Kobe was #1 option from day 1, his numbers would be better than what it is now.

[ojandpizza]

It's not about who was more NBA ready. The point was if Kobe was #1 option from day 1, his numbers would be better than what it is now.

Or they could have been worse.. I'd say playing along side Shaq made it pretty damn easy for him. You don't know how things would have played out, had he been thrust into the star role in Charlotte and never traded to LA to play with Shaq and Phil he may have turned out to be half the player he is today.

[Sportsforever]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Shouldn't that make it easier for him?

If you really think Kobe was just as NBA ready as LeBron as a rookie then I guess I have nothing to say, we'll just have to be in disagreement.. It not a knock on Kobe at all, LeBron has been more NBA ready than lots of rookies, and lots of rookies have been more NBA ready than LeBron.

Lebron wouldn't have started for the same Lakers team that Kobe was on and Lebron wouldn't have been given free reign to shoot as often as he did. My point is that the team had more to do with how ready they 'appear' and less to do with the player.

[ojandpizza]

Lebron wouldn't have started for the same Lakers team that Kobe was on and Lebron wouldn't have been given free reign to shoot as often as he did. My point is that the team had more to do with how ready they 'appear' and less to do with the player.

Wouldn't have started over who? 35 year old Jerome Kersey? Ok.

[ojandpizza]

Honestly I don't even know how I got sucked into this conversation. Either way it doesn't make any damn difference. They both have crazy good numbers at a crazy young age.

[24]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Don't know why Kobe and Lebron are even being compared since they play two completely different styles of Basketball. Both have particular strengths that make them fantastic players and as someone who watched both of them since day one I can honestly say that on the whole Lebron was more NBA ready then Kobe. That Isn't Knocking Kobe, It's just that Kobe needed a little more time to adjust and develop and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Back to my point about comparing them, it's something that you really should avoid because It doesn't make sense. Lebron is a 6-8 SF that runs the teams offense, Kobe is a pure shooting guard. Lebron is in the paint on both sides of the floor more often since he is taller, and heavier then Bryant is so Lebron will naturally have a higher shooting % and more rebounds.

Furthermore Kobe has never been known for taking the most efficient shots in the world. I posted a similar point in another thread a while back but I'll explain it again. Kobe never utilized the triangle to its full potential. Kobe didn't pass as much as he should have when he was younger, He would routinely jack up Shot after shot after shot no matter how cold he was. Phil Jackson even said it himself when comparing Kobe and Jordan. Kobe has also never been an efficient shot taker, he rather take mid range jumpers then get to the paint. It's not rocket science why he is only shooting 45% for his career.

To end this post let me just say I hate this comparison because it makes zero sense. Kobe and Lebron are polar opposite players that came from two completely different situations. They play nothing alike each other and therefore should not be compared. Both are immensely talented, both are top 15 players of all Time and both will end up in the Hall of Fame. How about instead of arguing who would perform better we just enjoy their respective careers? Thank you.

[ClutchCity]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Kobe, I think defiantly had some things to learn at 18. Lebron was put into position at 18 and handled it well. Even Carmelo was NBA ready when he was teen. I just think it was the time of basketball combined with the media outlet, focusing and obsessing constantly every year on these teenage basketball prodigies. In the early part of the 2000s you had plenty of younger guys wanting the opportunity to play in the NBA coming out out of high school, so when the time was here you saw more 18 year olds getting a chance to start not necessarily NBA ready.

[Kashanova]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Don't know why Kobe and Lebron are even being compared since they play two completely different styles of Basketball. Both have particular strengths that make them fantastic players and as someone who watched both of them since day one I can honestly say that on the whole Lebron was more NBA ready then Kobe. That Isn't Knocking Kobe, It's just that Kobe needed a little more time to adjust and develop and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Back to my point about comparing them, it's something that you really should avoid because It doesn't make sense. Lebron is a 6-8 SF that runs the teams offense, Kobe is a pure shooting guard. Lebron is in the paint on both sides of the floor more often since he is taller, and heavier then Bryant is so Lebron will naturally have a higher shooting % and more rebounds.

Furthermore Kobe has never been known for taking the most efficient shots in the world. I posted a similar point in another thread a while back but I'll explain it again. Kobe never utilized the triangle to its full potential. Kobe didn't pass as much as he should have when he was younger, He would routinely jack up Shot after shot after shot no matter how cold he was. Phil Jackson even said it himself when comparing Kobe and Jordan. Kobe has also never been an efficient shot taker, he rather take mid range jumpers then get to the paint. It's not rocket science why he is only shooting 45% for his career.

To end this post let me just say I hate this comparison because it makes zero sense. Kobe and Lebron are polar opposite players that came from two completely different situations. They play nothing alike each other and therefore should not be compared. Both are immensely talented, both are top 15 players of all Time and both will end up in the Hall of Fame. How about instead of arguing who would perform better we just enjoy their respective careers? Thank you.

I think you answered your own statement. Lebron has a higher fg% because he takes better shots, not because he's taller and heavier. There are 7 footers who shoot low 40 fg percentages

[JerseySuave4]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Lebron wouldn't have started for the same Lakers team that Kobe was on and Lebron wouldn't have been given free reign to shoot as often as he did. My point is that the team had more to do with how ready they 'appear' and less to do with the player.

Lebron wouldn't have started on that Lakers team? C'mon man.

Kobe has a reputation as a ball hog because he doesn't look to get teammates involved, he looks for his shot first. He also chucks up a lot of shots. Yeah he might score 50, but he's going to take 40 shots to get there.