Anyone dumb enough to still think Kobe is on the same level as Lebron as an all time great?

youre back again....dont read it

thanks in advance

I'm not a fan of teams (I suggest alot of us sports investors pick up that habit), but I am a fan of a few sports athletes;  Tom Brady being one of them.  I had a debate with someone about rating G.O.A.T.'s in professional sports, about how there isn't just one category to take into account on ranking someone as being one of the greatest.  We had this debate about a week prior to the White House celebration for the Super Bowl Champions.  When he didn't show up to be celebrated by his Commander-In-Chief (what message does that send to the rest of the world on America's Leadership?), and he gave such a lukewarm excuse on why, my feelings for Tom Brady suddenly changed.  I analyzed "why", and after being honest with myself, I came up with this.  I realized that there's another category that I've been overlooking when it comes to ranking the greatest sports figures on the planet, and that's *PUBLIC PERCEPTION*.

What does that have to do with Kobe vs LBJ ranking of Greatness?  Well, to me (and I believe the average or better NBA fan), LBJ is "clearly" better in alot of different categories to Kobe (shooting percentage, clutchness, athletic potential, value to a team, etc.).  The problem for LBJ's legacy is that...he, single-handedly, for whatever reason him and his supporters can come up with, has set the bar higher than normal for him to be considered a "success".  When you're signed into The Association, having skipped past college, 18 years old, and becoming the #1 pick overall in the 2003 draft...the ABSOLUTE LAST thing I would expect him to do is give himself the nickname of "King James", taking the jersey number "23", and making Nike commercials with Bernie Mac and angels flying around in a church, before he took a step onto an NBA basketball court.  He, in retrospect, hypothetically said "I'm King James.  All of you are beneath me, and if I share stats/rings with anyone lower than MJ, I'm a failure".  Remember this quote: "Not 2, not 3, not 4, not 5, not 6, not 7, not 8..."?  Okay, then.  *CHALLENGE ACCEPTED*... :-/

LBJ isn't going to get the accolades for his leadership, tenacity, repeated NBA Finals appearances, and enormous athletic court presence unless he shows *CLEAR DOMINANCE* in the fruits of his labor (rings).  Even then, the majority of people will still make excuses on how Kobe's intangibles outweigh LBJ's, let alone comparing him to MJ.  Him having more NBA Finals failures than victories already says that.

Here, I'll give an example of one right now:  "If it wasn't the case of a ludicrous, ridiculous, falling-into-the-stands, no-look 3-pointer from Ray Allen in the closing seconds of Game 6 of the NBA 2013 Finals, LBJ would be 0-4 against Texas teams in the Finals.  0-4!"

LBJ himself has made alot of NBA fans look at him as being the "badguy", and not properly acknowledging his skill/legacy.  And the only one to blame is himself for that...

In closing, I hold Kobe Bryant in higher regard than LBJ.  Hell, MJ holds Kobe Bryant in higher regard than LBJ, as was stated in an interview about the two MJ-wannabes.  Not because of shooting percentages, FTA's, or any other obscure stat.  Because of the amount of *RINGS* in his Finals appearances aka The Fruits of Your Labors.  And ultimately, if I were to be honest with myself, because Kobe Bryant looks to be more of the "good guy", compared to LBJ.  You'd be surprised how many others feel that exact same way...

Good points mostly. I don't like the "Ray Allen falling into the stands 3 pointer" statement. You can't disregard a ring based on "ifs". A lot of role players have hit huge crazier shots than the best 3 point shooter of all time hitting a shot he regularly practices. It's like saying if David Tyree didn't catch the ball on his helmet Brady would have another ring. Or if Kevin Dyson would have made it another yard in the 2000 super bowl Kurt Warner may not have a ring. It's not like it was a halfcourt heave. It was a step back 3. but the rest of your write-up is accurate.

R u kidding bout how Lebrun is viewed.   Kobes own teammates hated him cuz he's too selfish.   He ran off 3 HOF centers    MJ or Lebron would have given their left nut to play w even an all star caliber center once.

Kobe is best 1 on 1 but too selfish to be in discussion.  He had killer instinct but would constantly take shot w game on the line w 3 guys on him.    He'd make 1 of 4 but that 1 would be on sports center hence the myth bout clutch.   As noted Kobe actually shoots bout 27% w game on line.  MJ knew when to pass off which is the very essence of ball.

The discussion bout rings is completely misleading (Robert Horry).  The discussion should be how many times they achieved/under achieved based on their individual situations.   There have been at least 5 yrs when kobes teams underachieved.   Lebron the yr against Dallas.   MJ never, which is the reason he should be GOAT not simply the fact he was 6-0 in champs

For the same reason, wilt can't be considered GOAT.   He continually wilted under pressure and his teams underachieved several times

Oh...lol.  I was being sarcastic with that statement, just showing how the most crazed fan will still find an angle to hold up their argument on who they think is the greatest, is all.  Yeah, I agree.  A ring is a ring, at the end of the day...

this^^^^^^...its amazing how the lebron detractors continue to bring this up over and over again,trying to strip the guy of a championship cos a team-mate made a great shot??...wtf??

like every other athlete in history hasnt benefited from good fortune/luck,an incredible play to help win a title or series..its all part of the game,lebron im sure has been disadvantaged by similar plays going against him just the same....but thats lebron for ya,even wen he wins he still loses in sum peoples eyes.

Did you know that...I think it was in 2010...LBJ had sent a picture on Instagram of a young MJ trying to guard him?  This is before he won any Championship, he did that.  The arrogance that he displayed in the past was just so...*smh*  What if Kyle Korver Instagramed a picture of himself during the regular season shooting a 3-pointer over MJ (when KK was 60% on the 3-point line)?  What if Steph Curry Instagramed a picture of himself breaking MJ's ankles on the court, because he had a highlight of him doing that to CP3 on ESPN during the regular season?  It's things like that that screams, "Call me the bad guy, PLEASE!"  He went back to Cleveland, and he took the number 23 AGAIN.  There's almost no degree of humility shown to the public, just seems like a snubbed nose up to everyone else in the league, not just MJ.

Just my perception...

Just to play devil's advocate for a moment...he won 2 more rings when the Lakers were going through somewhat of a rebuilding process.  Can you name me ONE other superstar on any of those 2 championship rings Lakers teams?  It was an older Kobe, he stuck with the franchise, and lead a group of rag-tag players around him to 2 more rings.  It's that thing of "staying put" and working with the tools that are given that helps in the argument of "Kobe's up *here*, and LBJ is down *there*" type of talk.  But again, *PUBLIC PERCEPTION*.  It's just how the masses of fans perceive you...