Ever since LeBron James set foot on an NBA hardwood, heās been compared to ā and antagonized by ā many former and current legends of the game. Rather than appreciate his greatness, people always try to put up rankings.
Needless to say, that means that Kobe Bryantwas his biggest ārivalā, sort of say, during most of his career as they went back-and-forth for the ābest player in the NBAā distinction, even if they never met in the playoffs.
Thatās why most fans always fantasized to watch them go at each other, and there were never-ending debates regarding whoād beat who if they clashed one-on-one. For Kobe, however, there wasnāt any kind of debate.
Kobe Bryant Said Heād Easily Beat LeBron James
āNot even close. If we go one-on-one, thatās easy. Playing one-one-one is what I grew up playing, itās like my thing. LeBron is more like Magic Johnson, heās passing the players around him. Iām a one-on-one player, soā¦ Iāll beat him in my sleep,ā Bryant told reporters.
Thatās the kind of competitiveness that often drove Kobe. He wanted to outwork everybody in the league and once they went one-on-one, thereās just no way he was going to let you beat him, not even if youāre LeBron James.
James and Kobe constantly battled in All-Star Games, with Bryant often getting the best of him because of his defense and determination to take every single game as if it was a Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
Obviously, taking LeBron James one-on-one isnāt easy. Heās bigger, stronger, and even more athletic than Kobe Bryant. Kobe, on the other hand, was much of a better defender and overall scorer, so we say it would be a pretty tight game, thatās for sure.
