Compare And Contrast Black Mamba Vs The King
Black Mamba vs. The King Throughout the history of professional sports critics are always comparing players and trying to decide where to rank certain players amongst their respective leagues. Critics will do whatever they can to persuade others to believe in their opinion, or will try and find any information to help make their argument stronger or use the information to try and tear another player down. Well in today’s National Basketball Association (NBA) and over the last decade the argument critics have debated over is who is the better play, Kobe Bryant or Lebron James? Fans like myself have personally been involved in depth sometimes heated discussions with friends over this very topic. Who would you say is a better player, who would
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you trust to take the last shot for your team with five seconds to go, Black Mamba or The “KING”? Kobe “Bean” Bryant known as “Black Mamba” in today’s basketball and over the last two decades has been one of basketball’s biggest and well known names, not only his sport but in all the sports out there.
Virtually everyone has heard of Kobe Bryant regardless if the person is a sports fan or not, Kobe Bryant is one of the world’s biggest icons. Lebron James known as “The King” in today’s basketball world who was given this nickname as soon as he entered the league has been a popular name throughout the basketball world, and throughout all of the sports world fans know who he is. Kobe and Lebron have both had high expectations since they entered the league in their respective draft …show more content…
class.
Early on in the National Basketball Association athletes coming out of high school to turn pro was a big deal. In 1971 the supreme court ruled in favor with going away from the requirement of making athletes spend four years in college to become eligible in the draft to allowing athletes to be drafted straight from high school. Kobe Bryant was the first guard to be drafted from high school to the NBA, he was drafted in 1996 in the first round with the thirteenth pick by the Charlotte Hornets. Kobe Bryant played his high school basketball at Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia where he was the top ranked player in the country. On draft day the Charlotte Hornets agreed to trade Kobe Bryant’s draft rights to the Los Angeles Lakers, only being seventeen years old Kobe Bryant’s parents had to cosign his contract until he became eighteen years old. Kobe Bryant was a very sought after player in high school who was very decorated player earning plenty of awards and breaking records such as becoming South Eastern Philadelphia’s all time leading scorer surpassing the great Wilt Chamberlain. Lebron James played his high school basketball at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Lebron James since his days of amateur travel basketball was a well known name who was heavily recruited in both basketball and football. Lebron was the first ever player to be on the cover of sports illustrated magazine as an underclassmen and this was just one of his many achievements in high school. Lebron James was drafted in 2003 in the first round with the first overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since Lebron stepped on the floor of his first professional game the hype and attention was huge, he set the record for most points in a game by a player coming out of high school. Kobe Bryant and Lebron James have easily been basketball’s biggest names since they have entered the league. Both being well known has stirred up debate on who has been the bigger name in basketball and who has impacted the basketball world the most. Lets face it, both have done their share to impact the world of basketball tremendously that will forever leave a mark on the game of basketball for years to come after both players retire. Kobe Bryant not only has left his print on the game of basketball domestically, but the way he has impacted the game globally has been an amazing accomplishment of his. Kobe has been the leader of global jersey sales and has also landed him international endorsements.
Fromal (2013) wrote : “Bryant’s following has allowed him to amass an endorsement portfolio of global brands including Nike, Smart Car, Panini and Turkish Airlines that pay him $28 million annually. Factor in his league leading $25.2 million salary from the Lakers and Bryant is the NBA’s top-earning athlete at $53.2 million.” Kobe Bryant’s global impact on one of the biggest countries such as China is huge as he has more than a million fans and followers in China. Kobe Bryant has impacted many fan’s lives in China and on Kobe’s frequent visits to the country, they treat him like a king and treat it as a holiday. As Lebron James took the NBA by storm and his popularity grew and other players got later into their careers, Lebron virtually became the face of the NBA, representing the NBA in a huge way. Lebron James was elected as the first vice president of the NBA in 2015 and has had plenty of say in what goes on throughout the league. According to Van Riper, Tom (2013) “James has been ranked by Forbes as one of the world's most influential athletes throughout his career.” (slide 10). Lebron James not only has impacted the game of basketball for future basketball players, but he has done so much for the community and voicing his opinion in support of controversial issues such as the killings of young black men by police officers. Lebron is very active in the community supporting in organizations such as The Boy’s and Girl’s Club and also having his own charity where he has partnered with the University of Akron in his hometown to provide scholarships for over 2,300 children that will begin in 2021. Both players have been great role models to the fans and to the youth who look up to them, they will forever be recognized as players to have some of the biggest impacts on the game of basketball.
As we all know both Kobe Bryant and Lebron James have had successful careers there are some major differences between the two hall of fame careers for the two players. Many will criticize Lebron for losing more championships than he has won, but Kobe will not have that problem. Kobe Bryant reached the NBA finals seven times in his career, winning five of those championships with three of those coming in back to back to back seasons from 199-2002 and two more coming in 2009 and 2010. Lebron James on the other hand has reached the NBA Finals seven times, losing four of them and winning two championships back to back from 2011-2013, and is currently in his seventh championship against the Golden State Warriors. Kobe Bryant takes the victory between the two players winning more championships than Lebron and many critics for see it staying this way. As both players can virtually play any position, Lebron James is the more versatile of the two players due to his big and physical frame. Lebron James can play four different positions and at times play all five in certain lineups, whereas the smaller Kobe Bryant solely played two different positions in his career.
Every professional athlete’s goal in their career is to win championships as a team and to also win individual accolades that will one day put them in the hall of fame of their respective sports.
Kobe Bryant and Lebron James have had some enormous success in their careers in the basketball world, but as we compare the two to figure out which player you would want on your team the differences are there. When it comes down to the most valuable player in the league (MVP) which is by far the biggest individual accolade a player can receive Lebron James takes the cake on this one. Lebron James has won the MVP four times whereas Kobe Bryant has won this award twice. Both players have also been elected to numerous all star games, where Kobe has been elected to eighteen all star games in his twenty year NBA career setting a record. Lebron James has been elected to twelve all star games, where he will try to catch or surpass Kobe Bryant in the years to come if he plays as long as Kobe Bryant played. Kobe Bryant also takes the cake when it comes to scoring titles, all NBA first team selections, all NBA defensive teams. Although the money does not play a major role into deciding which players legacy is better, it tells us a lot about their individual brand. Kobe Bryant’s estate and net worth is greater than that of Lebron James coming in at 320 million dollars, whereas Lebron James is worth 267 million dollars. Both players are set for life, both being involved in investing their money
outside the basketball world and both having endorsements that will last a lifetime.
It is the fourth quarter of an NBA championship game, your team is down one point with five seconds to go, who do you choose to take the last shot, Black Mamba or The King? I personally would take Kobe Bryant on my team and would choose him to win the game for my team as being a fan of both players watching Kobe Bryant growing up is what made me love basketball. Kobe Bryant has a work ethic unlike anyone has ever seen, he has a killer instinct where he can take a game over. Not taking credit away from Lebron James as a player, but after comparing their careers Kobe Bryant is far more decorated with accolades than Lebron James and numbers don’t lie. Lebron is still actively in the league for several more years and will surpass Kobe’s career numbers in certain areas of the game, but some of those he will never come close to. At the end of the day both of their legacies will always be remembered in the game of basketball and have both been great role models for generations to come. I know a lot of critics will argue with me on my reasoning on picking Kobe, but a lot will also agree with me, so it is for you to decide who you would take with the last shot?
you trust to take the last shot for your team with five seconds to go, Black Mamba or The “KING”? Kobe “Bean” Bryant known as “Black Mamba” in today’s basketball and over the last two decades has been one of basketball’s biggest and well known names, not only his sport but in all the sports out there.
Virtually everyone has heard of Kobe Bryant regardless if the person is a sports fan or not, Kobe Bryant is one of the world’s biggest icons. Lebron James known as “The King” in today’s basketball world who was given this nickname as soon as he entered the league has been a popular name throughout the basketball world, and throughout all of the sports world fans know who he is. Kobe and Lebron have both had high expectations since they entered the league in their respective draft …show more content…
class.
Early on in the National Basketball Association athletes coming out of high school to turn pro was a big deal. In 1971 the supreme court ruled in favor with going away from the requirement of making athletes spend four years in college to become eligible in the draft to allowing athletes to be drafted straight from high school. Kobe Bryant was the first guard to be drafted from high school to the NBA, he was drafted in 1996 in the first round with the thirteenth pick by the Charlotte Hornets. Kobe Bryant played his high school basketball at Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia where he was the top ranked player in the country. On draft day the Charlotte Hornets agreed to trade Kobe Bryant’s draft rights to the Los Angeles Lakers, only being seventeen years old Kobe Bryant’s parents had to cosign his contract until he became eighteen years old. Kobe Bryant was a very sought after player in high school who was very decorated player earning plenty of awards and breaking records such as becoming South Eastern Philadelphia’s all time leading scorer surpassing the great Wilt Chamberlain. Lebron James played his high school basketball at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Lebron James since his days of amateur travel basketball was a well known name who was heavily recruited in both basketball and football. Lebron was the first ever player to be on the cover of sports illustrated magazine as an underclassmen and this was just one of his many achievements in high school. Lebron James was drafted in 2003 in the first round with the first overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since Lebron stepped on the floor of his first professional game the hype and attention was huge, he set the record for most points in a game by a player coming out of high school. Kobe Bryant and Lebron James have easily been basketball’s biggest names since they have entered the league. Both being well known has stirred up debate on who has been the bigger name in basketball and who has impacted the basketball world the most. Lets face it, both have done their share to impact the world of basketball tremendously that will forever leave a mark on the game of basketball for years to come after both players retire. Kobe Bryant not only has left his print on the game of basketball domestically, but the way he has impacted the game globally has been an amazing accomplishment of his. Kobe has been the leader of global jersey sales and has also landed him international endorsements.
Fromal (2013) wrote : “Bryant’s following has allowed him to amass an endorsement portfolio of global brands including Nike, Smart Car, Panini and Turkish Airlines that pay him $28 million annually. Factor in his league leading $25.2 million salary from the Lakers and Bryant is the NBA’s top-earning athlete at $53.2 million.” Kobe Bryant’s global impact on one of the biggest countries such as China is huge as he has more than a million fans and followers in China. Kobe Bryant has impacted many fan’s lives in China and on Kobe’s frequent visits to the country, they treat him like a king and treat it as a holiday. As Lebron James took the NBA by storm and his popularity grew and other players got later into their careers, Lebron virtually became the face of the NBA, representing the NBA in a huge way. Lebron James was elected as the first vice president of the NBA in 2015 and has had plenty of say in what goes on throughout the league. According to Van Riper, Tom (2013) “James has been ranked by Forbes as one of the world's most influential athletes throughout his career.” (slide 10). Lebron James not only has impacted the game of basketball for future basketball players, but he has done so much for the community and voicing his opinion in support of controversial issues such as the killings of young black men by police officers. Lebron is very active in the community supporting in organizations such as The Boy’s and Girl’s Club and also having his own charity where he has partnered with the University of Akron in his hometown to provide scholarships for over 2,300 children that will begin in 2021. Both players have been great role models to the fans and to the youth who look up to them, they will forever be recognized as players to have some of the biggest impacts on the game of basketball.
As we all know both Kobe Bryant and Lebron James have had successful careers there are some major differences between the two hall of fame careers for the two players. Many will criticize Lebron for losing more championships than he has won, but Kobe will not have that problem. Kobe Bryant reached the NBA finals seven times in his career, winning five of those championships with three of those coming in back to back to back seasons from 199-2002 and two more coming in 2009 and 2010. Lebron James on the other hand has reached the NBA Finals seven times, losing four of them and winning two championships back to back from 2011-2013, and is currently in his seventh championship against the Golden State Warriors. Kobe Bryant takes the victory between the two players winning more championships than Lebron and many critics for see it staying this way. As both players can virtually play any position, Lebron James is the more versatile of the two players due to his big and physical frame. Lebron James can play four different positions and at times play all five in certain lineups, whereas the smaller Kobe Bryant solely played two different positions in his career.
Every professional athlete’s goal in their career is to win championships as a team and to also win individual accolades that will one day put them in the hall of fame of their respective sports.
Kobe Bryant and Lebron James have had some enormous success in their careers in the basketball world, but as we compare the two to figure out which player you would want on your team the differences are there. When it comes down to the most valuable player in the league (MVP) which is by far the biggest individual accolade a player can receive Lebron James takes the cake on this one. Lebron James has won the MVP four times whereas Kobe Bryant has won this award twice. Both players have also been elected to numerous all star games, where Kobe has been elected to eighteen all star games in his twenty year NBA career setting a record. Lebron James has been elected to twelve all star games, where he will try to catch or surpass Kobe Bryant in the years to come if he plays as long as Kobe Bryant played. Kobe Bryant also takes the cake when it comes to scoring titles, all NBA first team selections, all NBA defensive teams. Although the money does not play a major role into deciding which players legacy is better, it tells us a lot about their individual brand. Kobe Bryant’s estate and net worth is greater than that of Lebron James coming in at 320 million dollars, whereas Lebron James is worth 267 million dollars. Both players are set for life, both being involved in investing their money
outside the basketball world and both having endorsements that will last a lifetime.
It is the fourth quarter of an NBA championship game, your team is down one point with five seconds to go, who do you choose to take the last shot, Black Mamba or The King? I personally would take Kobe Bryant on my team and would choose him to win the game for my team as being a fan of both players watching Kobe Bryant growing up is what made me love basketball. Kobe Bryant has a work ethic unlike anyone has ever seen, he has a killer instinct where he can take a game over. Not taking credit away from Lebron James as a player, but after comparing their careers Kobe Bryant is far more decorated with accolades than Lebron James and numbers don’t lie. Lebron is still actively in the league for several more years and will surpass Kobe’s career numbers in certain areas of the game, but some of those he will never come close to. At the end of the day both of their legacies will always be remembered in the game of basketball and have both been great role models for generations to come. I know a lot of critics will argue with me on my reasoning on picking Kobe, but a lot will also agree with me, so it is for you to decide who you would take with the last shot?