Kobe and LeBron: The Gold Dust Twins

There is little disputing the fact that Kobe Byrant and LeBron James are the two most talented Players in the current NBA. The two demonstrated their high-flying talent this week with superb performances at Madison Square Garden. They put on a phenomenal display of dazzling skill and physical agility.
Kobe came to town after the Lakers big center, Andrew Bynum, went down with another leg injury, just like last year, so Kobe, perhaps feeling the pressure to pick up the scoring load went out and scored a record 61 points on a 19-for-31 shooting and 20 –for-20 on free throws. That topped the previous record of 60 points in Madison Square Garden by Bernard King who played with the Knicks in the seventies. The following night against the Raptors he scored 36 points. The Lakers won both games. 97 points in two night isn’t too bad.
48 hours after Kobe got his 61, LeBron and the Cavaliers came to New York to play the Knicks in The Garden. Certainly aware of what Kobe had done, LeBron went out and had a fantastic night. He hit for 51 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 boards. Like Kobe, he put on a display of star power, a breathtaking demonstration of all-around skill, scoring, passing, rebounding, and over-all basketball mastery. He was the first player since Kareem Abdul Jabar to have a triple double in a 50 point game. He was also awed by being associated with the previous greats of the game and by setting a record in such a venue that has meant so much to the history of pro-basketball.
Although both are great talents, they play a different game. Kobe is a lean 6’7”, an off-guard who can shoot from anywhere on his side of the court. I’d call him a finesse player. He is largely unguardable, as he can get off a jump shot despite a lot of pressure. He relies on quickness and a quick release. He can also slash toward the basket for a dunk or layup, as if he is sliding through an opening in a wall. He has multiple moves that can leave the defensive player wondering where he’d go. And by the time he retires he will be right up there in terms of being the leading scorer or very close. In contrast, LeBron is a power player. He’s 6’8” and 260 pounds, and its all muscle. When driving to the basket he can accelerate with unbelievable speed and with his size and strength, few players want to take a charge. He is extremely agile for such a big man. His outside shooting may be slightly behind Kobe’s shooting average and consistency, but it has improved every year he has been in the NBA. On the other hand, he has a stronger all-around game than Kobe, who doesn’t get the same number of boards and assists.