Who came first LeBron or Kobe?
Though he boasted good grades and high SAT scores, Bryant decided to go straight to the NBA from high school. He was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick of the 1996 NBA draft and was subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Though he boasted good grades and high SAT scores, Bryant decided to go straight to the NBA from high school. He was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick of the 1996 NBA draft and was subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kobe had much better footwork, a much deeper bag (probably the deepest bag in history), much more skilled as a jumpshooter from mid range and 3 (while LeBron somewhat struggled with his shooting from both of those areas for the first half of his career, he did get better in Miami.
As a high school junior, James met Bryant for the first time. It was February 2002, and James had a game outside of Philadelphia, which happened to be the site of N.B.A. All-Star weekend. James and one of his friends went to an InterContinental Hotel so they could chat with Bryant for a few minutes.
Twenty years ago to the day, October 29, 2003, James, who was drafted No. 1 overall by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers four months after he finished high school, made his highly anticipated NBA debut against the Sacramento Kings.
Bryant, whose father also played professional basketball, entered the NBA draft straight from high school. He was picked by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 but was soon traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. When the 1996–97 season opened, he was the second youngest NBA player in history.
The Charlotte Hornets chose him with the 13th pick of the 1996 draft. He was traded to the Lakers shortly thereafter and became the second youngest NBA player in history when the 1996–97 season opened.
Jordan was the flashier scorer – 10 scoring titles and the highest career scoring average in NBA history – and the better defender (leading the league in steals three times), while James has been the better playmaker with 106 career regular-season triple-doubles to Jordan's 28.
Jordan is also recognised as the better defender, averaging more steals and making the all-defense team three more times and playing more minutes per game. However, James averages more assists and rebounds than Jordan - which some state makes James the better overall player.
Kobe Bryant is widely regarded as one of the best basketball players of all time. He sits third on the list of NBA all-time scoring leaders, having amassed 33,643 points across his 20-season career.
Is Kobe and LeBron friends?
Though never met in the NBA Finals, Bryant and James were viewed as friendly rivals throughout their careers. Bryant, along with Shaquille O'Neal, led the Lakers to three consecutive championships in the early 2000s, followed later by back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010.
It was just incredible missed timing between LeBron's Cavaliers then Heat and LeBron's Lakers for a whole decade. LeBron and Kobe played together on Team USA, and they admired each other. But they didn't share the deepest bond. LeBron had his close friends – Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul.
The first time Kobe Bryant met Michael Jordan was in March 8, 1992. As a former NBA player, his father, Joe, could facilitate that meeting. When the Chicago Bulls came to Philadelphia to play the Sixers, Joe was able to get Kobe into the Spectrum. Jordan returned said "hi" back and handed him a wristband.
At 38 years old, LeBron James is entering his 21st NBA season. LeBron James was the youngest player on the floor when he made his NBA debut 20 years ago. He's now the oldest player in the league.
James has won three National Basketball Association (NBA) championships and four NBA MVP awards (2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, and 2012–13). He has competed in several men's Olympic basketball tournaments. Today he is widely considered one of the greatest all-around basketball players of all time.
In 2003, LeBron James was drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was only 18 years old at the time and was immediately hailed as a prodigy. In fact, he put up 25 points in his first regular season game.
The reason why Kobe was named Kobe. was because of a Japanese steak cut called Kobe beef. And the reason why his middle name is bean. is because of his dad's nickname. Jelly Bean when he played pro basketball.
Bryant became one of the NBA's most popular players and the face of the Lakers during his career. Winning a record four NBA All-Star Game MVP awards, he was the overall league MVP in 2008, a two-time NBA scoring champion and 12 All-Defensive selections.
Kobe retired on April 13, 2016, at the age of 37 and scoring 60 points against the Utah Jazz, in a game he came from behind and won by himself. He was capable of that and more. Like the night he scored 81 points in a 2006 game against the Toronto Raptors.
Kobe Bryant was selected 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets (traded to the Los Angeles Lakers).
Was Kobe Bryant a starter?
The all-time leading scorer in Lakers history, Bryant was the first guard in NBA history to play 20 seasons. His 18 All-Star designations are the second most all time, and he has the second most consecutive appearances as a starter.
Gregory “GG” Jackson II is the youngest player in the NBA. The 6-foot-9 forward played for South Carolina in 2022 and was the No. 45 pick in the 2023 draft, now joining the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2023-2024 season. Jackson will be the only 18-year-old in the league when the season resumes on Oct.
Yet four months later, on Oct. 6, 1993, after winning his third straight title with the Bulls, Michael Jordan — only 30 years old — walked away, retiring from the NBA after nine seasons. Amazingly, that happened 30 years ago today.
James has an edge in blocks (1,073 to 893), Jordan has more steals (2,514 to 2,186), and both have a number of All-Defensive Team honors. But while Jordan won NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1988, James has never been voted the game's best defender.
Championships and Playoff Success
Jordan won six NBA championships, while James has won four. Jordan also won all six of his championships with the same team, the Chicago Bulls, and was the Finals MVP in each of those championships.
