by Brett Watson

Created on: February 19, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

This debate is obviously ridiculous. I would rather have Kobe Bryant on my team for a number of reasons. First, Kobe Bryant plays in the Western Conference. This means on any given night, he is playing an above .500 team (the West has ten teams above five hundred while the East only has five), with star players. Any night of the week, Kobe is going up against Raja Bell, Bruce Bowen, Stephen Jackson, Brandon Roy, Tracy McGrady, Chris Paul, Baron Davis, etc. The Western Conference is loaded with talent at the guard and small forward position and they are on every team. Lebron's only has a few teams he's competing with in the East. Lebron should only be playing half the game and still get the statistics he gets. This same argument probably applies most to the defensive side of the game. Kobe Bryant has been named to the All Defensive first team five times! Lebron, defending players not nearly as good in the East as they are in the West, hasn't had any defensive honor. Kobe, game after game is expected to shut players down.

Second, Kobe has won more titles. People might say that Lebron hasn't been in the league as long, or that Kobe had Shaq when he won, but the fact is that he is a champion. If Kobe had Lebron's team in the Eastern Conference, they would be in the Finals every year.

Third, Kobe doesn't quit. Kobe plays in games where he needs an IV in his arm during breaks because he has food poisoning. Lebron walks off the court during the fourth quarter when his team is being blown out. Kobe Bryant leaves it all out on the floor and nobody can ever accuse him otherwise. During telecasts, it is well expressed that Kobe is the best player in the league, the most dangerous player in the league, and the most clutch player in the league.

Another reason is that Kobe is a veteran. He has played in every type of situation you could ask for. He is experienced and yet his career isn't even half over. He has been an All Star nine years in a row, always in consideration in the MVP race, and his team wins. Kobe is a winner. He has won in every year but one, and this year are said to be the best team in the toughest conference ever.

Kobe Bryant is the best, most dependable teammate maybe ever. Of course I would rather have him on my team rather than a chronic underachiever such as Lebron James.

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