Who's your favorite NBA basketball player?

I'm curious to see who's your favorite NBA basketball player and why. It can be a current player or retired, doesn't matter.

Mine: Steve Nash, one of the more accurate and best three point shooters in the game. In 10 years he has kept the same steady shot percentage without it dropping, unlike others who decline as years go on.

 

Steve Nash is amazingly nice, and such a cool guy, as well.

Well, Carmelo Anthony is my favorite player, but that just might be my bias speaking because I'm a huge Knicks fan. His stats are nice, he's a leader, and he's a chill person. For someone who is not on the Knicks, I'd have to say LeBron James. He's incredibly kind, hardworking, and the best basketball player in the world right now. He definitely doesn't need the unnecessary hate placed upon him.

 

I agree that LeBron is a tremendous athlete but i also disagree with his playing style. I feel like he's scared of getting hurt. Although he can go on scoring +25 points a game his game is cautious. You can watch Kobe take it to the hole every game with no regard getting hurt, i feel as if the only time LeBron will drive in is if he's open or has a safe hole.

 

Not really? LeBron is huge, and weighs 200+ pounds, I think he uses his size to his advantage, I've seen him drive many times. Besides, disregarding getting hurt is not as smart as you'd think, what if you get injured?

 

I'm not saying players are trying to get themselves hurt, i'm stating they don't think about it. They do whats necessary. You see Kobe drive it in under all circumstances, no matter whose in front of him, hes not nearly as big as LeBron. LeBron doesn't take the chance nearly as much as he should, as you said, "LeBron is huge" his chances of getting hurt are less then average yet he doesn't use his size to his advantage.

 

Kobe doesn't drive as much as you say he does, at least not that I know of, and consistently driving under "no circumstances" is kind of silly, to be honest. Also, LeBron does use his size to his advantage, he just has a great basketball IQ, he uses it when he needs to, and doesn't when he there is something better that can be done.

 

On average whenever i see the both of them playing, Kobe takes it in a lot more then LeBron does per game.

When you're watching a game, when does LeBron generally drive it in? When he has a path. Kobe makes his own path's. LeBron is an aggressive player, he averages what, 8 rpg? The man is very aggressive, when it comes to everything but driving it in. I believe his defensive is much better then his offensive in terms of "manning" up (not criticizing his 3p% nor his fg shots).

 

I've seen LeBron drive plenty of times, besides, he knows when to make his own path, and when to do a different play. He's an three-time MVP for a reason, and it isn't just based on his scoring. Maybe you don't see LeBron drive much because he's an amazing all-around player, he averages 7.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.7 steals, and 27.6 points. Even with that much of a great scoring ability, his defense is impeccable. I'm sure he can explode and drive to the basket plenty of times for 60 points+, but that's just not his style.

 

That's my point, he can but he chooses not to. I like LeBron, i disagree with the way he plays, if he put this in motion he would be 10x the player he is now. We'll get to "there's more to the game then just him" which is true, however, people care more about winning and the performance on the court, i think if LeBron started driving it in more and being more aggressive then he already is it will do nothing but put on a better show and shut the hating critics up about the way he plays.

 

I know, but you're implying he never drives, but he does. Not at all, I completely disagree with you, I don't want him turning into Kobe Bryant who averages 27 PPG, but has a terrible RPG/APG, and shoots from 43%. LeBron James is perfect now, he has an incredible all-around game while being a great defensive player. He's already aggressive, and he doesn't need to drive more to achieve that, or make himself a "better" player. He already plays like an MVP.

 

I didn't said that he never drives, i said he plays cautious and doesn't drive nearly as much as he should. Kobe takes some terrible shots whereas LeBron's are more calculated, he knows where he'll make them (comfortable).

I think LeBron's shot is much better then Kobe's (outside) but not better at taking it to the hole. LeBron can continue to keep his .360 3P% over Kobe but whenever i'm watching the two Kobe's overall game appears stronger.

 

Right, but he knows when he needs to drive, and when he doesn't. I think LeBron is better driving than Kobe, to be honest, you just seem to have a larger sample size for Kobe, but you should see some of LeBrons plays:





Also, Kobe does not have a better overall game than LeBron, just take a look at their career stats. Even then, here are three games last season between the Heat and the Lakers:

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=320304013
http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=320119014
http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=310310014

LeBron is just a beast, and his overall game is probably superior to anyone else in the league right now.

 

All of the videos you've post show LeBron either completely wide open or on a one man guard who doesn't even attempt to stop him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbuxNiMR490

You see Kobe perform drives like this constantly.

 

Well, there you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHv7-wf-aEQ

Also, I've seen LeBron drive like that, as well, but I can't find any videos. Also, it's much smarter to drive when there isn't anyone in the lane, it's a perfect opportunity to get points. Driving when there are three people in the lane, as impressive as it may be, isn't that great of a play. Kobe doing that consistently has a higher chance of missing shots and getting injured.

 

Kobe drives like that when there are no options in the play because everyone is being guarded too heavily, he takes that chance. LeBron doesn't, he would rather give turnovers instead of driving it in the way he did vs Milwaukee.

 

LeBron and Kobe average around the same number of turnovers per game, so obviously there is something wrong with that statement. LeBron can make shots anytime, anywhere, and I think that's what he would do. He'll drive like that when he needs to, he knows what to do, and when.

 

How so when LeBron averages 9 more turnovers then Kobe? Not to mention his turnovers over the years are still a lot more plentiful than Kobe.

 

Lolwut? LeBron averaged 3.3 turnovers in his career, and Kobe averages 3.0 turnovers in his career. It's not much a difference, and definitely not worth the risk of consistently driving like you said Kobe always does. How did you get that number anyway, that's insanely high, even for people who turnover the ball a lot. No player like LeBron James will average 9 turnovers per game, hell, not even a player like Kwame would average 9 turnovers per game. Also, Kobe Bryant has been in the league for considerably longer than LeBron, you seriously think LeBron has more overall turnovers than Kobe...?

 

Well i'll input my opinion here.

I personally like Derrick Rose and Kevin Durant. I like Durant for his personality mostly, not really as a player even though he is pretty good. He's super mellow and i find him to be a pretty good role model. As a player, i definitely have to go with Rose. He takes it to the hoop with such ease and finds ways to slice the defense. I've always wanted to be able to drive like he can, with such ease and speed, but no such luck.

No bias here either, i'm a Wizards fan.. poor me...

 

I'm not saying 9 per game, 9 more then Kobe.