!88: Best NBA Player - Kobe Or LeBron? | !8: Order Bankers Lamp Shades

!±8± Best NBA Player - Kobe Or LeBron?

For a few years now, there's been a heavy debate as to whether Kobe Bryant or LeBron James is the best player in professional basketball today.

This has come to the surprise of many. After all, Bryant is now 31 years old, an age in which most professional athletes begin to decline. Few would have expected that this season, he would still be the league's leader in points scored per game. Bryant's average of 30.6 per game is nearly two higher than James' 28.9 per game.

Of course, LeBron has more rebounds and assists per game, as his rare blend of both categories makes him a truly unique and talented player. Then again, Kobe isn't too far behind, averaging roughly 5 of each per night this season.

We can look at stats all day, attempting to break these two down to determine who's better. We may end up going in circles, since cases can be made for each. In the end, James may have slightly more impressive stats. The more telling statistic should be the impact that each player has on his team. As luck would have it, the records of both are pretty similar.

Los Angeles is 26-6 on the season, boasting the best winning percentage in the NBA. While their record is slightly better than Cleveland's 27-8, a point needs to be made about this.

The Cavs got off to a slow start, but have since really turned things up. The team is currently enjoying a 7 game winning streak and it looks as if they've finally gotten accustomed to the presence of the big Shaquille O'Neal in the center.

The last thing we may want to look at is the talent that each player has around him. A case could be made for the fact that Kobe has some more talent, but he also came through in bringing his team a championship last season. LeBron failed to do so, as the team was upset by the Magic in the conference finals.

One could truly go in circles all day about this.