Former NBA player and Hall of Famer Dwight Howard is among the few players who have had the opportunity to play alongside both Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Given how vastly different the two are, Howard appeared on the “Club 520 Podcast” to share what made them so different. He said:
“Kobe’s an a**hole. Not saying he’s an a**hole to me. I’m just saying, like his personality, he’s an a**hole. He doesn’t give a f**k. Bron give a f**k. He wants everybody to like him. He wants to joke around, laugh, and have a good time. I just think they’re two ends of the spectrum.”
Howard’s statement regarding their personalities certainly holds, especially considering their leadership styles. Bryant always took a more assertive and straightforward approach, whereas James is much more approachable and friendly.
Although the two had different outlooks, both were immensely successful in their own right. As both players reached the pinnacle of the sport on multiple occasions, they’ve etched their names in history.
Howard was also asked to share who he considered to be better. The former NBA champion struggled to answer, but said, “Scoring-wise, you’ve got to go with Kobe… With everything combined, you’ve got to give it to LeBron.”
Although James has the most points in NBA history, something Jeff Teague highlighted, Howard maintained that he considered Bryant to be the superior scorer. He even maintained that in late-game situations, with the clock winding down, he would trust Bryant with the ball over James.
This opinion is also justified. The Lakers legend made a name for himself as one of the most complete offensive players the game had ever seen. Although his playing style was modeled after Michael Jordan’s, Bryant added more layers to his game, intricacies that elevated his performance.
Bryant’s single-minded obsession with the game and perfecting his craft was inspiring. Meanwhile, James’ longevity, natural gifts, and sheer talent have resulted in an extended period of dominance, seeing him retain his spot among the best players in the league even in the later stages of his career.
In this regard, a career comparison between the two players may not fully capture the greatness of either. Bryant’s five NBA titles narrowly edge out James’ four championships, but the latter’s performances have resulted in more Finals MVP awards, as James notched four compared to Bryant’s two.
James is entering his 23rd season in the NBA. With the Los Angeles Lakers, the 40-year-old continues to build upon his impressive list of individual accolades. As he continues to solidify his status among the greats of the game, the superstar will hope to win his fifth title this season.
