Los Angeles Lakers: Four reasons why LeBron is better than Kobe

2. LeBron James is actually a better scorer

When it comes to point totals, Kobe Bryant has the advantage. He currently ranks ahead of LeBron James in the all-time scoring list, although that will likely not be the case once this season is over. However, Kobe’s best points per game in a season (35.4) is better than LeBron’s (31.4). Kobe’s best scoring season was a 2,832-point season, LeBron’s a 2,478-point season.

While Kobe does have the edge in total scoring, he also did so by attempting far more shots than LeBron. Kobe loved to shoot the ball, there is no debating that. LeBron, on the other hand, does not shoot as often and instead opts to facilitate among other things.

If LeBron were to shoot as much as Bryant then he would undoubtedly be the better scorer. He is a far more efficient scorer than Bryant and it really is not even close. LeBron has a 50.4 career field goal percentage while Kobe owned a 44.7 field goal percentage.

This is not the result of bad years at the tail end of his career, either. Bryant never had a single season in his lengthy career in which he shot 47 percent or better from the field. Meanwhile, LeBron has had just one season in which he has shot worse than 47 percent from the field.

LeBron does have the advantage of getting to the hole more often and more of his shots are coming from the paint. However, that is part of the equation in why he is the better player, we cannot ignore it.