I feel this question is almost unfair when it comes to the status quo. There is no set weighing mechanism or criteria when it comes to assessing this debate. Do we care about championships, marketing, records, etc? So I am going to try answering the question in as many ways/scenarios as possible. Then provide an overall conclusion.

Scenario 1: Assessing both players right now in the Status Quo as Individual Players

If you had to make your pick right now for starting a franchise, there is no doubt the choice must be Lebron James. The one determining factor is simple: It is all about age.

Although Kobe is only 31. It is an "old 31" considering he is one of the first players to make the leap from high school to the pro's. Let's just look at the numbers.

Counting playoffs, Kobe has played 44,377 NBA minutes. What does this mean? Kobe Bryant has already played more minutes than Larry Bird, who retired at 36 having played 41,329 minutes. This is mindboggling if you think about it. And the reality remains, Kobe only has about three more years at best to continue playing at the level he is at right now.

Now lets look to Lebron. He is only 25 years old and is already averaging better statistics than Kobe. The scary part is, most people believe he hasn't reached his ceiling. Lebron has at least 8 more years of dominating the game and will be on his pursuit for another title in no time.

Verdict: Lebron James

Scenario 2: Assessing both players right now in the Status Quo on their Respective Teams

If you had to make the pick for which player/team you want to go with. They easy choice is Kobe Bryant with the Lakers. The core 6 players of the team are signed for the next three years. The way they are demolishing the Phoenix Suns and manhandled the Utah Jazz, the Lakers pose a strong chance for a three-peat in the near future. Kobe can finish his career off with a possible 6-8 Rings.

While Lebron...who know's where he goes. It seems he reached his ceiling with the Cavaliers by continually getting bounced with early exits. More importantly, if Lebron jumps ship it will take at least one year for the team dynamics to be set in order to make another run at the Finals.

When taking all of this into consideration, championships are clearly the most important factor when it comes to an NBA Owner. Kobe Bryant right now is on the verge of getting ring number 5 and more importantly is lined up for the next three years to make a similar run.

Verdict: Kobe Bryant

Scenario 3: Assessing both players right now in the Status Quo as Fantasy Players

Is there really a debate here? LEBRON LEBRON LEBRON. He is already putting up better statistics than Kobe and should in the near future challenge Oscar Roberston in becoming only the second player in NBA history to average a triple double over a season. If you really want to know the stats in regard to fantasy feel free to google Lebron vs Kobe Fantasy Stats. I am sure Hollinger would weigh in on the Efficiency rating of each player as well.

Verdict: Lebron James

Scenario 4: Assessing both players as Rookies (IE when they both entered the NBA)

This will be a little difficult since we have a little more data on Kobe Bryant, so to make it as fair as possible, we will assess the first 7 years of each players career.

Championships are the strongest arguments Kobe can provide in this debate. By the time he was 25, Kobe has THREE fool-proof arguments here. The counterpoint is that Kobe had the most dominant big man in the game and a team that was well built.

Lebron has 2 MVP's in his first 7 years, but 0 championships. I can tell you one thing for sure, Lebron would trade both of his MVP's for just one Championship Ring of Kobe's. Lebron will be the first to tell you that team accomplishments will always trump individual accolades. The issue here is Lebron has squandered his last two attempts for a championship. Getting bounced not only last year, but this year as the Eastern Conference favorites. This is almost inexcusable. For a player of his caliber, he needs to execute and get to the finals. Plus he even had the best team surrounding him in his latest march to the top. But again he faltered. I am sure Lebron would switch shoes with Kobe at this stage of his life even though he is winning the statistical debate in the first seven years of each players career..

REGULAR SEASON
James Bryant
Games 514 496
Minutes 20,763 16,826
Min. avg. 40.4 33.9
FG % .474 .456
FT % .741 .831
3-Pt. % .332 .332
Points 14,236 10,658
Pts. avg. 27.7 21.5
Rebounds 3,607 2,458
Reb. avg. 7.0 5.0
Assists 3,482 2,060
Ast. avg. 6.8 4.2
Steals 894 714
St. avg. 1.7 1.4
Blocked shots 445 320
Blk. avg. 0.9 0.6
Turnovers 1,692 1,339
TO Avg. 3.3 2.7

Verdict: Kobe Bryant

Scenario 5: Assessing Each Players Legacy

What will both of these players be remembered for?

Kobe Bryant has 4 Championships ring, considered by many already to be the greatest Laker ever, has a great change of acquiring 3 more rings, also one of the best clutch players of all time.

Lebron James...might possibly go down as THE GREATEST PLAYER OF ALL TIME to never win a championship. His career parallels a similar great in another sport. Anyone heard of Dan Marino? One of the greatest arms to ever hit the NFL and also one of the greatest to never win a Championship. Lebron still has a lot of years to develop his legacy and win that championship. But if I have to answer the question right now, I have to go with the sure bet. We all know who Kobe is and what he has brought to the game.

Verdict: Kobe Bryant

I know there are maybe 100 more scenarios we can play through but I wanted to focus on the ones that had greater emphasis and were easier to break down statistically and logically. In the end the debate is clear and Kobe Bryant is the pick for me. I am a big fan of taking the stronger or sure bet. My weighing mechanism focuses a lot on NBA championships as this is always the end goal of every single player in the NBA.

Hopefully this helps clear up the debate and maybe we will have a clearer answer when both players come to an end of their illustrious careers. In the meantime, Lebron just needs to hope that he can add a ring to his own collection...If not, Kobe will always have a leg up irregardless of statistics.

Simply stated...BLING IS KING. All you have to do is look at Kobe's hand for the answer in the end.

Building a team is indeed difficult since you need to look at every angle and consider a lot of factors. The question whipped out here is indeed very puzzling and thought provoking.

But my many years of playing basketball, coaching and watching the actual NBA games will tell me that building a fantasy team will need a lot of pondering so as to speak. But please allow me to raise some questions before I will come up with a final choice in the end:

1. Built to win championships. We build a team to win right. What is the use of building a team and spending lavishly if this goal will not be met at the end? Disaster as it is if our objectives will just fall like house of cards. Look now at the situation of Cleveland Cavaliers, they have enough firepower to win this year’s championships, but for the second straight year the Cavaliers’ dream of hoisting the most sought after basketball trophy vanished in thin air. If there is a player that is teeming with championship experience I will put my marbles on him, since he was there been before and experience will tell him how to win again and again and again (an exclamation). A player with championship ring(s) will no doubt commands great price when he enter free agency, how much more if he is a legitimate superstar. If Experience and exposure are concerned I’ll put my money on Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers.

2. Immediate impact. You need someone to make things turn around on your side right away unless you are building a developmental team. A player that will instantly turn his team into an instant contender is definitely a treasured gem. Both players showed over the years that they are capable of making their own team be a serious contender. In this category Bryant has a slight edge.

3. Attitude. Definitely Cavalier LeBron James leads on this category since he is humble, down to earth and loves to thrive on teamwork. Bryant learnt the value of teamwork when he gets older. He even criticized older superstar players like John Stockton and Karl Malone, during his younger years as a basketball player, which is a show of immaturity and lack of respect to future Hall of Fame players.

4. Talent. Kobe Bryant is more of an unstoppable player and is truly packed with high-octane offensive skills. Recently he become more of a team player and learn the value of what an assist can give to a team just few years back. James on the other hand is also a force to reckon with, in terms of scoring, just like Bryant he has a plethora of moves that will surely break any defense thrown on him en route to an easy field goal or an electrifying dunk. In this category James have the edge why? Why can dish our assist with relative ease, can grab more rebounds than Bryant and a decent defender which is a rarity in a player that is respected for his scorching scoring ways.

5. Future. James is versatile and talented, and he has more years to shine even further than Bryant (if in case these two great players will not experience injuries, you can never tell, though). The future is promising for any team that has the young and promising yet still improving James on its lineup.

6. Popularity. Hmmm, being a famous player means more sponsors, advertisements, fans and tickets sold. Any of these two players will surely make a team become a powerhouse economically and financially. I'd say it is even in this category for both commands great following.
If given the chance to build a team, I will pick someone who is tried and tested, since what matters most is the present and you can never tell what will happen in the future. If ever someone who got sick who do you think he’ll seek some medication? From a seasoned doctor or a very good doctor that just started several years ago? Although both players are great on their own rights my pick is Kobe Bryant because he already proved his worth as a great player, not only once, not only twice, not only thrice but four times already and when all is said and done, his stats and the numerous accolades he already amassed will speak volumes for himself.

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LeBron James, simply because he hasn't won a championship yet. Building a team around someone who has a goal to win means more than building one around one that has already won. It has to do with goals and motivation. I think that Kobe Bryant, being the one who has one a championship ring already, it's not as exciting to build a team around. Build a team around one going for the goal, so that's why I pick LeBron. Also, LeBron is more of a well rounded player, he's got the shot as well as the assists. I think LeBron in the long run will be more of an interesting player, as he's one 2 back to back MVP awards.

If given the chance, I would make a team around LeBron James. I am not very familiar with basketball stars and sometimes it escapes me why I am so partial to LeBron James compared with other players. One big influence in my answer is my husband.

I have only seen a couple of games by LeBron James and I can say that he is a great player just like his counterpart Kobe Bryant but I think that he is better than Bryant. He is just 24 years old and already had two full seasons and has better statistics that Kobe who is 30 years old.

He has an average of 25 points and has nearly 8 rebounds and just under 8 assists in every game in his second year in NBA all at the age of 20. He is the youngest player who score 40, got a triple double and start in an all NBA All Star Game and the list is growing in every game that he plays.

This is a very difficult question to answer. From an experience standpoint, you obviously want to build a team around a player who knows how to win when the stakes are the highest. Kobe Bryant has helped lead his teams to the Finals six times coming away with four and could be possibly playing for a fifth one as we speak. So if you wanted to build a team around a player based on experience, the answer would have to be Kobe Bryant because he has been there and done that as the saying goes.

There are two sides to every story though. Being that most organizations prefer to build their teams for the long-haul instead of just one or two winning seasons, the age factor may come into this decision. Kobe Bryant has been in the league since 1997 and as with any player, the older you get, the more injuries become a factor regardless of how well you take care of your body. With the being said, LeBron James is only in his seventh year in the league while Kobe is in his fourteenth season. While a LeBron James lead team has only been to the Finals once and has come up short in the playoffs the last couple of years, if you're looking to build a winner for the next six or seven years compared to maybe 2 or 3 more good years with Bryant, then LeBron James is probably the better choice.

I would definitely build my team around Kobe Bryant. I believe Kobe is overall a better player. Since he is more of a point guard then Lebron, it will help him lead the team and score as much as he does already. Yes, Kobe does have 4 championship rings, not just because of his good teammates, but because he also works hard and wants to win. He has the experience, and might repeat again this year. As watching the playoff recently, in game 5 of Celtics vs Cavs, Lebron choked. He only score 15 in a rough home lost, I wouldn't want my team build around him. You can't give up when your down, NBA players are too talented and can turn the game around easily. I would trust Kobe to do a great job in all his games. It would also be important to have good teammates that he could work with. Hopefully these two will meet in the championship and we will see who is the best.

Why not offer equal playing time to each? Odd concept, I know. But you can bank on the athletic careers of Lebron and Bryant to pull off an intriguingly interesting game. Bryant has an average of about 25 points per game, while James has an average of about 29 points per game. Bryant has the ability to create shots for himself where James has the ability to provide lay ups for other players and also defend the attacks of other players at the basket. Bryant has speed and athletic ability and is a very good defender. James has size on his side as well as strength and quickness. I say build the team around both, try something different for change.

If I had to choose between the two, I'd have to go with LeBron James, primarily because he has youth on his side. If you're looking to build a team, you want to build with a young nucleus of players. James is only 25 years old and really just entering his prime, while Kobe Bryant is now 31 years old and you would have to question how much longer he will be able to play at a superior level. In my opinion, you should also factor in Dwyane Wade who I believe to be the best player in the NBA, but I won't stray too far off the original question.

Outside of age considerations, I think you would have to go with LeBron again strictly based on what he brings to a team. He is a great passer, rebounds well, and plays great defense and can really fill a stat sheet. Kobe is one of the all-time great scorers and has to be considered one of the most clutch shooters in the history of the game. Kobe also has the experience and championships that LeBron lacks, and in my opinion he has the drive to succeed that LeBron hasn't fully developed yet.

So ultimately, I would pick LeBron to build a team around, knowing that he is 6 years younger than Kobe and has many more years ahead of him. Also, LeBron's skill set really helps to make everyone on the team better.

I would say Lebron!! I believeLebron can win a championship ring:):)

Let me preface this by saying I am a DIEHARD Lakers fan. To me, this is almost a no-brainer. The one thing that bothers me about LeBron James and quotes from him about wanting to be a "global icon" and "billion-dollar athlete" is that he's forgetting that the other basketball dude who was able to become the icon and billionaire -- his airness, Michael Jordan -- won the rings first.

Having said that, as someone mentioned previously, LeBron is 25 and Kobe is an "old" 31. The mileage on Kobe's body is starting to creep up on him, which is why he had to miss some games this season. But look at Kobe's past and present supporting cast and tell me why he has four rings: Shaquille O'Neal (who really was the man and Kobe was his wingman during the early 2000s), Robert Horry, Glen Rice, Rick Fox, Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom (when he decides he wants to play).

Now, let's look at LeBron's supporting cast: a 57-year-old Shaq. Mo Williams? Delonte West? Anderson Varejao? Daniel "Boo" Gibson? That is indeed scary. LeBron's career now is akin to Kobe's post-Shaq and pre-rebuild era - those lean years in 2005-06 when L.A. barely made the playoffs. Kobe's teammates then were about equal in talent to LeBron's now. But the Cavs are winning 60-66 games. The Lakers were winning 42-45 games.

Give LeBron a Chris Bosh or Derrick Rose/Joakim Noah complement? Then, let's count the rings.

What separates Jordan from Kobe is MJ learned to trust his teammates, letting the likes of John Paxson and Steve Kerr hit the key shots. Kobe trusts Fisher, barely. But the Game 5 win over the Suns in the Western Conference finals Thursday was the perfect example of Kobe insisting on being "the man." He got the ball with 3.5 seconds left, was triple-teamed, admitted later that Grant Hill made him double-pump, and he still tried to launch that 3-pointer to win it. Fortunately for Ron Artest and the Lakers, Kobe was about two feet short. Meanwhile, Fisher was on the baseline on the same side, all alone for an easy baseline jumper to win the game. Kobe never passed the ball.

Kobe was amazing in Game 6 against the Suns to close out the series, but that certainly wasn't what I would consider "team basketball." I can guarantee that if the Lakers are expecting him to be able to do that four times against the Celtics in the finals, the title will return to Boston (Ugh!)

I love Kobe's athletic ability and will to win, but the answer has to be LeBron.

lebron just because hes more of a team player thank kobe, lebron gives many assist in games and kobe is more of a ball hogger

Are you f*cking high? Why would you even ask this question. One man IS a franchise, one plays for Cleveland. Count LeBron's rings, and then tell me why you wouldn't pick Kobe.

I like both very much. It is so hard to do the choice. But if I must do some choice I like to support kobe

They were a people strong ability of that kind of, however, a team not only by the win, but team, winning team spirit is the magic weapon! Today's Miami heat lost, I regret it, but I also for Dallas happy, their efforts were not in vain!

LeBron, he kicks Kobe's ass

I would definitely have to go with Kobe Bryant on this one! I mean, he has already proven himself a champion. If I was planning to build a team, my main goal would be for my team to become a championship winning team. LeBron James seems to have a cocky attitude and a little bit of a bad temper. I feel that he would bring his A-game all day, but he would also bring too much negativity which could cause the other team players to lose respect for him and create a negative environment. Kobe on the other hand, seems to be a little less tempered, and more eager to help his teammates improve their game rather than point out their mistakes in anger.

To me this isn't even a question based on the fact that Kobe Bryant is going to 32 in August and LeBron James is only 25. James progression is miles ahead of any player who has come before him and if he makes the correct decision this off season the next 10 years of his career will be filled with championships.

The question should be James or Kevin Durant? Its not, so I will answer the question given.

Kobe has a chance to win one this year and after that every thing is up in the air. Bryant's head coach Phil Jackson is possibly going to be gone next season. The western Conference is much tougher to play throughout the regular season and that plays a factor in the post season (as we saw in '06 Mavs and '08 LA). All reasons to sell on Bryant.

All of the teams James is rumored to go to for next season are in the east, which bodes well for him staying on top.

People become captivated by a player who wins championships. Winning championships is about a team, James has never played with the likes of a Pau Gasol or Ron Artest and never been in a system that has 3 potential hall of famers (Boston Celtics). What we need to look at is the players production, consistency, and age(being the most important). If I am going to invest hundreds of millions of dollars then I want my product to be on the rise.

Look at these players as stocks, are you going to invest all your money in a player that has already peaked and given you max value, or purchase the stock that has shown tremendous promise and can spike at an all time high? Hint-Hint, take option B.

Bryant has 2 - 3 years left of possibly being an elite player, James on the other hand has 10 years left to possibly be one on the best of all time.

This is a no-brainer. I've been playing Fantasy Basketball with Yahoo! for the past five seasons, and the person with LJ on their team has come either first or second every season. LJ scores more points, collects more rebounds, dishes more assists, collects more steals, blocks more shots and shoots just as many threes. The only downside to LJ in fantasy is his free throw percentage and turnovers. Factor in that Kobe is getting more and more niggling injuries each year, and is starting to rest his body for the postseason each year, and you'd have to be crazy to base your fantasy team on Kobe.

If you are playing in a keeper league, there is even less debate. Kobe may have a maximum of five seasons left whereas LJ has at least ten left assuming injuries don't play a major part. I'd have Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, Dwayne Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, and Amare Stoudemire over Kobe. Heck, i'd go as far to argue that Kobe would not be the most valuable fantasy player on his team.

We have to remember here that Championship Rings are real life stuff. We are talking about Fantasy rings, and the Playoffs don't even count towards Fantasy titles. Who was your regular season MVP this year? LJ right? When I pick next year, if I get first or second, i'm taking Kevin Durant or Lebron James.

I'll probably get down voted for my answer, but sometimes it takes a zig to make a zag.

I would vote neither. The reason why I say neither is that a team doesn't consist of one player, even though individuals shine in particular moments. Instead I would rather build the team around the coach who can command the respect and loyalty of the players to get them to work together and build a powerhouse. Now if you ask me, Phil Jackson IS that coach. He's simply amazing both on and off the court, and based on what he wrote a few weeks ago, I think @Jason would agree.

Cheers!