LeBron James surpassed Kobe Bryant as the NBA's all-time leading scorer in 2023 with 40,061 points, while Kobe finished with 33,643 points. LeBron has won 4 championships across 3 teams, while Kobe won all 5 championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kobe Bryant vs LeBron James — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard and 5-time NBA champion known for clutch scoring and fierce competitiveness
All-time NBA scoring leader with 4 championships across 21 seasons with multiple franchises
All-Time Points Scored. NBA Championships. All-Star Selections. All-NBA First Team Selections. Career Length. MVP Awards. Finals MVP Awards
LeBron James has the edge in longevity, versatility, and overall statistical dominance, becoming the all-time leading scorer and winning multiple MVPs with different franchises. Kobe Bryant remains superior in championship consistency (5 with one team) and clutch playoff performance, with elite scoring efficiency during his peak years. Choose Kobe if you value championship loyalty and peak-era dominance; choose LeBron if you prioritize all-around excellence and sustained excellence across two decades.
Kobe Bryant: 33,643 | LeBron James: 40,361
Kobe Bryant: 25.0 PPG career | LeBron James: 27.2 PPG career (through 2026)
Kobe Bryant: 4.7 APG career | LeBron James: 8.5 APG (2025-26)
Kobe Bryant: 5.2 RPG career | LeBron James: 8.3 RPG (2025-26)
Kobe Bryant: 1 MVP | LeBron James: 4 MVPs
Kobe Bryant: 5 Championships | LeBron James: 4 Championships
Kobe Bryant: 5 Finals appearances | LeBron James: 10 Finals appearances
Kobe Bryant: 2 Finals MVPs | LeBron James: 4 Finals MVPs
Kobe Bryant: 55.4% TS% career | LeBron James: 66.7% TS% (2025-26)
Kobe Bryant: 20 seasons (1996-2016) | LeBron James: 23 seasons (2003-2026)
Kobe Bryant: 6'6" (198cm) | LeBron James: 6'9" (206cm)
Kobe Bryant: 18 All-Star selections | LeBron James: 20 All-Star selections
Kobe Bryant: 5.3 RPG | LeBron James: N/A
Kobe Bryant: 1.5 SPG | LeBron James: N/A
Kobe Bryant: Not documented as perfect | LeBron James: N/A
Kobe Bryant: 1,346 games | LeBron James: N/A
Kobe Bryant: 20 seasons (1996-2016) | LeBron James: N/A
Kobe Bryant: 20 seasons (1996-2016) | LeBron James: 21 seasons (2003-2024)
Kobe Bryant: 7 Finals (5 wins) | LeBron James: 10
Kobe Bryant: 5 championships | LeBron James: 4
Kobe Bryant: 44.7% | LeBron James: 50.5%
Kobe Bryant: 1,346 | LeBron James: 1,610
Kobe Bryant: 33.1% | LeBron James: 34.0%
Kobe Bryant: 25.0 PPG | LeBron James: 27.2 PPG
Kobe Bryant: 1 (2007-08) | LeBron James: 4
Kobe Bryant: 5 Finals MVPs | LeBron James: 4 Finals MVPs
Kobe Bryant: 11 selections | LeBron James: N/A
Kobe Bryant: 33,643 | LeBron James: 40,061
Kobe Bryant: 5,995 | LeBron James: 10,452
Kobe Bryant: 5 (Lakers only) | LeBron James: 4
Kobe Bryant: 7,047 | LeBron James: 11,185
Kobe Bryant: N/A | LeBron James: 1,317 three-pointers
Kobe Bryant: N/A | LeBron James: 1 NBA Cup MVP
Kobe Bryant: N/A | LeBron James: 0 titles
Kobe Bryant: N/A | LeBron James: Guard, Forward, Center (multi-position)
Kobe Bryant: N/A | LeBron James: 2003-2026 (modern 3-point era)
Kobe Bryant: N/A | LeBron James: 31.4 (2005-06)
Kobe Bryant: N/A | LeBron James: 1 DPOY award
Kobe Bryant: N/A | LeBron James: 40,474 points
Kobe Bryant: N/A | LeBron James: 4 MVP awards
Kobe Bryant: N/A | LeBron James: 4 Finals MVPs
Kobe Bryant: N/A | LeBron James: 40,361 points
Kobe Bryant: N/A | LeBron James: 40% (4 of 10 Finals)
Kobe Bryant: N/A | LeBron James: 19 (of 21)
Kobe Bryant: N/A | LeBron James: 17.9 (10.5 RPG + 7.4 APG)
Kobe Bryant: N/A | LeBron James: 21 seasons
How to choose between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James
Kobe Bryant vs LeBron James — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Kobe Bryant vs LeBron James. Contains 96 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Kobe Bryant vs LeBron James — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Kobe Bryant vs LeBron James.
Who is the better scorer, Kobe or LeBron?
LeBron is the all-time leading scorer with 40,061 points vs Kobe's 33,643, breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record in February 2023. However, Kobe was more efficient during his peak, posting an 11-time All-NBA First Team selection vs LeBron's 6, showing Kobe's scoring dominance in his era. LeBron's edge comes from longevity (21 seasons vs Kobe's 20) and superior overall efficiency (50.5% FG vs 44.7%).
Kobe Bryant won 5 NBA championships, all with the Los Angeles Lakers (2000-2002, 2009-2010), while LeBron James won 4 championships across three teams (2012-2013 Heat, 2015-2016 Cavaliers, 2019-2020 Lakers). Kobe's championships represent unmatched loyalty to one franchise, while LeBron's demonstrate flexibility and sustained dominance across different organizations.
LeBron James was more versatile, contributing 40,061 points, 10,452 assists, and 11,185 rebounds—making him the only player ever to rank top-15 in all three categories. He played and defended all 5 positions and averaged 7.4 assists per game. Kobe was elite offensively but primarily a shooting guard with 5,995 career assists and more limited playmaking impact, despite being an excellent all-around scorer.
Kobe's 2005-06 season is considered one of the greatest scoring peaks, averaging 35.4 PPG (then 3rd all-time). LeBron's 2008-09 season saw him win MVP averaging 26.8 PPG, 7.9 RPG, and 7.2 APG while shooting 56.2% FG—superior efficiency and playmaking. Most analysts credit LeBron's 2008-09 as the better all-around peak due to his balanced excellence, while Kobe's remains legendary for pure scoring dominance.
Who is considered the GOAT between these two?
Neither Kobe nor LeBron is consensus GOAT—that distinction typically goes to Michael Jordan (6 championships, 5 MVPs, .500+ FG%). Among all-time greats, LeBron ranks higher in most statistical rankings and modern consensus due to all-around excellence and longevity, while Kobe ranks in the top 5-10. LeBron's all-time scoring record (40,061 points) and 4 MVPs give him the edge in debates about greatest players of their generation.
How to Choose Between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James
All-Time Points Scored: Kobe Bryant has 33,643 points, while LeBron James has 40,061 points.
NBA Championships: Kobe Bryant has 5 titles (all with Lakers), while LeBron James has 4 titles (Heat, Cavaliers, Lakers).
All-Star Selections: Kobe Bryant has 18 selections, while LeBron James has 19 selections.
All-NBA First Team Selections: Kobe Bryant has 11 times, while LeBron James has 6 times.
Career Length: Kobe Bryant has 20 seasons (1996-2016), while LeBron James has 21 seasons (2003-2024).
MVP Awards: Kobe Bryant has 1 MVP (2007-08), while LeBron James has 4 MVPs (2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2013-14).
Finals MVP Awards: Kobe Bryant has 2 Finals MVPs, while LeBron James has 4 Finals MVPs.