Who is statistically better: Kobe or LeBron in 2026?

LeBron James holds the statistical edge in 2026 with 28.3 PPG, 8.5 APG, and 8.3 RPG at age 41, maintaining elite standards across three statistical categories. Kobe's peak scoring (35.4 PPG in 2005-06) exceeds LeBron's current output, but LeBron's sustained excellence and all-around impact make him statistically superior when considering longevity and era-adjusted efficiency (66.7% TS%).

How many championships and Finals MVPs does each player have?

Kobe Bryant won 5 NBA Championships with 2 Finals MVPs (all with Lakers). LeBron James won 4 NBA Championships with 4 Finals MVPs across three different franchises (2012, 2013 Heat; 2016 Cavs; 2020 Lakers), making him 4-time Finals MVP despite one fewer ring.

Why did Kobe retire while LeBron continues playing at 41?

Kobe Bryant retired at age 37 in 2016 after two major Achilles injuries and declining team competitiveness affected his motivation. LeBron James has maintained elite athleticism through superior injury prevention, modern recovery methods, and continued championship aspirations, playing in Year 23 at age 41 and remaining the only player averaging 25+ PPG with 8+ RPG and 8+ APG in 2026.

Who was a better passer and playmaker?

LeBron James significantly outpaces Kobe in playmaking, averaging 8.5 APG in 2026 versus Kobe's career 4.7 APG. LeBron's size (6'9"), court vision, and system-oriented approach enabled him to facilitate championship teams across three franchises, while Kobe's scoring-first mentality prioritized individual offensive brilliance over ball movement.

Which player had the higher peak performance?

Kobe Bryant had the higher scoring peak with 35.4 PPG in the 2005-06 season, including a legendary 81-point game. However, LeBron's all-around peak (27+ PPG, 7+ RPG, 7+ APG with elite defense) across multiple seasons demonstrates greater overall consistency. By efficiency metrics, LeBron's 66.7% TS% in 2026 exceeds Kobe's 55.4% career TS%, reflecting modern spacing advantages.

How do their legacies compare beyond statistics?

Kobe's legacy emphasizes unwavering Lakers loyalty, clutch performances in crucial moments, and Mamba Mentality cultural impact with 5 rings and iconic moments (81-point game, game-winners). LeBron's legacy reflects unprecedented longevity, multi-franchise success proving adaptability, player empowerment (free agency), and social activism, with 4 MVPs and sustained excellence across two decades making him potentially the greatest all-around player ever.

Kobe Bryant vs LeBron James

Updated March 31, 2026

Kobe Bryant

Los Angeles Lakers icon who modeled his game after Jordan and became one of the most versatile shooting guards ever

Fans valuing peak scoring, loyalty, clutch moments, and mid-range artistry

LeBron James

4-time NBA champion and 4-time MVP with elite playmaking, defense, and 23-year excellence across three franchises.

Analysts prioritizing all-around impact, longevity, playmaking, and sustained excellence over two decades

Short Answer

LeBron James edges out Kobe Bryant as the superior all-around player due to his longevity, playmaking ability, and sustained elite performance into his 23rd season (2026), while Kobe excels in scoring efficiency and clutch performance. LeBron's 28.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 8.5 APG at age 41 demonstrate unmatched durability compared to Kobe's career arc ending at 37.

Our Verdict

LeBron James emerges as the more complete and durable player with superior all-around impact, sustained excellence across two decades, and greater Finals success. However, Kobe Bryant's peak scoring prowess, championship legacy, and clutch performances in crucial moments remain unmatched. Choose LeBron if prioritizing longevity, playmaking, and modern versatility; choose Kobe if valuing scoring excellence, championship clutch moments, and peak-era dominance.

Kobe Bryant5.9

9.1LeBron James

Choose Kobe Bryant if

Fans valuing peak scoring, loyalty, clutch moments, and mid-range artistry

Key Differences at a Glance

⚡

Career Longevity & Peak Performance: LeBron James wins (Still active at 41 (2026, Year 23) vs Retired at 37 (2016))

🔹

All-Around Playmaking: LeBron James wins (Avg 8.5 APG in 2026 vs Avg 4.7 APG career)

🔹

Scoring Efficiency: 50-40-90 club member (2001-02) vs 66.7% TS% in 2026

See all 8 differences

Key Facts & Figures

Metric	Kobe Bryant	LeBron James	Diff
Career Points	33,643	40,474	-17%
All-Star Appearances	18	20	-10%
Finals MVP Awards	2	4

Key Differences

Kobe Bryant

Attribute

LeBron James

Retired at 37 (2016)

Career Longevity & Peak Performance

Still active at 41 (2026, Year 23)🏆

Avg 4.7 APG career

All-Around Playmaking

Avg 8.5 APG in 2026🏆

50-40-90 club member (2001-02)

Scoring Efficiency

66.7% TS% in 2026

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Last updated: March 31, 2026AI generated

Career Longevity & Peak Performance

Kobe Bryant

Retired at 37 (2016)

LeBron James

Still active at 41 (2026, Year 23)🏆

All-Around Playmaking

Kobe Bryant

Avg 4.7 APG career

LeBron James

Avg 8.5 APG in 2026🏆

Scoring Efficiency

Kobe Bryant

50-40-90 club member (2001-02)

LeBron James

66.7% TS% in 2026

MVP Awards

Kobe Bryant

1 MVP (2007-08)

LeBron James

4 MVPs (2008-09, 2011-12, 2019-20, 2023-24)🏆

Championship Rings

Kobe Bryant

5 NBA Championships🏆

LeBron James

4 NBA Championships (1 with Cavs, Heat, Lakers each)

Clutch Performance & Finals Legacy

Kobe Bryant

5 Finals appearances, 2-time Finals MVP

LeBron James

10 Finals appearances, 4-time Finals MVP🏆

Physical Attributes

Kobe Bryant

6'6" (198cm), 212 lbs, elite footwork

LeBron James

6'9" (206cm), 250 lbs, 7' wingspan, versatility🏆

Peak Season PPG

Kobe Bryant

35.4 PPG (2005-06)🏆

LeBron James

28.3 PPG (2025-26 at age 41)

Full Comparison

Attribute	Kobe Bryant	LeBron James

Career Points	33,643	40,474
Career Rebounds	10,768	—
Career Three-Pointers Made	~600	—

All-Star Appearances	18	20

Finals MVP Awards	2	4
Championships	4	—

Career Points Per Game(PPG)	25.0 PPG career	27.2 PPG career (through 2026)
2026 Season / Peak Season PPG(PPG)	35.4 PPG (2005-06)	28.3 PPG (2025-26)

Career Assists Per Game(APG)	4.7 APG career	8.5 APG (2025-26)

Career Rebounds Per Game(RPG)	5.2 RPG career	8.3 RPG (2025-26)
Rebounds Per Game(RPG)	5.3 RPG	—

MVP Awards(count)	1 MVP	4 MVPs
Finals MVP Awards(count)	2 Finals MVPs	4 Finals MVPs
All-Star Selections(selections)	18 All-Star selections	20 All-Star selections

NBA Championships(rings)	5 Championships	4 Championships
Finals Appearances(count)	5 Finals appearances	10 Finals appearances

True Shooting Percentage(%)	55.4% TS% career	66.7% TS% (2025-26)

Career Longevity(seasons)	20 seasons (1996-2016)	23 seasons (2003-2026)

Height / Physical Presence(inches)	6'6" (198cm)	6'9" (206cm)

Career Points Per Game(PPG)	25.5 PPG	27.2 PPG

Steals Per Game(SPG)	1.5 SPG	—

NBA Championships(titles)	5 championships	4

NBA Finals Record(wins-losses)	Not documented as perfect	—

All-NBA First Team Selections(selections)	Not specified	—

Regular Season Games Played(games)	1,346 games	—
NBA Career Span(seasons)	20 seasons (1996-2016)	—

MVP Awards(count)	4	—

Career Assists(assists)	10,420	—

Kobe Bryant

LeBron James

Career Points

33,643

40,474

Career Rebounds

10,768

—

Career Three-Pointers Made

~600

—

All-Star Appearances

Finals MVP Awards

Championships

—

Career Points Per Game(PPG)

25.0 PPG career

27.2 PPG career (through 2026)

2026 Season / Peak Season PPG(PPG)

35.4 PPG (2005-06)

28.3 PPG (2025-26)

Career Assists Per Game(APG)

4.7 APG career

8.5 APG (2025-26)

Career Rebounds Per Game(RPG)

5.2 RPG career

8.3 RPG (2025-26)

Rebounds Per Game(RPG)

5.3 RPG

—

MVP Awards(count)

1 MVP

4 MVPs

Finals MVP Awards(count)

2 Finals MVPs

4 Finals MVPs

All-Star Selections(selections)

18 All-Star selections

20 All-Star selections

NBA Championships(rings)

5 Championships

4 Championships

Finals Appearances(count)

5 Finals appearances

10 Finals appearances

True Shooting Percentage(%)

55.4% TS% career

66.7% TS% (2025-26)

Career Longevity(seasons)

20 seasons (1996-2016)

23 seasons (2003-2026)

Height / Physical Presence(inches)

6'6" (198cm)

6'9" (206cm)

Career Points Per Game(PPG)

25.5 PPG

27.2 PPG

Steals Per Game(SPG)

1.5 SPG

—

NBA Championships(titles)

5 championships

NBA Finals Record(wins-losses)

Not documented as perfect

—

All-NBA First Team Selections(selections)

Not specified

—

Regular Season Games Played(games)

1,346 games

—

NBA Career Span(seasons)

20 seasons (1996-2016)

—

MVP Awards(count)

—

Career Assists(assists)

10,420

—

Full Comparison

Attribute	Kobe Bryant	LeBron James

Career Points	33,643	40,474
Career Rebounds	10,768	—
Career Three-Pointers Made	~600	—

All-Star Appearances	18	20

Finals MVP Awards	2	4
Championships	4	—

Career Points Per Game(PPG)	25.0 PPG career	27.2 PPG career (through 2026)
2026 Season / Peak Season PPG(PPG)	35.4 PPG (2005-06)	28.3 PPG (2025-26)

Career Assists Per Game(APG)	4.7 APG career	8.5 APG (2025-26)

Career Rebounds Per Game(RPG)	5.2 RPG career	8.3 RPG (2025-26)
Rebounds Per Game(RPG)	5.3 RPG	—

MVP Awards(count)	1 MVP	4 MVPs
Finals MVP Awards(count)	2 Finals MVPs	4 Finals MVPs
All-Star Selections(selections)	18 All-Star selections	20 All-Star selections

NBA Championships(rings)	5 Championships	4 Championships
Finals Appearances(count)	5 Finals appearances	10 Finals appearances

True Shooting Percentage(%)	55.4% TS% career	66.7% TS% (2025-26)

Career Longevity(seasons)	20 seasons (1996-2016)	23 seasons (2003-2026)

Height / Physical Presence(inches)	6'6" (198cm)	6'9" (206cm)

Career Points Per Game(PPG)	25.5 PPG	27.2 PPG

Steals Per Game(SPG)	1.5 SPG	—

NBA Championships(titles)	5 championships	4

NBA Finals Record(wins-losses)	Not documented as perfect	—

All-NBA First Team Selections(selections)	Not specified	—

Regular Season Games Played(games)	1,346 games	—
NBA Career Span(seasons)	20 seasons (1996-2016)	—

MVP Awards(count)	4	—

Career Assists(assists)	10,420	—

Kobe Bryant

LeBron James

Career Points

33,643

40,474

Career Rebounds

10,768

—

Career Three-Pointers Made

~600

—

All-Star Appearances

Finals MVP Awards

Championships

—

Career Points Per Game(PPG)

25.0 PPG career

27.2 PPG career (through 2026)

2026 Season / Peak Season PPG(PPG)

35.4 PPG (2005-06)

28.3 PPG (2025-26)

Career Assists Per Game(APG)

4.7 APG career

8.5 APG (2025-26)

Career Rebounds Per Game(RPG)

5.2 RPG career

8.3 RPG (2025-26)

Rebounds Per Game(RPG)

5.3 RPG

—

MVP Awards(count)

1 MVP

4 MVPs

Finals MVP Awards(count)

2 Finals MVPs

4 Finals MVPs

All-Star Selections(selections)

18 All-Star selections

20 All-Star selections

NBA Championships(rings)

5 Championships

4 Championships

Finals Appearances(count)

5 Finals appearances

10 Finals appearances

True Shooting Percentage(%)

55.4% TS% career

66.7% TS% (2025-26)

Career Longevity(seasons)

20 seasons (1996-2016)

23 seasons (2003-2026)

Height / Physical Presence(inches)

6'6" (198cm)

6'9" (206cm)

Career Points Per Game(PPG)

25.5 PPG

27.2 PPG

Steals Per Game(SPG)

1.5 SPG

—

NBA Championships(titles)

5 championships

NBA Finals Record(wins-losses)

Not documented as perfect

—

All-NBA First Team Selections(selections)

Not specified

—

Regular Season Games Played(games)

1,346 games

—

NBA Career Span(seasons)

20 seasons (1996-2016)

—

MVP Awards(count)

—

Career Assists(assists)

10,420

—

Kobe Bryant vs LeBron James

Kobe Bryant

LeBron James

Short Answer

Our Verdict

Key Differences at a Glance

Key Facts & Figures

Key Differences

Related Comparisons

Explore Entities

More Sports

People Also Compare

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison

Pros & Cons

Kobe Bryant

Pros

Cons

LeBron James

Pros

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources & Learn More

Wikipedia

Videos

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison

Cons