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NBA, Video / Sep 10, 2008 / 2:14 pm

Better dunker: Kobe Bryant or LeBron James?

By Austin Burton

Exhibit A: “Mamba” (complete with WTF?-worthy soundtrack)

Exhibit B: “The King”

Posted in NBA, Video |

86 Responses to “Better dunker: Kobe Bryant or LeBron James?”

September 10th, 2008 at 2:18 pm

Craftyfloater says:

Lebron James.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:23 pm

isotope says:

what? Not even close. Kobe!
September 10th, 2008 at 2:25 pm

Daily boy says:

Got to give the nod to King James. KB24 has had some sick ones over the years but Lebron is a beast at getting to the rim & finishing nasty.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:29 pm

Loganlight says:

Mamba.

Give the Chosen One another 2 years of work and he would take this competition hands down… but for now, Kobe take the crown.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:30 pm

Austin Burton says:

This is like the modern-day MJ vs. Dominique argument. Kobe has more variety and is more graceful, LeBron is straight power and kind of one-note but still jaw-dropping. I’ll go with LeBron. He can do everything Kobe can do, but with more power.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:32 pm

original2k9 says:

lebron is a better athlete but kobe is a better dunker, at least he has some creativity in his dunks
September 10th, 2008 at 2:35 pm

shake&bake says:

Austin said it, LeBron=power, Kobe=flare. I’ll take either but since I have to choose I’ll go with Bron cause I love watching him consitently go to the basket strong.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:38 pm

SayItAintSo says:

I’d say KB24 because his dunks are more effortful. It just seems to easy for LBJ. You’d think that’d be a good thing but when he is sky high, it doesn’t make my jaw drop for some reason. I just think, cool you can jump higher and be longer than everyone else, where as Kobe is typically contorting through a triple or double team, sometimes taking off on one side and finishing on the other.

In my head, that’s what makes a good dunker. Someone who can put the skills to into it as a practical play AND make the highlight reel.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:39 pm

fallinup says:

Lebron’s dunks are the type of freak of nature rim rattling dunks that the young shaq used to pull off. The sheer power displayed is something original. With Lebron’s hops, they are pretty sick.

But on the finesse stand point. Kobe’s dunks are acrobatic.

I’ll go with Kobe for the fact that he has more folks challenging his dunks. Most folks just get out of the way for Lebron…or they end like Delonte West did in that highlight reel. :p
September 10th, 2008 at 2:41 pm

Michael says:

Kobe. He’s more creative, Lebron is all power and uglyness.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:44 pm

Big V says:

Kobe’s got more style, grace, and more hang time. Bron is power and viciousness, plus he dunks on people much harder than Kobe. Depends on what you value. Personally if it’s on a breakaway, I’ll take Kobe, but if it’s for posterization purposes, give me Bron.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:44 pm

Big V says:

Of course, all this will change the day Kobe crams one on Shaq’s fatass.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:45 pm

Godot says:

what about that bad lob pass lebron caught off the glass?

that couldn’t have been easy…
September 10th, 2008 at 2:46 pm

RENO says:

Kobe…. Can get ill off of 1 or 2 legs. LBJ gets his off 1.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:50 pm

smity far away says:

@Austin

the “he can do everything kobe can do” statement may be true but the question you have to ask yourself is “does he?”. After looking at those videos i can see that the answer is “no”. Maybe he has the dunking versatility/creativity but he (hardly ever)/never displays that. On the other hand, kobe does to some degree. I say Kobe “Image is Everything, Surgery is Nothing” Bryant
September 10th, 2008 at 2:51 pm

James says:

LeBron will straight yam it on you and move you out of the way- Kobe will use finesse and grace to get around you then dunk you
September 10th, 2008 at 2:52 pm

smity far away says:

and by the way…that dunk against the mavericks where he’s ducking under them and still managing to come back up and finish is nasty…
September 10th, 2008 at 3:02 pm

E says:

Gotta love Damon Jones trying to hide on lebrons number 1
September 10th, 2008 at 3:02 pm

BxBaller says:

Kobe, the BronBot has no creativity. Dude does the same dunk over and over. Thats why his cornball ass won’t participate in the Dunk Contest.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:06 pm

shizzo says:

It simple: one goes through the defender (LeBron) and the other goes around the defender (Kobe). So, if it’s up to me, it’s better to impose yourself upon the defense, thus I have to give it to LeBron.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:10 pm

MoxWestCoastRep says:

I’m a Kobe homer…
But I gotta go with the King on this one because I love the elevation and strength of his dunks. There’s nothing better than a Bron finish IMO
September 10th, 2008 at 3:17 pm

Shawn Bradley says:

I gotta go with Kobe. His nuts smell better.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:17 pm

kermit the washington says:

Wait….i don’t get it. This is the first out of this series where power is considered better than style and substance. ‘Bron could do (and DOES) the same dunk over and over but with such power that people think he’s a better dunker than Kobe. I’m a huge Kobe fan so I can’t really weigh in on this one without being overly biased. But that’s real interesting that this time power is considered better than style.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:28 pm

Jim says:

Kobe, for sure.

All I could think of when I heard that song from the Kobe video was that I bet half the posters on here have recorded Kobe tracks like that before. I can just imagine them all rhyming on their mom’s computer while writing crazy pro-Kobe comments in smack.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:36 pm

T Dubbs says:

I’m going with Kobe.

Lebron has some massive power behind his dunks, but that’s all.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:40 pm

Big Al says:

thats tough! have to go with kobe tho. problem is hes been playin longer thatn Bron so you cant truly compare them yet. kobe has a ferociusness that bron doesnt, as well
September 10th, 2008 at 3:49 pm

E$ says:

LBJ, youngin’ got Hops
September 10th, 2008 at 4:00 pm

GEE...and now she's sniffin again.. says:

Bron might be the next cat to break a backboard, but for that:
Haircut man just gashed you cause he in shock or
You cereal proceeds to fall out yo mouth cause you in shock or
You hopped off the toilet before you finished to get a closer look at the replay
or
Yo granny who don’t even know anything about ball goes “Aww Hell Naw!”
effect
you got to go and give it to Kobe!
September 10th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

Ian says:

i hate kobe but comon this isnt even close lebron is overrated in the dunking department
September 10th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

nick says:

kobe got this on lock. alot of lebrons dunks were just straight power and not as creative as kobes.

also until lebron enters a dunk contest the edge goes to kobe in terms of who the better dunker is. but as loganlight said in another 2yrs lebron will have too many great dunks to not be considered the better dunker.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

Dwight Tell Me How My Nuts Taste says:

Kobe by far is the better dunker. I understand that Lebron’s power cannot be dismissed. But look at everyone that Kobe has dunked on: Dwight, Timmy D, Yao and a bunch of other big dudes. Lebron dunked on Damon Jones and Delonte West although he did dunk on some other bigs. Plus Kobe’s dunks are more jaw dropping than the usual one-handed tomahawk dunks that Lebron does. Lebron’s dope but Kobe wins by a landslide.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:11 pm

Three Stacks says:

Kobe may be the better dunker, but Lebron has the potential to be even better than Kobe.

If Lebron would just stop being so stubborn and just participate in one Slam Dunk contest, this wouldn’t even be an issue.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:15 pm

Kayfah says:

compare kobe vert (38 inches) to LBJ (44 inches) it not everything but its certainly a difference
September 10th, 2008 at 4:15 pm

GEE...and now she's sniffin again.. says:

Cause Three if dude lose his rep takes a hit. Not so much a hit that he can’t come back from, lol he already lost in H.O.R.S.E. but still a hit though.

Specially considering Kobe went in won his and is chilling. Everyone still waitin on LeBron? I wish he would take that chance too though.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:16 pm

HATE08 says:

@dwight tell me how my nuts taste,

that is so Clay Aiken name for yourself!!!!

BARACK OHATEAH FOR PRESIDENT!!!!
September 10th, 2008 at 4:21 pm

dukesman2000 says:

Dime, come on….no comparison, Kobe Bryant.

LBJ is powerful and that’s it. In a dunk contest he wouldn’t be exciting.

Don’t waste post on stupid shit like this. You should have used this space to give something away or do a “We Reminisce”
September 10th, 2008 at 4:22 pm

jace says:

kobe.

lebrons a more powerful dunker.. maybe even get higher. but kobes shown hes more acrobatic. soo all around id give it kobe. plus.. lebrons scared of the dunk contest. yes.. i said scared.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:23 pm

HATE08 says:

ANYWAY, LEBRON GOT KOBE HANDS DOWN. YEA KOBE HAS THE AGILITY TO MAKE IT TO HOLE AND DUNK, BUT LEBRON GOT THAT RAW POWER TO JUST BRING IT TO THE HOLE. (NO ROSIE ODONELL)
September 10th, 2008 at 4:28 pm

TJ says:

I say Lebron. Dunk number six against the Mavs was unreal.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:46 pm

Sho-Nuff says:

LBJ, that two hand double crank on baseline was pretty nasty. Also, think back to that one against the Celts in the playoffs this year. He rose up on that one.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:57 pm

BigT says:

Lebron…you don’t want to defend him in the open court. The victimz for dunks #4 and #1 been Bapitized so good they converted over to the Cavs shortly after to be with their master.

Dime should do an article where they interview athletes who are now teammates after one has a vicious highlight on the other.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:57 pm

Promoman says:

Kobe is better in terms of style & creativity. My favorite Kobe dunk was the around the back 180 he did on Vincent Yarborugh when the Lakers played the Nuggets a few years ago. That topped the dotted line dunk on Ben Wallace in my opinion. Kobe remixed Chris Webber’s around the back dunk on Barkley and updated it for the new millienium. We also can’t forget the infamous Dwight Howard boom. LeBron has him in terms of power and vertical, but only because LeBron’s bigger than Kobe physically.
September 10th, 2008 at 5:03 pm

Promoman says:

Oh yeah, Steve Francis pushed Kobe because he was still pissed about the dunk Kobe put on him in the playoffs his last go-round with the Rockets
September 10th, 2008 at 5:16 pm

Heaven Is A Playground says:

KB24.
September 10th, 2008 at 5:20 pm

sans says:

Where was the spin move that Kobe put on Yao on year, the one that was up for the ESPY? And they din’t have Bron’s cram on KG, but the one he hit on Sheed was raw. Kobe dunked on people, too though. He got Timmy, Yao, and Dwight, among others.

I take Bron because his dunks are fourth quarter daggers. Kobe’s dunks might rally his team, but Lebron will make you question your heterosexuality after cramming on you. Just take one look at what it did to Damon Jone’s. Brother never recovered.
September 10th, 2008 at 5:22 pm

sans says:

@ Kayfah

good point, and Bron gots a couple inches, so he has eight inches of more air than Kobe. That’s why it looks so easy for him. He looks as relaxed as Usain Bolt slamming on people.
September 10th, 2008 at 6:11 pm

Amos Leak says:

WoW…I see alot of people saying Kob..and that’s all well and good but lets be real…Lebron has the best dunk styles and hang time in the NBA..the things he does..is to another level!..Kobe is known as a pure MVP…that Dunking thing…Bron got that on lock!…purely!
September 10th, 2008 at 6:12 pm

MBE18 says:

King James
September 10th, 2008 at 6:20 pm

bigdoggchad says:

Kobe until LeBron wins a dunk contest.
September 10th, 2008 at 6:23 pm

Junio says:

Grace vs Power.

That outlet pass, behind the back, loosing Vincent Yarbrough, changing direction and finishing with a reverse dunk….I always had this dunk as the most plastic ever…
September 10th, 2008 at 6:34 pm

Wilez says:

From the dunks I just seen Kobe got this by far!! Bron is a Beast but Kobe is a KILLA!!
September 10th, 2008 at 7:18 pm

Jah says:

Man, I’m going to be the first to say that that 10 Ten Dunks of Kobe Bryant’s Career was weak. Some were good but Kobe’s done much better work in his 12 or 13 years in the league.

I’ve also got a few issues with the selection from LeBron as well.

As far as the debate is concerned, I’m going to go ahead and say it — it’s a tie.
September 10th, 2008 at 7:23 pm

dapro says:

Kobe’s effort in the dunk contest was weak- the dunk contest in 96(i think) was one the worst I’ve seen

Between Kobe and Bron

Bron has more power and gets more elevation in his dunks

but I’m going with Kobe-more flair, smoothness in the dunk and creativity
September 10th, 2008 at 9:40 pm

George W Kush Sr says:

Lebron takes it.
He can do everything Kobe does but with more power.
Kobe cant make defenders bounce off him on the way to the rim, and on the same play, he cant make the blocker go flying in the other direction while delivering a monstruous dunk, seemingly, as if no one was in his way in the first place.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:10 pm

Heaven Is A Playground says:

KB8/KB24/Mamba.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:30 pm

Dagomar says:

Lebron James - George W Kush said it best. The guy has a combination of dexterity, speed, and power we’ve never seen before. In he’s got a much higher vertical than Kobe.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:38 pm

Kermit The Washington says:

“Kobe cant make defenders bounce off him on the way to the rim, and on the same play, he cant make the blocker go flying in the other direction while delivering a monstruous dunk, seemingly, as if no one was in his way in the first place.”

yeaahh……that made no sense, thanks
September 10th, 2008 at 11:06 pm

Bron42 had springs before slamball says:

This might be the dumbest debated ever!!!

A)Lebron wont’ even ENTER a dunk contest as a pro, let alone win. Kobe already has 1 trophy.

B) Kobe is way more creative than lebron. Lebron is a one note power dunker…o wow, he dunks hard. if thats the case shaq is the best dunker of all time. Dunk is hardly about power, its about bein a creative finisher, which lebron is not, its always 1 handed cocked back or something. Kobe dunks on people, from distance, one foot, 2 feet, wind mills, 360s, up and under, i mean just watch when he went behind his back against the nuggest and theren 180′d.

c) Kobe has dunked on way more people than lebron. 90% of lebrons dunks are clear path dunks. Lebron goes and challenges people. I mean hes dunk on yao, dwight howard etc.. Lebron has dunked on damon jones and delonte west. and MAYBE KG if you even count that considering it was help side defense.

D) kobe is over all the best dunker and hes smaller, Considerin lebrons size (hes actually not more athletic than kobe in his prime, just bigger), lebron doesnt do that much with it dunking wise. His hottest dunk of all time was the between the legs in high school and even ricky davis did that in the pros like a day later.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:07 pm

Smitty313 says:

Kobe hands down. Lebron has 2 or 3 dunks in his arsenal.
September 11th, 2008 at 12:42 am

JHov says:

Kobe 4 sho! His dunks are creative and with flair..LBJ is sheer power..both are sick though! The whole Jordan/Wilkins comparison that Austin already discussed. Although I disagree with his thought that LBJ can do everything that KB can do..physical maybe but on the spot would he even try it??
September 11th, 2008 at 3:26 am

solomon says:

austin said it best

dunk-wise,

lbj = ‘nique
kb24 = mj

it’s like apples and oranges
that’s all folks…
September 11th, 2008 at 3:26 am

king ralf says:

Kobe, but LJ has the potential to be better than kobe. he just needs to crown some bigs really bad.
September 11th, 2008 at 3:59 am

karan says:

its close… but i think kobe takes it
also, that kobe bryant song is the biggest bullshit ever
September 11th, 2008 at 4:57 am

Saud says:

No-Brainer! Let’s face it:

Bron has power and vertical, but he’s one of the least creative dunkers in the league.

http://www.squidoo.com/KobeBryantDunk
September 11th, 2008 at 5:54 am

analord says:

the modern day MJ vs. ‘Nique debate.
I’ll have to go with lebron though despite being a fan of both of them.
the combination of power and strength on lebron’s dunks are just mind-blowing.

on a side note, Kobe does have a few dunks that even Lebron says it’s hard for himself to top… the twisted ight hand dunk against Phx and Houston this past season as well as the old ones shown in the clip against New York (in MSG, no less)and ‘Sota were beyond incredible.
September 11th, 2008 at 6:49 am

paningit says:

king (kong) james has one, yes count ‘em all, one dunk! and it ain’t even that artistic.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:09 am

ERIC says:

Kobe
September 11th, 2008 at 9:29 am

sosa says:

LEBRON IS MORE ATHLETIC, MORE AGGRESSIVE…KOBE CREATIVE…ILL GIVE IT TO LEBRON
September 11th, 2008 at 9:41 am

Sam I Am says:

Kobe Baby!!!!

LeBron’s bama butt can’t even hold a candle to Kobe.
September 11th, 2008 at 10:22 am

karizmatic says:

LBJ wins in the game, in a dunk contest it would be Kobe, I disagree with the assertion that Kobe is like MJ, look back at MJ’s in game highlights he was doing power dunks in games dunking right on people. MJ had the finesse dunks for the dunk contest and the power dunks for the game. Kobe is a finesse dunker he’s got a couple of dunks directly on people but most of them avoid contact. LBJ dunks through people. His list is just as long as Kobe’s and will probably be longer. For LBJ Sheed, KG, Tim Duncan for the bigs. Kobe got the same guys plus the dunk on Yao is nasty but if you look the dunks are finesse dunks mostly so again in a game LBJ, in a dunk contest Kobe.
September 11th, 2008 at 12:32 pm

junior says:

Kobe got this by far
September 11th, 2008 at 2:40 pm

jimmhumm says:

Its a tie
September 11th, 2008 at 6:36 pm

Skeeter McGee says:

The reason Damon turns around while in mid-air is so he can get some facetime for that poster he’s on hahaha
September 11th, 2008 at 7:27 pm

Kudabeen says:

Kobe had way better dunks or that video/music combo was that trash that it took points aways from Kobe…LeBron may not have Dunk contest creativity, but he’s nasty in game. I still give it to Kobe, because of how dynamic his in-game dunks have been.
September 11th, 2008 at 10:58 pm

P_Dizzle says:

Kobe!

Hate to admit it but Kobe gets the nod
September 13th, 2008 at 9:56 am

caeubona says:

i’d definitely take kobe here. for one, he’s smaller than lebron, so it’s more impressive with the way he gets up in the air. number two, kobe has way more creativity in his dunks than lebron. bron basically does the same thing again and again - power dunking over his man, without really any creative spin to it. also, bron doesn’t really do anything once he’s airborne, he just goes straight up to the hoop. kobe, on the other hand, would twist his way around his defenders, sometimes two defenders, and dunk on them. and he’d move around his defenders while airborne. definitely, lebron is the more powerful dunker of the two - after all, he has two inches and around 30 pounds on kobe. but kobe has the grace, the flair, the creativity going for him. i’d take kobe in this debate, and bron would just have to find ways to look creative while doing his dunks.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:14 am

ID says:

Kobe by far.
September 16th, 2008 at 5:10 pm

Ca$hville says:

All I gotta say is…ain’t no way Kobe is catchin dat alley oop Boobie Gibson threw to Bron Bron in Game 1 of the 1st round of the playoffs last year versus the Wizards. Bron had to lean his head back to keep from bustin it on the rim and almost blew his knee out. Plus his dunk on ‘Sheed is hs best all-time. Cavs were down 0-2 in that series, game was tied in Game 3 in the 4th quarter…after that dunk the series changed and the Cavs went on the win four straight. Up until then the Cavs had been gettin punked by the Pistons just about everytime they played (even in years past) and that dunk changed all of that. Like when Craig beat Deebo’s ass on Friday. That dunk on ‘Sheed was Bron Bron’s brick lol
September 29th, 2008 at 11:46 pm

Justin says:

Got to this late but it’s Kobe. No exceptions.

People keep saying LeBron can do all of Kobe’s dunks but has he?

The 360s, 180s, the various one and two hand reverses, the baseline windmills, the tomahawks, windmills, the 180 alley on Philly in the Finals, the double pump reverse, two foot tomahawk, the list goes on.

LeBron may have about 4 to 5 dunks in his repertoire.

Simply put, Kobe is one of the best in-game dunkers in the modern era.
September 29th, 2008 at 11:48 pm

Justin says:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6LChpQ2N9Q&feature=related

Watch it.
December 6th, 2008 at 4:32 am

al says:

this is the stupidest debate in the world…. hahahaha lol…lol anybody that thinks lebron is a better dunker than kobe is nothing more than an ignorant, blind, fool who has been in fluenced and pretty much brain washed by all the endless, garbage lebron hype… u might as well ask is lebron faster than bolt, or micheal johnson

lebron cant do anything half as creative as kobe… no, not even 2% as creative, amazing, and flashy as kobe. lebron does the same dunk over and over. in his whole career he has maybe done 5 different dunks. and thats a big MAYBE.. and whats all this, he has power…he has power. so what, josh smith slams harder than lebron does that make him better( i think hes a better dunker than him 2 they just dont show his stuff)… and anyways, if hes got so much more hops and power than kobe how come kobe has a slam dunk title and he doesnt… but forget about dunk contest, cause that really means nothing, lets talk about in game dunks. kobe is the best in game dunker ever… he has WAY,WAY more amazing dunks, and posterizations than anybody. including jordan. jordan never even did a 360,(kobe has done like 15 or 20) and neither will lebron… lebron and jordan are so much alike they both are overrated in game dunkers and they are both hyped up.( although jordan was worthy of the hype, lebron aint)
December 6th, 2008 at 4:57 am

al says:

i almost forgot… if lebron has so much more hops and power than kobe, why did kobe block a lebrons tomahwk slam. they both planted, they both went up, kobe met him in the air and told him you better jump a little higher son. ( any body that has had nba tv for a few years and is a lakers fan knows what im talkin about) plus lebron is way taller than kobe. They just said on sportscenter that lebron was really 6′9 1/2 260 lbs plus, not 6′8 230( grew since came in), kobes a legit 6′6

when kobe first came in he used to try and jump out the gym slamming the ball. but kobes been playing 13 years his game has evolved. just because me doesnt try to slam all the time, every time like its the last dunk hes ever going to slam again doesnt mean he cant… DONT FORGET WHO HE IS!
December 30th, 2008 at 10:53 am

Me says:

Those are some sick dunks from both of them, but i will go with Kobe.
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:40 pm

taulib says:

Kobe is better than games because he’s a rookie to Bryant
June 19th, 2009 at 4:23 pm

Tommy says:

Kobe is the best, anybody that says lebron is better can kiss my hairy fat ass. havent you heard that lebron ran out like a fucking cry baby when he lost the playoffs. he walked out on his mom and fans. lebron if you can read this try not to cry. you can kiss my ass to!
June 19th, 2009 at 4:34 pm

troy says:

lebron is the greatest play in the nba kobe the showofer and kobe change his number because he thout he was beter than mj he thout rong lebron is the king but kobe he is just a cobey cater for michele jordan lebron can do more exsiting playes .

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