Nick Wright shares his biggest problem with LeBron James vs Kobe Bryant debate, ‘if you ask 100 NBA fans…’

The Volume Argument Falls Apart Under Statistical Scrutiny

Wright anticipated the common counterargument about shooting volume and systematically dismantled it with hard data.

The numbers reveal that LeBron actually attempted more three-pointers per game than Kobe throughout their respective careers.

“Oh, well, Nick. Kobe shot way more. No. He didn’t. Kobe for his career, 4.1 attempts per game. LeBron for his career, 4.7 attempts per game,” Wright explained.

Even playoff performance, where Kobe’s clutch reputation should shine brightest, tells the same story. Both players shot nearly identical percentages when the stakes were highest.

“Well, Kobe was better in the playoffs. No. Kobe for his career in the playoffs, 33.1% on four attempts per game. LeBron for his career in the playoffs, 33.3%,” Wright continued.

During Kobe’s 20-year career (1996-2016), he made 1,827 three-pointers on 5,546 attempts. LeBron, through his first 20 seasons, connected on 2,410 three-pointers from 6,901 attempts, demonstrating both superior accuracy and volume.

Memory and Perception Trump Cold Hard Facts

“Essentially the same, LeBron had ticked better, but on 4.9 attempts per game. That is as clear and as clean and as matter of fact as data can get. And people simply will say, I do not believe that. That’s not how I remember it,” Wright observed.

The disconnect between statistical reality and fan perception highlights how narrative shapes basketball memory.

Black Mamba‘s reputation for clutch shooting and his memorable three-point celebrations created lasting impressions that overshadow actual performance data.

“In their mind’s eye, Kobe was a dominant three point assassin, and in their mind’s eye, LeBron was just putting his shoulder down and getting to the rim. Despite the fact that at the date of Kobe’s retirement, he averaged the exact same number of three point attempts per game as LeBron did and shot him worse.”