/ AP, EPA

The evolution and improvement of LeBron James (left), and not any digression by Kobe Bryant (right) is what has led to James becoming the NBA's best all-around player, writes Steve Jones of NBCSports.com.

Steve Jones

The two shared the experience of playing for the gold-medal winning U.S. Olympic team in Beijing, and for James, it was an experience that helped him see that if he wanted to get on the level of Bryant and even surpass that level, he had to work as hard as Bryant, do all the things Bryant does, and then let his natural talents take him to another level, which they did this season.

James and Bryant spent a lot of time together this summer in preparing for and playing in the Olympics. Something from Bryant seems to have rubbed off on James in the process. It’s like Bryant gave an intensity injection to his fellow superstar.

James has always been a tireless worker, but watching Bryant work and observing up close Bryant’s entire attitude when he prepares for and takes on an opponent made an impression on James. It propelled him to be the best.

Every great player has an influence on other elite players, and all of those on the U.S. Olympic roster, especially James, Dwyane Wade, and Dwight Howard all benefitted from seeing up close the work ethic and the attitude of Bryant.

James does it all. He’s a five-tool player who can dribble, pass, score, rebound, and defend. Bryant might be a little bit better at the defensive end, but James’ defense has certainly elevated to a high level. But all around, there isn’t any question that James is the best player.

Up until this season, Bryant was the best player not because of the numbers he put up, but because of his making a difference between his team winning and losing. When games are on the line, Bryant makes more big shots than anyone else. If I had to choose one player to take a shot with the NBA finals on the line, it would be Bryant.

Bryant believes he can score under any circumstance. Some don’t have the appreciation of Bryant’s ability to make big shots because he gives off the impression he is full of himself. That turns people off. Bryant came into the NBA and went right after challenging Michael Jordan and anyone else in his way. It’s taken Bryant a long time to recover from entering the league with that arrogant attitude.

Both James and Bryant are versatile players, but James is more versatile as he’s bigger and stronger, and can play multiple positions. Bryant, in comparison, is a more natural scorer. Their teams need them to do different things. On a consistent basis the Lakers need Bryant to score, and often he takes that all upon himself. James is counted on to score as well, but he’s more likely at times to give up the ball to an open teammate because his natural tendency is to keep all his teammates involved.

It’s James evolution and improvement and not any digression by Bryant that has led to James becoming the best player.

Any debate over who is the better player, James or Bryant, always gets around to Michael Jordan, who many regard as the best player in NBA history. Bryant is every bit as talented as Jordan, but not nearly as well liked. James is still getting better so the jury is not yet in on James in comparison to Jordan.

Bryant and Jordan are better big moment players than James, but remember James is just 24, and has already shown he doesn’t shy away from pressure-packed spots. As his career goes on, he could very well become the kind of big- moment player that Bryant and James are known as.

Many were hoping the LeBron-Kobe “debate” would take center stage in the national spotlight had the Cavaliers and Lakers squared off in the NBA finals. The Lakers held up their end of the bargain, but the Cavaliers fell short. So any rivalry between the two superstars spends little time playing itself out on the court (they play each other just two times a season), and a lot more time being drummed up in advertising campaigns for sports drinks and sneakers.

James can’t be considered inferior to Bryant because he hasn’t won a championship. The media and fans make too much of winning titles relative to a player’s all-around abilities. James won his first Most Valuable Player award this season after averaging 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists and leading the Cavaliers to a league-best 66 wins. And he did all that was humanly possible to get his team to play for a title.

James could get to play for a championship if he’s given a better composition of teammates around him. But even if he doesn’t, there’s no better all-around player in the NBA.

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Jessica Rinaldi / Reuters

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