You're going to start an NBA team, who do you choose first?

[Kevin Greene]

If choosing "other", please explain.

[d-run]

I picked Lebron over Kobe just because of age...would've gone Kobe if he was 24

[Darth Biscuit]

LeBron... because I can't pick MJ...

[Falcons1stPanthers2nd]

Went Chris Paul. He inherited God's ability to create. A great PG will only take you so far in the playoffs but they will win a lot of games in the regular season which is all you can ask for with a new team.

[Britneck]

Dwight. Really good centers are hard to come by. You can always get poor man's Lebrons and Kobes.

[HeatCheck]

I picked Lebron over Kobe just because of age...would've gone Kobe if he was 24

Exactly. If you said to me today who would I pick to start my franchise I'd pick LBJ. But if you asked me today whos the better player, that one would be more debateable. I'd have to go with the Black Mamba by a little.

[tarheelblue89]

Really Paul? Where's Wade, I understand that there is an other option but why wouldn't Wade be a choice. Paul wouldn't even be my first choice at PG.

I would choose Lebron, he is the best player and he has more years in him than Kobe.

[Jangler]

Greg Oden because he's a big man...

[X-Clown]

Paul wouldn't even be my first choice at PG.

Who would be?

[Hawk]

Kobe...cuz I have a man crush on him!

nobody can take control of a game the way he can...and ya...the age is a good argument for Lebron...but...I want my team to win, now!

[Its The Milk]

LeBron, he is the best player in the league today and makes everyone around him better. Cleveland - LeBron = garbage. Anybody disagree?

[RedMage138]

Really Paul? Where's Wade, I understand that there is an other option but why wouldn't Wade be a choice. Paul wouldn't even be my first choice at PG.

I would choose Lebron, he is the best player and he has more years in him than Kobe.

You realize Wade isn't a PG right?

Anyone who wouldn't pick Paul as the best PG in the league is a little out of touch with basketball.

[rippadonn]

Dwight Howard. He's like a young Shaq. A little shorter, just as powerful and dominant. They (true centers) don't come along every year. There may be some coming out that are taller but not as athletic.

[Woodie]

Lebron. Like a few have already said, I would take him over Kobe simply due to age. If they were the same age, then it would become a toss-up, although I would probably go Kobe since he has proven himself to be better in the clutch thus far.

And I would take him over Howard because while Howard is a very good player that is still young, I do not think he is that once in a lifetime type player that Lebron or Kobe are. Sure, he can dominate and take over a game or series when the matchup is favorable, but otherwise, he is just a cog in the machine (a very good cog, but a cog just the same). If I had to group them, I would put Kobe and Lebron on a level by themselves, then a group of upper eschelon players that includes Howard and Paul, along with guys like Wade, Garnett, etc.

I guess they way I look at it, is that the thing that separates Lebron and Kobe from Howard is that they are the team, not just a focal point of their team, but literally the team, and everything extends off them. Whereas Howard is the just the focal point of his team, and a great player for sure, but much of his success is directly tied to his teammates, rather than theirs tied to him as it is with Kobe and Lebron.