As the NBA Finals draw near, the talk should only be LeBron James vs Stephen Curry.

But with LeBron consistently producing otherworldly stat lines in the current playoffs, people can't help but compare him to the greatest players who had ever played the game. Including Kobe Bryant.

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Everybody has their own opinion with regards to LeBron versus Kobe, and foremost of them is four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal, who incidentally had been a teammate of both protagonists.

"Kobe has that killer instinct. And I'd probably have to go with Kobe," O'Neal said in a live interview in The Dan Patrick Show as reported by CBS Sports' James Herbert. 

He then proceeds to say that LeBron has a killer instinct, too. Not in a different level as compared to Bryant per se, but a different approach to the game.

Shaq said that James is more of like a Magic Johnson type of player who thrives and relies on his teammates to succeed. And LeBron has done it consistently all throughout the playoffs, which explains the almost triple-double averages that he is delivering for the Cavs right now.

Shaq did not mention it, but reading between the lines he believed that Kobe is more of like Michael Jordan, one who takes over a game on his own and scores on you until you are dead. And the three-time finals MVP seemed to like that individual approach more than the collective style employed by James.

The Score's Joseph Casciaro reported that James is actually superior to Bryant in terms of both players' statistics through their first 12 seasons. Casciaro's article pointed out that LeBron is a better scorer, rebounder, passer, defender, and three-point shooter than Kobe during their first 12 seasons in the league. But Kobe has the advantage in championships, 3-2.

Those were the numbers, but clearly Shaq is making his decision based beyond the numbers. The moment he mentioned "killer instinct", you would quickly realize that it goes beyond being on the court as well.

Bryant has this maniacal will to win in the same level as that of Michael Jordan. He always wants to improve and leads his teammates not much with words but more by example.

Though many basketball analysts (not necessarily LeBron fans) do not agree with Shaq's comment, case in point 247 Sports' Michael Bohlin, no one can dispute the big guy's opinion. He was actually there on the floor with both guys, and he knows what he's talking about.

He was asked a simple question, and he gave a simple answer. Kobe or LeBron? LeBron or Kobe?

He said he wants Kobe, so shut up.

TagsNBA 2015, NBA news, NBA News 2015, shaquille o'neal, Lebron James, NBA rumors, NBA Rumors 2015