“He’s one of the guys who went after Osama,” Dwight Howard compares playing with Kobe and LeBron.

Dwight Howard had the rare opportunity to play alongside both Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, experiencing firsthand the unique qualities each superstar brought to the court. Howard teamed up with Kobe for the 2012-13 season in Los Angeles and won a championship with LeBron in 2020. Additionally, all three were part of the 2008 Redeem Team that secured Olympic gold in Beijing.

Reflecting on playing with these two legends, Dwight shared his perspective on their differences. “LeBron is a killer, but Kobe is a mercenary,” he said on The Big Podcast with Shaquille O’Neal. “He’s an assassin—he’s taken it to another level. He’s one of the guys who went after Osama bin Laden. He’s Seal Team Six. LeBron, he’s right outside. He’s next.”

While Dwight’s words may seem exaggerated, his experiences back them up. Kobe was known for his relentless, precision-driven style of play, while LeBron focused on a more calculated, team-oriented approach to the game.

Shaquille O’Neal, who also played with both superstars at different points in his career, compared their styles to Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. “Magic and Mike had different ways of doing things—Magic had the showtime, Mike would score 20 straight,” O’Neal explained. Similarly, Kobe and LeBron borrowed from that same playbook: one dominated through sheer will, while the other meticulously strategized. Both methods led to legendary success.