Why Media Will Crush LeBron James for Failures, but Never Kobe Bryant - Bleacher Report

Miami Heat superstar LeBron James has taken a beating in the media over the last year for his failures to come through in the clutch. 

When the Miami Heat fail, we find a reason to criticize LeBron, but why doesn't anyone do the same to Kobe Bryant?

LeBron has come through more often in late situations in recent years than Kobe has, but we rarely hear a peep about Kobe's failures, while those of James dominate the news on television, radio and print media. 

Why is that?

For example, LeBron bricked two crucial free throws in the final minute of Miami's Game 2 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday, and all you heard about on Wednesday was the fact that he disappears during the final minute of close games.

Yet Kobe went scoreless the final 6:43 in Wednesday night's Lakers' loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and wasn't criticized nearly as much.

Bryant hasn't hit a game-tying or game-winning shot in the final 10 seconds of a playoff game since 2006, yet it's LeBron who is everyone's whipping boy.

That's because LeBron made himself a target for the criticism.

It's a combination of things, really.

Should Kobe be criticized more in the media for his failures?

Should Kobe be criticized more in the media for his failures?

• Yes

• No, he's proven himself

• Total votes: 24

He had every right to, but LeBron left Cleveland to join other superstars in Miami. James' image took an awful hit for "The Decision." Then there was the not one, not two, not three championships he went out and promised.

That and a host of other things make him a target for criticism, but most importantly, when you're the best player in the game and you don't come through in clutch situations, you are going to feel the heat associated with it.

Kobe's workman-like attitude and leadership have always been respected. The same can't be said about LeBron. 

Kobe is all about business. LeBron likes to have fun along the way.

Bryant has always wanted to be the best basketball player on the planet. Sometimes it seems like being a global icon is more important to LeBron.

Brett Deering/Getty Images

Is the criticism of LeBron fair? Hardly, but he's made himself a target for it, so it's unlikely to change anytime soon.

Then there's the way Bryant steps up and handles criticism. He's classy and shoulders the blame when it comes his way. He doesn't care, though, if people like him or not.

It's way too important for LeBron to have everyone like him. He doesn't handle the criticism as well.

LeBron likes to play the victim card. For example, earlier in the season, after being criticized by Kendrick Perkins for his Twitter comments, he told ESPN's Brian Windhorst:

I'm an easy target; if someone wants to get a point acrossâ€"just throw LeBron's name in there. You could be watching cartoons with your kids and you don't like it, you say, 'Blame it on LeBron.' If you go to the grocery store and they don't have the milk that you like, you just say, "It's LeBron's fault."

James is an easy target because he made himself one, but that doesn't mean a guy like Bryant shouldn't face the same criticism for his failures on the court.

Is it fair? No, but it's the way that it is.

There's only one way for LeBron to silence the critics, and that's to  achieve what Bryant already has: multiple championships.

Until he does, he's going to remain the media's whipping boy.