LeBron vs. Kobe: The Rivalry That Never Was
As Kevin Harlan opened up the broadcast, the focus of the game was immediately presented to viewers tuning in. In what has become the norm in sports broadcasting, the NBA on TNT producers panned into the two star players to truly capture the anticipation and suspense of the pregame warmups.
Kobe Bryant was shown warming up in a relaxed manner as he periodically practiced his mid-range shots. LeBron James was shown also warming up, but his facial expressions seemed to depict something else. As he took a jump shot, he stopped in awe as he surveyed the court and with his eyes wide open, he stopped to take in the moment. For the rookie phenom, this game meant something much more than just another regular season contest.
So on a January night in Los Angeles in 2004, the Lakers squared off against the Cavaliers in the second game of a double-header on TNT. But this was not just another nationally televised game. Although this was LeBron’s second career game at the Staples Center, this contest provided him an opportunity to show not only what he is capable of as a rookie but also that he can deliver against the best that the NBA has to offer. In the house that Kobe and Shaq built, LeBron was about to play in the biggest game of his career so far. Fans on the east coast planned to stay up late to watch the game while west coast fans waited all day in great anticipation for the battle.
For the first time ever, LeBron and Kobe faced off. Not only were they two of the brightest talents in the NBA, but both were on track to become global phenomenons.
Kobe was the 3-time champion and emerging superstar. As a perennial All-Star, many at the time regarded Kobe as the best player in the game. His competitive nature brought the best out of himself and opponents while his clutch performances wowed fans across the league. With a tenacity to score at will and inner drive to take on any challenge on the court, Kobe had what the NBA wanted in a superstar.
And on the other side featured LeBron James. Before he even stepped onto an NBA court, he was being raved about as the next icon in basketball. The hype and anticipation for his career was far greater than what was generated for Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant combined. Sports Illustrated called him the “chosen one.” ESPN analysts talked about him all night on their 2003 NBA Draft coverage. LeBron was simply basketball’s next prodigy.
So as the game commenced, the two powerhouse talents immediately squared off. From Kobe’s perspective, he was about to duel against a future superstar talent. From LeBron’s perspective, he was about to face a dream team with four future Hall of Famers — but luckily for him, Shaquille O’Neal and Karl Malone were ruled out for the contest.
Early on, the game began with the two calling off their teammates in order to exchange isolation possessions. LeBron and Kobe took upon the challenge of guarding each other and elected to create for teammates throughout the early portions of the game. Whether it was in the post or outside the paint, the parallels of their competitive nature were on full display.
On this play, LeBron is set for a post matchup against Kobe and he slowly begins to maneuver himself to shoot a short floater.
And on this play, Kobe assists Devean George, who pulls up for a catch-and-shoot jumper over LeBron.
This is what the theme was early in the game until Kobe injured his shoulder and eventually left the contest due to the injury — which was ironically a foreshadowing of what became of the LeBron vs Kobe “rivalry” in the later stages. The Lakers ended up winning the game as Kobe finished with 10 points while LeBron recorded 16 points.
Although the game itself lacked the awe and excitement that fans had hoped to see, many believed that this was just the start of something special. Actually, not just something special but rather the beginning of a new era in the NBA that would change the landscape of the league forever.
Historically, rivalries in the NBA have transcended the league into a new period. From the days of Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain dominating in the post during the 1960s to the enthralling performances delivered by Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in the 1980s, rivalries define eras and act as a bridge to the next generation of the NBA. The intensity and passion that is fully on display in rivalries not only creates must-watch TV but instills itself an aurora of greatness. It is even better when they include players that are considered among the best in the world.
From the NBA’s perspective during the mid-2000s, it desperately needed that next great rivalry to entice fans and once again attract a global audience. More importantly, it had been a long time since the NBA had a captivating rivalry.
During the 1990s, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls were the epitome of greatness as they won six championships in six NBA Finals appearances. He helped prevent Hall of Famers such as Charles Barkley, Karl Malone and John Stockton from winning championships. Now although he had historic battles with the Knicks and Cavaliers, no player stepped up to the plate to really challenge and dethrone Jordan’s reign of dominance. And years later, Kobe and Shaq would follow the blueprint laid out by Jordan as they dominated in the early 2000s with three straight titles.
The league and its fans needed something new and refreshing rather than having a superteam run the table en route to a dynasty. The NBA had long desired a rivalry that would follow in the footsteps of the Magic vs Bird duels. And ultimately, the hope was that they hit the jackpot with LeBron and Kobe.
So as both players left the arena after their battle in January of 2004, the belief was that the best was still yet to come. And this is for good reason too. Kobe was in his mid-20s while LeBron was still just a teenager, so their prime days would coincide with each other for a significant amount of time.
But what had transpired over the next three seasons became anti-climactic and nothing of what the NBA and fans had envisioned would have occurred. Shaq left the Lakers and the roster was decimated to the point where Kobe had to score at least 30 points to keep games competitive. With LeBron, he instantly made the Cavaliers a perennial playoff contender and even led the team to the NBA Finals in 2007 but with an inadequate supporting cast, the workload at times just became too much for him to carry.
In terms of their head-to-head battles, they did not disappoint. The two continued to compete against each other when the Lakers and Cavaliers met during the regular season. Although they met just two times per season, they were arguably two of the most anticipated games of the season. And while neither would admit it, it was evident that they both wanted to perform better and win for pride and bragging rights.
In one notable duel during the 2005–2006 season, the Lakers won 99–98 with 27 points from Kobe and 28 points from LeBron. Two months later, the Cavaliers won 96–95 with 38 points from Kobe and 29 points from LeBron. And in each game, the two battled it out and shared iconic moments that only brought more suspense to a rivalry that was waiting to break out.
But the most memorable moment of the two games came in the first bout when Kobe delivered a tough jumper over LeBron to take the lead for good. It was a moment too good for a meaningless regular season game.
Over the next year, the two superstars shared three more battles that had fans talking about for days.
In a regular season game from the Staples Center during the 2006–2007 season, the Cavs won thanks to a 38-point performance by LeBron that included a clutch fadeaway shot over Kobe.
During the 2007 All-Star game, LeBron and Kobe continued to spar back-and-forth… even though it was just an exhibition game. On this play, the two matched up once again but LeBron got the better of the matchup as he coasted to an easy layup after Kobe attempted to go for the steal.
Even at the 2007 USA Basketball Blue vs White game, LeBron and Kobe took the opportunity to once again go at it.
LeBron captured a photo-finish, vintage chase down block against Kobe.
But Kobe got the last laugh when he hit the game-winner.
LeBron and Kobe delivered time and time again when they matched up against each other and left fans wanting more. They just loved competing against each other. Fans were left with snippets of a duel that could emerge as arguably the best rivalry that the NBA has ever seen. And during the 2007 off-season, there seemed to bring hope and a potential shift into the formation of a true rivalry between the two because of a probable historic move.
Kobe had grown frustrated with the Lakers’ front office to the point where he was inquiring about leaving. One team that was rumored to trade for him were the Chicago Bulls. Now imagine if Kobe was traded to the Bulls? It would undoubtedly go down as one of the biggest trades in NBA history and finally jumpstart the long-awaited LeBron and Kobe rivalry. At the least, they would have played each other four times per season and possibly even more if they met in the playoffs.
Ultimately, Kobe stayed with the Lakers and the team acquired Pau Gasol. As the old saying goes, the rest is history. Led by Kobe, the Lakers went to three NBA Finals. During this time, the hope was for LeBron to once again carry the Cavs to the Finals to set up the long-awaited Kobe vs LeBron Finals showdown. But sadly for NBA fans, the Celtics in 2008 and 2010 along with the Magic in 2009 prevented that from happening.
Over the three years from 2008 to 2010, it seemed as if the NBA went all in to market LeBron and Kobe as the biggest athletes in the world and hoped for just one Finals featuring the two. From adding the Lakers and Cavaliers in numerous nationally televised games to promoting the two superstars in advertisements, the NBA did even more than what was necessary to bill them up as the faces of basketball. The media also tagged along as well. From the coverage nationally to the content on shows such as First Take, it became evident that the pipe dream was for the emergence of a true Kobe and LeBron rivalry. The media worked overtime to frame a rivalry between the two future Hall of Famers.
Even Nike jumped in to spice up the conversation with their iconic LeBron and Kobe puppet commercials.
And why wouldn’t they?
Every time they met — regardless of whether the game meant anything — they produced moments that not even Hollywood could script better. When LeBron and Kobe battled on both sides of the floor met, it did not seem like one was watching just another basketball game. Aside from the fact that they are arguably two of the best basketball players of all-time, what made their games unique was that they epitomize what it means to compete. They left everything on the court and did all they could to gain an advantage.
Since they basically knew each other’s moves by memory, their clashes on the court were like a chess match. With moments like these, their duels just felt too surreal.
But over time, it was evident that the LeBron and Kobe rivalry would never come to fruition. LeBron signed with the Heat in 2010 and went to four straight NBA Finals while Kobe failed to carry the Lakers back to the Finals. There was hope for a star-studded Finals showdown during the 2012–2013 season when Dwight Howard and Steve Nash joined the Lakers but the team did not live up to the expectations. Kobe’s final three seasons ended up being plagued with injuries and ineffective play.
Even though Kobe began to decline due to age and injuries, he still managed to get the best out of himself and of LeBron when they met.
Kobe found ways to frustrate LeBron when he was tasked with guarding him.
In other instances, LeBron countered with moves and skills unprecedented in today’s game.
But even with the outstanding performances by both players when the Cavaliers and Lakers or Heat and Lakers met, there was one major aspect missing. It is a component that is valued and needed in every player rivalry of any sport. As alluded to before, what molds and forms rivalries are ultimately the battles in the playoffs. For example, when fans reminisce on the Magic and Bird rivalry, the first thing they think of is their relentless performances in the Finals and not what had occurred in the regular season.
This is the case in other sports as well. For example, look at Peyton Manning vs Tom Brady — the best rivalry that the NFL has ever had. They are both regarded as two of the best quarterbacks of all-time. When it came to head-to-battles whether it was the Colts against the Patriots or the Broncos against the Patriots, they each had countless classic duels. They faced off 17 times in the regular season and playoffs combined — keyword: playoffs. Nearly every single one of their matchups either helped decide seeding in the AFC or decided who would advance in the playoffs. More importantly, they faced off in four AFC Championship games.
In another signature rivalry, look no further than Messi vs Ronaldo. The two have battled it out in the Champions League, Copa Del Rey and have decided multiple La Liga titles with their league goals. In the case of Messi and Ronaldo, rivalries do not need the players involved to dislike each other. This rivalry is not even considered one just because they are the two best players in the world nor from the marketing hype but rather because of the moments they have delivered when it has mattered in the biggest games. Look no further than the hype that was generated for El Clasico’s that featured the two global superstars.
But with LeBron and Kobe, the void is clearly on the lack of playoff battles. There is no denying the competition that the two had but what makes rivalries memorable and thrilling are the captivating moments in games where something is on the line, whether it could be playoff seeding or a playoff elimination. For example, look at a rivalry such as with what the two had with Paul Pierce. Kobe and Pierce met 26 times in the regular season and in two Finals while LeBron and Pierce met 39 times in the regular season and five times in the playoffs. It is not about the number of head-to-head battles that matter in rivalries but rather about the ones that mean more than just who performed better and also where the stakes are high.
In the end, fans had to settle for LeBron vs Kobe duels twice during the regular season that meant nothing but pride and bragging rights. In 22 head-to-head meetings, LeBron won 16 of them as he averaged 28.2 PPG while Kobe averaged 24.6 PPG.
The charismatic approaches and similar personalities on the court from the two make the hypotheticals of their potential rivalry feel like a missed opportunity for both the NBA and its fans.
For two storied careers, there will always be a “what if” debate about their battles on the court that ultimately did not grow into a rivalry. What if Kobe led the Lakers to the Finals in 2007? What if the Lakers traded Kobe to the Eastern Conference in 2007? What if LeBron carried the Cavs to the Finals in 2009 or 2010? What if LeBron moved to the Western Conference in 2010? What if Kobe led the Lakers to the Finals in 2013?
Now as LeBron has signed with the Lakers, this not only once again brings up the “who is better” debate among the two but also brings upon a time to reminisce on what could have been. The only “rivalry” that surfaced between LeBron and Kobe ultimately became the endless debates between LeBron and Kobe fans and the media hype that was generated from it.
For two icons with so many records and accolades, one can only imagine the duels that the two could have had in a setting like the playoffs and even the NBA Finals. With the intensity and pressure at high levels in the playoffs, the Black Mamba squaring off against the King would have been a dream come true for fans around the world. At the pinnacle of their prime days, it could have created lifetime memories for basketball fans around the world. Pure basketball art.
