Storyline: Some call it ‘the rivalry that never was.’ But what we know for sure is this: Kobe and LeBron are legends of the NBA.
At the end of November 2015 Kobe Bryant announced that the 2015-2016 NBA season would be his last. He is retiring. The NBA has not let us forget that. At every game this year Kobe gets a farewell ovation. It’s for his greatness, including a montage remembrance of highlights at every arena.
Courtesy: espn.go.com
We’ve been preparing for this final season and appreciating every moment the Mamba plays on the court. Kobe sells out virtually every game — regardless of the fact that the LA Lakers are dead last in the NBA’s Western Conference.
But the most special night of all came March 10 when NBA fans all over the world tuned in to say goodbye to the rivalry that ‘never quite was’ … the last encounter between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
This was not a game between the best of the West against the best of the East. Hardly. But it was a game to cherish. LeBron said what he wanted “to give the fans and our beautiful sport one last opportunity to watch us both on the same floor and give ‘em a show…it was great.”
Fans weren’t let down.
Kobe went 11/16 against the King–his best in any game in 3 years–and his best ever in a match-up against LeBron. What a great, final memory for Kobe fans.
Courtesy: allbasketball.org
With this final goodbye, it’s easy to reflect on what we’ll be losing once #24 in Gold and Purple walks off the court forever. When Bryant entered the League in 1996 James was an 11-year-old. LeBron reached the NBA in 2003, comin’ straight outta high-school, just like Kobe.
Thank you, Kobe and LeBron, for prime time Christmas Day match-ups. It happened twice. And I’ll never forget the excitement with my family when we sat around the television to watch the two face off.
December 25, 2009: Cleveland 102, Los Angeles 87
December 25, 2010: Miami 96, Los Angeles 80
LeBron won both games, but the games seemed like Christmas Magic, nonetheless.
Thank you for the Nike puppet adverts. Although these haven’t been aired for awhile, these will only be a distant memory. For those of you who don’t know about these commercials, Nike’s sponsorship of the NBA playoffs released the MVPs Kobe Bryant and LeBron James as puppets goofing around behind the scenes in 2009. Some of these gems included puppet Kobe searching for his misplaced championship rings, while a mischievous LeBron puppet plays some video games. Made-up character Mrs. Lewis puppet had a son puppet Lil Dez, a basketball fanatic, who was babysat by LeBron and Kobe puppets. And there was the time puppet LeBron ate his Fruity Pebbles as puppet Kobe sauntered through the house in celebration after winning another championship. Thank you for the puppet fun!
Courtesy: skidmorenews.com
Thank you for great basketball. Although each of the last 9 NBA Finals has featured either LeBron or Kobe–but never both together–the fans are still grateful. Individually, the two made their teams better and always put on a show. They demonstrated greatness.
Thank you for the never ending classic argument over who is better. Although there was never animosity between the two players, their respective fans certainly went at it. Whether it was ‘Kobe is a ball hog and that’s why he’s so good’ or ‘LeBron complains too much and he’s only fortunate because of his size,’ I feel strongly that this discussion will never die. Thank you for igniting this never ending argument.
Kobe will leave a permanent imprint on this game. And, now, all eyes are on LeBron James and what he’ll do once his ‘rival that never was’ walks off the court for good. We’ll see.
In the meantime we can say: Thank you, Kobe and LeBron, for greatness.
great article