Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are two of the greatest players in the history of the NBA. Together, the two players have won a combined 9 NBA Championships, 6 Finals MVPs, and 5 regular season MVP titles. Along with this, they have both been All-Stars a combined 35 times.
Their impact on the sport of basketball is unparalleled, and the two have both been the faces of the NBA during their careers. Kobe and LeBron played in the NBA together for 13 years, with Kobe debuting in 1996 and James debuting just 7 years later.
Fans even got a glimpse of the two players as teammates during the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Kobe and LeBron led team USA to two consecutive Olympic Gold Medals in those years, especially with the 2008 ‘Redeem Team’. But the time the two historic players faced off for the first time was a truly legendary occasion.
In LeBron’s rookie season (2003-04), the Cavaliers traveled to Los Angeles to face the Lakers at the Staples Center. The Lakers were having a tumultuous season at the time, with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal’s feud turning nastier by the day. James and the Cavaliers were struggling, despite LeBron’s heroics. James was the standout first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft and was performing better than expectations during his rookie season.
Before the game, Kobe had some injury issues, especially with his shoulder. The game tipped off, with the Lakers heavily favored over the Cavaliers. During the game, Kobe only played 17 minutes and put up 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. James, on the other hand, struggled against a resolute Lakers defense. In his 37 minutes, James put up 16 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists. The Lakers would defeat the Cavaliers 89-79.
While their first game against each other was by no means a classic, it was still a historic fixture, as we would see these to compete and dominate the NBA till 2016, when Bryant ultimately retired. The two were the defining figures of the NBA for the longest time.
The biggest regret for most fans is that we never got a Kobe Bryant vs LeBron James match-up in the NBA Finals, despite being very close in 2009 and 2010. But regardless, the dominion these two players held over the rest of the league was truly something to behold.
