LeBron James and Kobe Bryant were without a doubt, 2 of the best players in the NBA in 2011. Bryant was a 5-time NBA champion by this point in his career and was still playing at a very high level.
Whereas LeBron James was considered the best player in the world, and already a 2-time NBA MVP while playing for the Miami Heat. With the two players playing in opposite conferences, we got to see them play each other twice a season, and during the NBA All-Star game.
In 2011, we got to see an incredible play between the two at the NBA All-Star game. Kobe Bryant got the ball after LeBron’s pass was intercepted on the other end of the court. Bryant charged at the basket with LeBron in fast pursuit of him.
Kobe Bryant went for the dunk, and LeBron went to try and chase him down. But Bryant was able to keep going and dunked on LeBron James. It was a perfect example of just how incredible both players were during their careers.
That time LeBron tried the chase down on Kobe in the ASG. (2011) pic.twitter.com/PamTq8dP0J
— Hilltop Hoops (@HilltopNBA) February 22, 2022
LeBron James and Kobe Bryant never played against each other in the NBA Finals, something a lot of NBA fans wanted to see.
The closest we ever got to seeing a Kobe vs. LeBron Finals matchup was in 2009, when LeBron lost to the Orlando Magic in the Conference Finals, missing out on a trip to the Finals against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers ended up defeating the Orlando Magic, and Kobe Bryant won his 5th NBA championship. But one can’t help but wonder what the outcome of those NBA Finals would have been had Kobe faced off against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Bryant and LeBron played together at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, where they led Team USA to the gold medal on both occasions. One can only imagine what a playoff series between the two legends would have looked like.
