When the focus shifted from the Los Angeles Lakers winning a championship in 2010 to LeBron James joining forces with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on the Miami Heat, the fires of Kobe Bryant’s intense rivalry burned even brighter.
The Black Mamba won his fifth and final championship, and despite back-to-back successes, the media praised the East’s new superteam.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin described Bryant and James’ relationship throughout their careers in a 2010 column, one of which included the five-time NBA champion following James’ high-profile move to How to feel the need to prove a point after Miami.
McMenamin spoke with Bryant’s then-teammate Josh Powell, who detailed his feelings.
“It motivates him. He can’t wait to remind everyone this season which team has two rings. You know KB is not going to be threatened by anything or anyone.”
The following season the Lakers lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference semifinals.
After Phil Jackson was diagnosed with prostate cancer, it also ended his career as the team’s head coach emeritus. As for James, the Heat lost the NBA Finals that season.
Despite healthy rivalry, Kobe Bryant still has huge respect for LeBron James
They may have played for different teams during their careers, but even before LeBron James was a Laker, Kobe Bryant said he wanted to play alongside “The King” when the former was in his prime.
Speaking on the Game Court with Geno Auriemma podcast, Bryant explained the effects of playing alongside James.
“The player that I think is the best fit for me, I actually think is LeBron,” he told UConn’s famed women’s basketball coach. “He’s a passer first, I’m a scorer, I’m a finisher. ‘LeBron is essentially a facilitator and I’m essentially a finisher. I think those two styles complement each other very well.”
If this move does come to fruition, James and Kobe will undoubtedly win more rings before Mamba retires. While most fans would have chosen Michael Jordan as the player Bryant loved to share his rocks with, he chose James, who had the necessary weapons to be his perfect foil.
Now, it’s up to James to carry on the Lakers’ legacy. After winning four league titles, including one in Los Angeles, James can now tie Kobe Bryant’s record of five in the league.