John Kim 
Kobe Bryant and LeBron James…these are the two names that NBA experts and casual fans have discussed more than anything else over the last decade, yet not matter how many ways you measure up the rings, All-Star appearances, and MVPs, there will never be that one deciding factor to truly cement which player is better. Kobe Bryant has five championship rings, so for many, the discussion is closed. But LeBron’s got the lead (and will probably overtake Kobe) on a number of other meaningful categories, so the argument for King James is plenty valid. The sad truth is that the Kobe vs. LeBron debate will never be decided because the two never faced off against one another when it actually mattered.
An unstoppable Kobe vs. an MVP LeBron in the NBA Finals would have been among the greatest showdowns in league history and it almost came true were it not for the Orlando Magic. Dwight Howard, who weirdly peaked at age 24, played out of his mind that series and took down the Cavs in six. It would’ve been a mere five had LeBron not hit that buzzer-beating three in Game 2. The Magic went on to the Finals, poised and confident, but all the only weapon in their arsenal of tricks was a disappearing act that resulted in a dominant five-game win by the Lakers. So what if LeBron managed to lead the Cavs over the Magic and set up a dream match-up? Let’s explore.
Before we get into the Playoffs, let’s take a look at the regular season. Kobe Bryant was crowned the MVP the season before and led Team USA to an Olympic Gold, so momentum, confidence, and favor were all on his side. He actually played the least minutes per game since becoming a full-time starter, but was still in prime form as he led the Lakers to 65 wins, good enough for second best in the league. The best overall, of course, was produced by the Cleveland Cavs – 66 decisive wins led by LeBron James, who was awarded his first ever NBA MVP trophy. Kobe was right behind him as the runner-up, so there is no question that the two players were at the top of the league. The two seemed headed for a collision on the biggest stage, and it was going to be a real treat.
The Playoffs arrived and the Cavaliers were absolutely dominant; they tallied eight straight against the Pistons and Hawks and appeared to be the team to beat. The Lakers had a tougher road to travel and were brought to the brink in their own second-round match-up against the Rockets. The Conference Finals featured Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets, a team that would’ve easily taken down the Magic in the Finals as well. With the purple and gold prevailing, all Cleveland had to do was defeat Orlando, but the mighty force of Dwight Howard and a superior supporting cast put an end to that notion.
But even if Cleveland made it to the Finals, our prediction is that the outcome would be no different. The Lakers crushed the Cavs twice during regular season play and Kobe didn’t even need to be at his best because LeBron had his two worst games of the season against the defending Western Conference Champs in the regular season. The Finals are far more competitive, but even as an All-Defensive 1st Team member, LeBron wouldn’t have been able to do much against Kobe. The real difference-maker was the depth of both teams, and while the Lakers had a second Finals MVP-caliber threat in Pau Gasol who played exceptionally well (and based on +/- ratings, was more useful to the Lakers than Kobe was on some games), Cleveland’s biggest weakness, their lack of depth, would’ve been exposed just as easily in the Finals as it was against Orlando.
Regardless of the outcome or if the series went the full 7 or a quick 4, seeing (the other) 23 and 24 go head to head would be must-see-TV, and that’s what we’ve truly been deprived of – 1a and 1b going all out against one another for something perhaps bigger than an NBA Championship. So, if Kobe did defeat LeBron in the Finals in 2009, would that put an end to the “LeBron vs. Kobe” discussion for good, with the obvious edge going to the Black Mamba? Championships speak louder than anything in the NBA and Kobe would have had nothing else to prove – an no future outcomes would’ve changed that.
A subplot of an epic Kobe vs. LeBron match-up is, of course, the shoes. The two mega-stars were without question the most valuable assets of Nike Basketball since Michael Jordan, and although both athletes were well into their signature series of footwear, neither tasted championship glory while wearing them. Not surprisingly, the battle of the shoes has the same result of our hypothetical Lakers vs. Cavs NBA Finals: The Kobe IV, designed by Eric Avar, was an absolute ground-breaker, while the LeBron VI, designed by Ken Link, was actually Plan B because LeBron hated the original design so much.
The Kobe IV is considered by many to be one of the best Nike Kobe signature shoes ever for its design and ground-breaking effect on basketball shoes (the low-cut mainstream craze). The Nike LeBron series took a swift turn for the better thanks to a change in design command, and with Jason Petrie at the helm, Nike LeBrons have since become the best seller among Nike Basketball signature athletes.
