Kobe vs LeBron | The NBA Finals That Never Was...

[@synthetic_sports]

What Coulda Been... Edit: Since a lot of people have mentioned it, when I said Kobe was a three time champion I was referring to how many he had when their rivalry started in 2007. I shoulda been more clear

[@jmcook96]

the 09 finals was closer than you think go rewatch the series. its really good

[@KingTaylor-pl2el]

@@jmcook96 lebron choked

[@dylansgameplay5183]

imagine kobe and lebron both on that lakers team

[@kylegross1081]

@Jonathon Cook the Magic really should have won games 2 and 4. Instead of being up 3-1 they were down 3-1 which basically ended that series

[@Dilly_Dil1y]

Lebron needs the whole justice league, avengers , suicide squad to even compete for a ring. 😂

[@samuraibeastwarrior2886]

MJ VS Hakeem also never happen in the finals

[@klover19]

MJ vs Kobe in 98 could've happened aswell. Though Kobe was young then, but still I bet Kobe wouldn't have backed down.

[@megavolt67]

@@TheJuggernaut-qt9cs The Rockets were actually a better offensive team in 1993 with virtually the same roster and the same coach as 1994. They lost to Seattle (a team they struggled against and lost to in 1996 as well) in the conference semis. Not Jordan's fault. The Rockets in 1997 made it to the WCF and lost to Utah in six games (which ended in Houston on a clutch Stockton 3 pointer). Not Jordan's fault. Those are two other occasions in which Hakeem could have faced Jordan in the finals other than when Jordan, by your implication, "dodged" Hakeem.

[@sabaoth95]

At least they met in the NCAA Men’s tournament.

[@samuraibeastwarrior2886]

@@sabaoth95 when

[@samuraibeastwarrior2886]

@@klover19 I know

[@L4V4G]

The matchup sounds good, but the lakers would’ve killed the cavs in the finals. Kobe and Lebron would’ve been a great finals matchup, but the rest of the lakers roster was simply better. I wish we would’ve gotten this too tho. Edit: I have two things to say. 1. Thanks to everyone liking this comment and replying👍🏻 2. I do have to say I am referring to Lebron in Cleveland and not in Miami. If the lakers and Heat would’ve matched in their primes it would’ve been a finals for the ages. However, Lebron in Cleveland (the first time) would not have beaten Kobe’s lakers (in my opinion).

[@poly_g6068]

Not necessarily. The Cavaliers were 8-5 against the Lakers on their meetings until that point. Yes, this Lakers team was considerably better than the last few times LeBron faced them, but it was still competitive. Both teams had great chemistry.

[@L4V4G]

@@poly_g6068 That’s a valid point, but the playoffs (especially the finals) are different from the regular season. For example in 98 when the bulls played the jazz, the jazz swept them in the regular season and the bulls won the finals. I’m not saying this would’ve reflected accurately, but I’m saying one roster is clearly better than the other. When Lebron went to the 07 finals and he was the best player on the court but the roster on the spurs was far stronger. I think personally it would’ve been the same but you do bring up a good point of the regular season record.

[@ljy32swag]

Kobe had the better teams when Lebron was in Cleveland and Lebron had the better teams when in Miami so it would never be a close to equal matchup like magic vs bird

[@1vaultdweller]

​@@ljy32swag Nah 2013 Lakers were loaded but injuries and bad chemistry stopped them

[@lorddj9910]

@@1vaultdweller he basically said that

[@GreedyGlo]

People don’t take into account the fact that Kobe was already 5 years in when LeBron was drafted. Kobe unfortunately had his career stunted by injuries and racking up miles playing deep into the playoffs in the double big era and a front office that made too many questionable decisions.

[@americanfresh17]

Ahhhh Kobe Was 7 Years In Kobe Was Drafted 96. Lebron Was Drafted 03

[@jacobbell8171]

7 years

[@BigMallTV]

That’s not a excuse. Bron went to 10 straight finals and playing great in year 20. So long playoff runs mean nothing. He probably had a flare at work ethic but at what cost?? You never healed your body and tore ligaments at the end of your career. Kobe could’ve been the Brady of the nba had he been on lebrons training method. I know bron getting injured the last few years but I think the time he misses is more so, they don’t want him to end up retiring prematurely due to him overcompensating and snapping his leg or something horrible happening now that he’s older and older players also take more time to heal. If this was Miami or Cleveland bron, he don’t miss this much time on the lakers. They saw what happened to Kobe and don’t want that to happen to bron which why I think he misses so many games now.

[@GreedyGlo]

@@BigMallTV Different eras

[@facelessandnameless]

@@BigMallTV Ten straight finals in a VERY weak eastern conference. Kobe played in the most competitive and tough conference ever.

[@KingCoopa17]

Kobe was so good he made fans forget who they we’re cheering for 😂😂😂 10:44

[@_M....]

before NBA fandom became the toxic shithole it is today fans just regognized greatness and respected it.

[@Skinslyfe]

Nah bro just made some money on a ticket

[@kalanferguson]

2009 was the year Kobe and LeBron should have faced each other. With both the Lakers and the Cavs being great, Kobe still in his prime, while LeBron was just entering his, the Nike commercials and so much more, fans and the league lost out big time. I'll forever be sad we never got this matchup. Even Magic and Michael played against each other in the Finals. The 2008-09 season was the one we all lost.

[@jacoblee5796]

That Cavs team was garbage, it’s insane LBJ took that team as far as he did.

[@cscarly]

Joke right mo William better team . Show lbj worst gm in Cleveland . Worse pass on grant hill Jr Smith giantism surprised they didn't pass kyrie

[@SupremeSupervillain_]

​@@jacoblee5796the east was pretty weak at that time

[@Recurses]

​@@SupremeSupervillain_and that cavs team without lebron would've been the worst team in that ec

[@LJMadrigalMusic]

"Lebron was just entering his" bro.. he was already in prime shape after 4 years of being in the league. He should've faced Kobe in the 2009 finals, but how the hell did he lose to Dwight Howard?

[@markula_4040]

I wonder how many people realize we missed that matchup twice. Lakers were the 2 time defending champion and had been to 3 straight Finals when Dallas knocked them off and faced LeBron instead. Not as close because it was a second round defeat but still. Going into that year's playoffs, that potential matchup was on a lot of people's minds. Reminds me a little of when Houston failed to get to the Finals a 3rd straight time to face the Bulls. Imagine that matchup, 2 time defending champs vs previous 3 peat with Jordan back full time and having just won 72 games.

[@cjvaye99]

also don't forget 2013. I honestly think if Kobe didn't tear his Achilles they would have made it to the finals. that team was finally putting it together and had a good record to end the season and Kobe was playing arguably the best basketball of his life. they would have been what the Lakers are this season. a team that struggled early but got it together and ended the season hot and became a dangerous 7th seed capable of winning the championship.

[@chadbrisco4042]

They literally missed each other. Here's their Finals appearances: 2007: Lebron James, No Kobe appearance 2008: Kobe Bryant, No Lebron appearance 2009: Kobe Bryant, No Lebron appearance 2010: Kobe Bryant, No Lebron appearance 2011-2018: Lebron James, No Kobe appearance

[@moblife3638]

2000, no LBJ,2001, no LBJ, 2002, no LBJ, 2004, no LBJ

[@JinDota]

​@@moblife3638 bron was drafted in 2003

[@pureakkuracy7510]

@@JinDotaKobe retired in 2016

[@JinDota]

@@pureakkuracy7510 truetrue

[@ChronoNinja7]

2020: Lebron James, No Kobe appearance

[@williamanderson7594]

That Chris Paul trade was weird, especially since the Hornets flipped Paul to the Clippers of all teams for a worse return.

[@synthetic_sports]

Why have one LA team be good when you could have both of them be good. Thats my theory

[@starsesay5521]

We all know Stern stopped that trade because Kobe would’ve been unstoppable and Lebron would’ve been shown up

[@mr3000sr]

@@starsesay5521 stern stopped it because the return wasn’t what he wanted

[@mybestnugget7514]

@@mr3000sr NBA blocked that trade to protect both MJ and LeBron’s legacies

[@mr3000sr]

@@mybestnugget7514 maybe I’m just telling you what they said… maybe you really know… CP ain’t won nothing so….

[@raywright8479]

Might be controversial, but my theory on why Dwight has been shunned/disrespected by the NBA, fans and media alike is bc he is looked at as the main reason why we never got that Kobe-LeBron finals. It was all set for it in '09, but the Magic had other plans. I think people feel a type of way towards Dwight bc of that. Well that and he's a clown.

[@TheDarkbluerock]

Nothing controversial in your main point here, many people think this way, but why is he a clown? What stupid thing did he do?

[@Abbad1579]

Nice theory

[@chri11203]

@@TheDarkbluerock He didn't do anything wrong. I think people didn't like that he joked around similar to Shaq despite never winning a championship. The goofiness became less endearing after a while.

[@stephordless8876]

Naw I believe he just made it that way for himself. Because him playing horrible in LA would’ve made a bigger impact than that

[@slobberkissintl3548]

So he should have lost on purpose? I think people turned on Dwight bc of how he handled leaving Orlando. I think this was a bit before you could just openly get your coach fired

[@KentuckyWaterfall13]

Those late 2000s Lakers were the funnest teams I’ve ever watched, just perfect chemistry. Two stars and great role players. You look at the roster and it’s so awesome they won back to back championships. Since everyone team hops nowadays I appreciate those teams even more

[@christopherd.3291]

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that you need a great supporting cast, great coaching, and a owner that will pay the guys to build around said star player. Unfortunately not everyone is as blessed as Kobe and Magic who were drafted to a franchise that had all of the above on the table. They were drafted with a Prime Superstar big man on Playoff teams before they even got drafted and played 1 minute of NBA basketball.

[@KingTaylor-pl2el]

Kobe is the goat 🐐

[@andrewcook1246]

And Tim Donague

[@stephordless8876]

@@christopherd.3291 It’s definitely not easy look at the Lakers now. Aside from the bubble ring they haven’t been a legitimate title winning team in 13 years. And Kobe didn’t get drafted to LA, he was traded from Charlotte. Not to mention after Shaq left he had to carry the Lakers without another solid player until Pau Gasol was traded for Kwame Brown. It takes alot of work on both ends to get success.

[@blacxice]

Those teams felt like a classic high school team a stern and respected coach in Phil a go to guy in the best hooper ever KOBE BEAN BRYANT and co star pau with great supporting cast and that supporting cast wasn’t even great in league standards but the chemistry on those teams were off the charts

[@jclight2675]

Also had the best playoff commercial with Kanye amazing playing

[@maksimo2230]

Damn, 2009 was such a great year for sport. Arguably the 2 biggest sports in the world, Basketball and Football (soccer) have their biggest club stage, wich is Champions Leauge for football and NBA Playoffs for NBA. In 2009 we saw Champions Leauge final between two of the greatest football players of the 21st century, Ronaldo and Messi, and we were on the verge of seeing an NBA finals between two of the greatest basketball players of our century, Kobe and LeBron. Also prime Usain Bolt ran, by far, the fastest time in human history.

[@azsportx]

Just came across your channel and subscribed. Great video bro. A Kobe/LeBron finals would've been epic. Two of my favorite players and as a long time Laker fan, this would've been an emotional rollercoaster for me 😂. RIP Mamba & Gigi 🙏🏾.

[@ninjitown23]

Bro........this makes me sad. I never thought about it this way, and now that I do......I feel robbed that we never got to see this. Great video bro!

[@TK-vf2vy]

you didnt lie bout the Kobe content coming soon !! love to see it

[@ceasarsanchez9086]

You definitely short changed the last year of the Lakers. Overall mediocre, but the switch hit at mid season once Kobe took control from D'Antoni is the stuff of legend. He played the way everyone kept telling him to play his whole career the first half of the year and it had them in the 10 seed. He finally had enough and told everyone that he's now in charge of the offense and told Dwight to take care of the defense and they closed the year out on a crazy 26-4 run. Had Kobe not torn his Achilles at the end of the year I firmly believe we would have finally gotten our Kobe/LeBron Finals.

[@HipsterShiningArmor]

this is just factually inaccurate, that Lakers team never went on a 26-4 run at any point in the year. they were definitely playing a lot better post-all star break but Pau still wasn't integrated into the offence well and without him cooking in the playoffs there's no way they beat a fully healthy Spurs or Thunder squad (probably not the Grizzlies either) even if Kobe doesn't tear his achilles.

[@ceasarsanchez9086]

@@HipsterShiningArmor You're correct. The actual record was 20-8. Or 28-12. Wherever you want to start the record keeping. A winning clip of .714, which would've been the third best record in the entire league. San Antonio and Miami would've been the big hurdles. There was no OKC to worry about because they played on the other side of the bracket and never made it out. The way the Lakers played down the stretch, Kobe in particular, I firmly believe they would've won a hard fought series against San Antonio. At that point they bully ball baby Golden State and simply outscore Grit and Grind era Memphis on their way to matchup with Miami. Either way, the point is, that season is absolutely Kobe's most underrated. You only start to realize how insane what he did was, and was potentially setting himself and his team up to do, if you start actively examining that team's season from beginning to end and putting proper context on it. Kobe absolutely deserved MVP by the time it was all said and done.

[@romanramirez7847]

@@ceasarsanchez9086I love Kobe but no. He did not deserve MVP at that point. Lebron was far and away the best player in the league at that point, and led the Heat to 60+ wins. He also beat Kobe stat wise as well, and was one wasted Melo vote away from winning it unanimously. To say Kobe should have won it is delusional, and I love Kobe. Not trying to downplay Kobe though. He was awesome, but Lebron was better in 2013.

[@ceasarsanchez9086]

@@romanramirez7847 I didn't say Kobe was still the best player at that point. I said Kobe had the most valuable season in the league.

[@romanramirez7847]

@@ceasarsanchez9086 No disrespect, but he didn’t. It was Lebron.

[@khaitranngoc4176]

That matchup would have shaped the goat debate for YEARS

[@Bmthighlights]

Why? Kobe’s not even top 5

[@slammydunk9787]

@@Bmthighlights what do you mean? Don’t you remember Kobe all time great performance against Denver Nuggets in 2003? You should google “Kobe Colorado 2003” to educate yourself!

[@Abbad1579]

No not really

[@TaeFrmHeaven]

@@Bmthighlights yes he is.

[@Dmm314]

@@Bmthighlights from 5 to 1. Kobe, Duncan, Magic, Kareem, Jordan.

[@bdr113080]

Yeah, I was really wanting to see LeBron when he was in Cleveland face Kobe Bryant, and the Lakers in 2009. I’m not going to complain about 2010 at all because I am a diehard Laker fan and to a Laker fan. Yes it would’ve been cool to see. Kobe beat LeBron in 2010 but to us getting revenge on the Celtics meant so much more. That Lakers team that came together in 2008 is my favorite Lakers lineup ever. I loved watching that team lead by Kobe and Pau Enjoy the success they did. It was a really fun team to watch play. And the only thing about that team though is yes, they all came together in their prime but other than Andrew Bynum everyone else on the team was kind of at the tail end of their primes though and by the time 2010 and 2011 came around the Lakers were really approaching their mid 30s, and even in the previous playoffs, Andrew Bynum was playing limited time because of having to take it easy on his knees, and Kobe was playing with a bone spur in his ankle and with a broken finger and it was really the last year of Kobe Bryant’s prime I feel like. When it didn’t happen in 2011, I knew it just wasn’t going to happen again, especially after Dr. Bus’s idiots son took over the reins on the basketball side and one thing that a lot of people don’t know about is he sent someone from the front office to Dallas to meet the team while they were playing the Mavericks so he could tell the entire coaching staff in front of the entire team that no matter what happens even if they win a championship that the entire coaching staff is fired after their playoff run is over which devastated the team. Further proof that. Dr. Bus’s so Jimmy might be a nice person but he’s an idiot, because why would you make an announcement like that to the coaching staff in front of the team while they were fighting for a three peat? It was an idiomatic decision, but then the way you told them was even more idiomatic. It was a case of what happened in Chicago 15 years earlier when Jerry Krause didn’t feel like he was giving you enough credit for the championships. The Chicago Bulls had one, now, Jimmy didn’t want this team to win a championship because it would be a team that his dad had put together and not him and he had this crazy idea that Andrew Bynum who was on his 17th knee surgery or something crazy like that was going to be the future star of the team and really could’ve cared less about anyone else and he planned on rebuilding the team around Andrew Bynum. And don’t get me wrong. I love Andrew Bynum, but even a casual fan could’ve told you that building a team around Andrew Bynum was a mistake. He was the youngest Laker, but his prime years were already behind him. We never saw Andrew better than what he was at the end of the 2000s because You can’t be 7 feet tall and 300 pounds and have so many knee surgeries and think this guy is going to be a top-tier player for the next decade. Only an idiot would think such things. So really us Laker fans knew that the great run we had just watch head come to an end, our team was now older, new management didn’t want field Jackson to get credit for another championship, and they hired the worst coaches imaginable for an aging team, and the front office just kept making one bad decision after another. It’s not like Kobe and LeBron were the same age. I mean Kobe’s prime after 2011 was really over. He was drafted seven years before LeBron James, and now LeBron was still in his prime in Kobe was older, and was fighting injuries every year until he retired. So really if it was going to happen and it needed to happen between 2007 and 2011, and once 2011, came and went and neither of them walked away with the championship that year everyone in Laker nation knew that unless we had a competent coach that knew how to coach a team that was still good but just older and wasn’t going to be that’s super athletic team anymore then we weren’t going to win a championship anytime soon. But as a Lakers fan, I do want to point out that the two years that Kobe had held up his end of the bargain before the team hit their mid-30s and management fired a great coaching staff, both teams Kobe beat to win his fourth and fifth championships were teams, LeBron James could not get past .

[@1776carpediem]

I agree with everything you said. Kobe was the reason I got into basketball. From 07’-12 I never missed a playoff game. And I loved that 08 team as well, at the time I really wanted to keep Ariza. But I think come 2011 as fans we knew it was coming to an end and I wasn’t even upset they got blown out by the Mavs. We had a hell of a run with some good memories. After that year I think everyone just wanted some younger talent to surround Kobe with. The front office sucked.

[@silkyjohnson7599]

Compared to the later 2000’s Lakers, those Cavs teams were terrible

[@peytonfechter3438]

@@silkyjohnson7599 the east entirely was trash,

[@silkyjohnson7599]

@@peytonfechter3438 that doesn’t contradict my statement though

[@antonioguglielmetti2661]

This is the best thing that ever happened to LeBron.

[@StarWarsReels]

People don’t realize how scrutinized he would’ve been for losing to Kobe in the finals. Even with a far inferior roster on LeBron’s end

[@muhammadrajput3502]

@@StarWarsReels Not really. A young Bron lost to a overmatched Spurs team. Same would have happened with Kobe. And if a Lebron Kobe finals would have happened after 2010. Lebron would have ass whooped him.

[@FunnyBaseballStadium-cc5dk]

@@muhammadrajput3502 Bron stans would've seen it that way. The rest of the world would've seen it as Kobe whooping Bron's ass and Bron needing to tuck his tail and run to a super team to finally get past Kobe.

[@muhammadrajput3502]

@@FunnyBaseballStadium-cc5dk ? This already happened with the celtics. But everyone recoginzes Bron was just overmatched.

[@FunnyBaseballStadium-cc5dk]

@@muhammadrajput3502 No one would be saying that if Kobe whooped Bron in the Finals like the Celtics did. Cavs would've had homecourt advantage, and been the favorites. Bron stans wouldn't have been able to revise history as usual because the whole world would've witnessed Kobe taking Bron's lunch on the biggest stage.

[@jeffreygutierrez4695]

BROOOO YOUR FUCKING INTRO SOUND, IS THE ONE OF CW MAN YOU JUST BRING A LOT OF GOOD MEMORIES WITH THAT BRO, DAMN HOW MUCH I MISS THOSE TIMES

[@yj5069]

Kobe would have won that year regardless of who was in the way. Lebron is lucky he didn't make the finals that year. After losing to the Celtics, the mamba was determined to get that first ring without Shaq

[@shlomoweis5974]

I would love a video on the we believe warriors team! Love the channel btw!!

[@synthetic_sports]

Noted!

[@Kenzosmuse]

SYNTHETIC SPORTS IS IN THEIR BAG RIGHT NOW WITH THIS VIDEO

[@eazydro20]

I honestly believe if referee Tim Donaghy didn’t get caught fixing games, the NBA would have made the Lakers-Cavs Finals happen back in 2009 instead of against Orlando

[@mysportisyourpunishment73188]

Sad..but probably true

[@israelmendoza7599]

Lakers would've won the series in 5 or 6 games easily

[@torhowell5202]

That series was rigged. Cleveland still lost.

[@xemir]

he was fixing the games for the mob not ABC

[@eazydro20]

@@xemir i believe the NBA is fixing games even without Donaghy. Since Donaghy got caught fixing his games for the mob earlier during the season, the NBA had to lay low resulting to a Lakers-Magic finals instead of the more desired lakers-cavs finals

[@bl4ckuchiha]

You didn't have to do Mo like that😂

[@Ilkaygundogoat]

Y’all to underrated I swear amazing job ❤

[@gamificationoflife]

Such a great video, this is one of my favourite basketball channels & this video covers one of my favourite topics (Kobe vs Lebron the finals that never was)

[@kaplezedrummer24ify]

Greatest commercials ever. Freaking GENIUS

[@allensmith9879]

Love the old school VHS date & time overlays 👌

[@ianrhodes8786]

alr know this is bouta be a banger

[@hatgamez9004]

looked this up today, glad it came out ontime, r.i.p, forever remeber.

[@rjhaney2614]

I like this solo monologue type video just as much as I love the banter kind. Love to see more!

[@Kingflowh]

I always thought that if the Lakers were to Ariza they would have been way better. He was outstanding in the playoffs and only getting better.

[@starsesay5521]

Agreed. Ariza was like a Pippen to Kobe

[@long_strong8843]

I would wanna see 2013 or 2012 Miami Heat against 2010 or 2009 Lakers in the nba Finals

[@GreedyGlo]

19:26-19:54 FACTS💯 Shortened Kobe’s career even more

[@Mikeaj-un6mf]

I love how you have the date to every video

[@kevinrichards4346]

I blame lebron in the first cleveland run. People like to claim " he was by himself" but the truth is the Magic and celtics beat him by clogging the paint and forcing him to shoot so it could take lebrons shooting teammates OUT the game...he needed to be more offensively versatile to find more ways to get them open

[@WRNIIVIIII]

I agree that his shooting had to get better (2011 finals 👀) Heck even today I cringe when Bron takes a jumpshot But he was alone bruh

[@kevinrichards4346]

@@KoreanBoy9713 lebron was not alone. Nobody alone Wins 66 games. He actually had the best shooting backcourt in the league and that’s how they won 66 games. The truth is him not getting to the paint to give them those open jumpers. Also, he went 15/45 the last 3 games. What does your teammates have to do with lack of a jumper

[@starsesay5521]

Yep

[@ZZ-ex8py]

@@kevinrichards4346 how did that best shooting backcourt do in the playoffs? exactly

[@kevinrichards4346]

@@ZZ-ex8py I just explained why because LEBRON all season was getting to the paint and creating shots for players but in the series decided to take jumpshots taking his own players outs the game

[@long_strong8843]

Teams at the time that eliminated Kobe or LeBron were just kind of annoying because all of them made us miss out on a Finals matchup of Kobe VS LeBron

[@slimypickle19]

Maybe we could've gotten it at least once, but it would be pretty ridiculous to have them face off more than 3 times. Me personally, I lost all interest in the NBA when it became the Cavs & Warriors every year. That got boring after year 2.

[@Rob8041289]

This video was fire and UNBIASED!! This was fire i had to subscribe

[@stevengonzalezfedex4641]

Im hella late but im happy Lebron dedicated the 2020 season for Kobe

[@ajtheking23]

Tbh I wish we had of seen this match up because whoever would’ve won there wouldn’t even be a debate on who was the better player

[@starsesay5521]

Agreed *coughing* Kobe

[@ajtheking23]

@@starsesay5521 most definitely

[@alexescutia4805]

Debatable everyone knows the lakers had a better team

[@FireAngelChris]

See that’s a stupid way of viewing things. Lakers was better than the Cavs so no matter if Bron matched or outplayed Kobe folks wouldn’t care.

[@FireAngelChris]

@@starsesay5521 Bron better

[@potentially__9445]

Black Ops Cold War multiplayer theme playing in the background. Nice!! 👍🏾

[@stashisahorse]

Messi clears

[@blydenwade940]

Ur mom>>>>>>>

[@saz19s8]

Siiiiuuuu

[@iamtherealgeatness8860]

Ali claps

[@Renz0K]

@@saz19s8 don’t let Messi meat riders see this

[@nostalgiacorner1999]

Penalty to Argentina!!

[@garudass3805]

this video is great, clip selection for the words you're speaking is so on point

[@jeffjean79]

We all know lebron didn’t want that smoke 💨 😂😂😂😂😂 Kobe was waiting for him

[@SilentMovements305]

Facts

[@alexescutia4805]

Love Kobe but come on bruh it’s been know lebron won 16 to Kobe’s 6 and lebron put up better numbers in every category. It’s debatable on who wins but lebron wasn’t scared of Kobe

[@demier-cn1ul]

Kobe always takes Ls against lebron😂

[@99alfailiwaqain51]

@@demier-cn1ul Peace! Kobe was a BOSS! Lebron was the leader of a glorified crew” lololol

[@demier-cn1ul]

@@99alfailiwaqain51 nah he was beating him in his first stint in cleveland

[@Tyoxy]

Very nice video, this was an era of basketball that I will always enjoy

[@thegaming.nerd2004]

Your awsome ❤😂😂😂😂😊 make a Video about mj Kobe and Lebron debate

[@jakeweston13]

I forgot how stupidly good Lebron was in his first stint in Cleveland. If the cavs were able to fine even slightly better supporting cast for him…man it would have been great to see.

[@kiddq]

Bron knew to never meet Kobe in the finals bc losing to him would’ve changed the trajectory of his career

[@yungxdee3053]

Lakers had the better team and I guarantee cavs woulda won least 2 games

[@josealmanza148]

Great vid man Your Channels super underrated

[@CSal97]

Just found yalls content a couple days ago and been binging it all day!!

[@CommandereON]

I like this video, it retains facts and doesn’t allow half truths and revisionists muddle history and the context of players’ decisions and demands. A trade for JJ Hickson for Amare being turned down by the Cavs front office, never forget.

[@nealmcmahon8534]

Great video! Awesome research and trip down memory lane.

[@darrensinclair1363]

This video brought back so many memories being a laker fan but also someone who followed lebrons greatness good job

[@Betlog-jr]

By far? Lmfaoooo nah wade and Tim was in that conversation

[@shamarcapers3409]

Man I wasn’t falling into that Kobe vs LeBron stuff cause I loved them both actually wanted them to be teammates at one point could’ve been a better version of MJ and Scottie

[@KidLatin27]

if Kobe and LeBron played in the NBA finals together back then their battle would be legendary.😊

[@LeSteeler]

Bron got double the FMVPs and rings in the best era

[@username-8YEUAjsKo7]

This matchup is on the TV List in Heaven

[@kammitch3131]

The muppets are still my favorite commercials ever, them things were golden!😂

[@javenwilliams9875]

We all expected Kobe and the Lakers to be Lebron's biggest rivalry, but it ended up being Curry and the Warriors.😂

[@SaintCloudyy]

The rivalry was done after 2016 kd ruined it

[@jordandwiggins1026]

“One of the most clutch players in history” unless ya know shooting percentage means anything to you

[@tylercanton3836]

Lebron can’t shoot either anything more than 3 feet from the basket he shoots horribly.

[@griffineleby8758]

Great video

[@willdrob80]

That CP3 trade that got vetoed, for basketball reasons, was made sense by Gilbert Arenas when he broke it down in the long term. The Lakers were in line to have cap space to bring in more stars such as Dwight Howard, KD and/or LeBron. Mark Cuban and other owners saw this and complained about it. That’s why it didn’t happen.

[@splashnskillz37]

And this Mickey Mouse League always panders against the big market team

[@long_strong8843]

2008-09 or 2009-10 Lakers against any Miami Heat with LeBron would have been the best Finals matchup between the two (of Kobe VS LeBron)

[@ripvanced]

that cold war lobby song is straight fire my guy 🔥

[@houseofkungfu2543]

i LOVE how you dont mention how none of kobes teammates scored as much as Kobe!

[@houseofkungfu2543]

@@mess1ah8x92 there so bold about it too. Another Lebron fodder channel

[@gordonman2389]

Because it was necessary

[@nenegortat5106]

People blame LeBron for not making it in 2009 but how about blame Kobe for not making it in 2011 after coming off of back to back champions and getting swept by the Mavs?

[@ryanokome5794]

bruh u sound so much like. Kevin O'Connor

[@meech6848]

Bruh🤦🏾‍♂️…how the hell was LUOL DENG EVERRR leading the league in minutes?! It’s a shame, such a great video and THAT was my takeaway😂

[@kiercebarrington949]

If this happened back in the day the ratings would have sky rocket even more than Lakers vs Celtics b

[@tymikelmusic]

Everyone wanted a Kobe vs LeBron finals in the late 00s’…but if you were a REAL Laker fan you didn’t gaf about LeBron, the Cavs or anyone else, we wanted Boston & no one else mattered…Don’t get me wrong a Kobe vs LeBron finals would’ve been cool, but the Celtics were the team we wanted to beat.

[@jamesh7469]

@16:05 jesus christ that final score is atrocious

[@JoseGuzman-ne3pk]

12:12 would have love to see Rudy Gay team up with LeBron James with their athleticism would had made highlights every game.

[@ImBarryScottCSS]

Dan Gilbert, next question.

[@smol9832]

I'd rather face kobe than lebron in a 7 gane series. Lebron can do wonders with minimal.

[@WRNIIVIIII]

Facts Kobe gonna try and shoot you out the game and that’s where you grab him by the balls

[@starsesay5521]

Sike

[@ayeitsjay883]

3-6

[@WRNIIVIIII]

@@ayeitsjay883 4 FMVPs

[@ayeitsjay883]

@@WRNIIVIIII 6 Finals Ls compared to 2

[@cedricl.vercher8423]

GREAT piece. Lots of research and FACTS. Thanks for not boring us with Lie'Bron Lames excuses.

[@Icysnipe]

W vid as always but. LEBRON JAMES NO REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE

[@austinanderson6130]

They never matched up because The Spurs existed

[@isaidperez-u7o]

5:05 GOOOOO SPUUUUUURS GOOOOO!

[@a.r.t93]

Remember the NBA made a whole "Dream Season" doc with Justin Timberlake narrating to hype this Finals 😂No wonder the NBA hates Dwight

[@long_strong8843]

I think maybe possibly 2010 was the best chance of LeBron VS Kobe in the Nba Finals

[@jojobravo3829]

Noticed he skipped right past the mavs Miami series 😭

[@gorcsauce696]

Yeah kobe got swept with paul gasol with Derrick fisher still same roster by mavs. Mavs cooked everyone that year. Getting swept as defending champion not like they was bad they was 2nd seed in the better west

[@long_strong8843]

21:28 actually from 2007 to 2018, each/every NBA Finals featured/had LeBron or Kobe

[@ChrisWilliams-ur7fn]

This is the dream matchup, but I think it would have disappointed. As far as firepower goes, Lebron's Cavs didn't have enough juice to match with the Lakers. It would have probably been like the finals against the Spurs. LeBron vs Kobe itself would have been fun to see for all the marbles though.

[@rfpchar]

Matchup is key but i think phil could make the adjustment easily

[@qobo5socikwa666]

That whole Lebron is a choke era was hella fun though . Gotta give Bron props for being the most scrutinized athlete of our time

[@rplayer360]

I wasn't a fan of either... But I respect both

[@re11o]

I remember one dude i knew said the szn Dwight went to LA that it was gonna be the Heat and Lakers in the Finals.

[@SchmidtyProductions27]

As the biggest Laker hater of all time, I am happy they didn’t get CP3

[@frniuu2061]

Same, in a weird way it’s karma they didn’t get CP3 to win more championships because the NBA rigged the 2002 WCF

[@pmirpd8874]

Well then, finals 2003 was rigged, 2005, 2016 finals, 2023 west semis. Grow up dum dum

[@chadbrisco4042]

What if the Caveliers traded Lebron to the Lakers for Kobe. That'd be interesting because I'd expect Lebron to make the finals every year until 2018 so he'd literally make 12 straight Finals from 2007-2018 since the Lakers made the Finals three years in a row. Combine the years the Lakers made the Finals with the years Lebron made the Finals and Lebron would have went to 12 straight finals. That'd be insane.

[@stephordless8876]

And if Kobe had worse in 07. Only fair comparison would be for Kobe to get Lebron’s superteam in Miami…. Then Kobe would have 7 rings minimum.

[@chadbrisco4042]

@Stephordless I agree but I'd also say Lebron would make it to the finals every year from 2008 to 2018 because the Lakers made it in 08, 09 and 10. Lebron James made it from 2011-2018 and I believe at that point he'd do it by himself. I think Kobe would have 7 rings like you said but that Lebron would have 6 or 7 rings himself.

[@Me-sm9qk]

12 finals you think he can get out in the West with spurs? With phoenix? With Prime marion who shut him down in Dallas finals? With prime dallas and the young okc with pau and Odom and with always injury Bynum? Houston with Shane and Ron artest will kill him in the defense. And then young gsw and become superteam in 2015 until 2019 so he is lucky if get one finals in the West that time spurs know how to defeat him dallas know how phoenix still good until 2010 I don't know how will get out in the West.

[@willardweston8984]

MW2 was amazing 🔥

[@plane476lucky2]

Kobe on the bulls would have been dope especially with a prime d rose

[@coupecortez773]

AI vs Kobe was a much bigger and more common debate during the early 2000s. The Bron v Kobe thing was a topic for only like 2 seasons.

[@jaobille79]

Lol no. Kobe vs Bron is a thing since 2008 until TODAY!

[@KingTaylor-pl2el]

Lebron had choked vs Orlando and Boston that's why we didn't see lebron vs Kobe finals

[@alexescutia4805]

Lebron averaged 38.5 against the magic

[@KingTaylor-pl2el]

@@alexescutia4805 lebron choked and had zero points in the fourth quarter in the last two games in that series 🤦🤦🤦 And getting destroyed by hedo turk

[@alexescutia4805]

@@KingTaylor-pl2el ain’t arguing with a man that likes their own comment

[@KingTaylor-pl2el]

@@alexescutia4805 u ain't gotta argue just know lebron choked In 09 playoffs vs Orlando that's facts

[@alexescutia4805]

@@KingTaylor-pl2el aight child lol

[@houseofkungfu2543]

keep in mind Lebron and kobe had similar role players but the main difference is who...the stars

[@WRNIIVIIII]

SIMILAR? YOU ARE SO BIASED AND INSANE FOR THIS!

[@HipsterShiningArmor]

Honestly, i'm glad this series never happened. Sports media at the time just would not let the Kobe vs LeBron argument rest, it was more or less all they talked about for a good few years, essentially trying to brute force a rivalry into existence that did not develop organically. In a way i think its kind of appropriate that both Kobe and LeBron made plenty of NBA finals, but never against each other, almost like the basketball gods were trying to punish ESPN for counting their chickens before they hatched. That and, y'know, the Celtics, Mavericks, Spurs, etc. were pretty good at basketball too.

[@romanramirez7847]

Also, there never was a “rivalry” between Kobe and LeBron to begin with. They didn’t play all that much against each other in the regular season, and they never faced in the playoffs. Their so-called rivalry was a myth created by ESPN and is still utilized by their fanbases today in order to downplay either player.

[@yruqrem9]

If Lakers would have made it to that finals in 2011 against Lebron and his new all star team mates, that would have been 4 STRAIGHT Finals appearances.. unheard of, not even MJ Bulls went 4 straight times. Looking back now as bad as I wanted to see it happen and not knowing Jim Bus decision to fire coaching staff in front of team during Mavs series, can't be disappointed in that Lakers team

[@PlaylistNumero1]

Tim Duncan has something to say about "2 best players in the league by far" comment.

[@scorchone2310]

Honestly I blame Mike D'Antoni so much for the failures of the 13-14 Lakers. There's no damn way that team could succeed within that awful system of his