It is a shame that the NBA and its fans never got a chance to see Kobe Bryant and LeBron James face off in the Finals, as the two were the most popular players in the league during the late 2000s.
Bryant was leading the Los Angeles Lakers to consecutive titles in 2009 and 2010, while James was unfortunately denied by teams like the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics. James would eventually make it to the big stage as a member of the Miami Heat, but at that point the Lakers and Bryant had begun their steep decline.