The NBA annually does their part to pay their respects on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and they’re often joined by branding partners Nike and Adidas, among others. On Jan. 19, 2009, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in a highly-anticipated matchup.
The Lakers were coming a season that ended in a disappointing loss to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. The Cavaliers themselves were title contenders, and both teams entered the night with 31 wins and single-digit losses.
At the time, Bryant and James represented two of Nike’s standout pillars.