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

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  • Опубліковано 28 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 914

  • @synthetic_sports
    @synthetic_sports  Рік тому +242

    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
      @jmcook96 Рік тому +10

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

    • @KingTaylor-pl2el
      @KingTaylor-pl2el Рік тому +3

      @@jmcook96 lebron choked

    • @dylansgameplay5183
      @dylansgameplay5183 Рік тому +5

      imagine kobe and lebron both on that lakers team

    • @kylegross1081
      @kylegross1081 Рік тому +1

      @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
      @Dilly_Dil1y Рік тому +3

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

  • @samuraibeastwarrior2886
    @samuraibeastwarrior2886 Рік тому +852

    MJ VS Hakeem also never happen in the finals

    • @klover19
      @klover19 Рік тому +114

      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
      @megavolt67 Рік тому +44

      @@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
      @sabaoth95 Рік тому +8

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

    • @samuraibeastwarrior2886
      @samuraibeastwarrior2886 Рік тому +4

      @@sabaoth95 when

    • @samuraibeastwarrior2886
      @samuraibeastwarrior2886 Рік тому +3

      @@klover19 I know

  • @L4V4G
    @L4V4G Рік тому +589

    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
      @poly_g6068 Рік тому +54

      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
      @L4V4G Рік тому +66

      @@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
      @ljy32swag Рік тому +54

      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
      @1vaultdweller Рік тому +21

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

    • @lorddj9910
      @lorddj9910 Рік тому +8

      @@1vaultdweller he basically said that

  • @KentuckyWaterfall13
    @KentuckyWaterfall13 Рік тому +516

    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
      @christopherd.3291 Рік тому +32

      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
      @KingTaylor-pl2el Рік тому +9

      Kobe is the goat 🐐

    • @andrewcook1246
      @andrewcook1246 Рік тому +2

      And Tim Donague

    • @stephordless8876
      @stephordless8876 Рік тому +11

      @@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
      @blacxice Рік тому +7

      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

  • @GreedyGlo
    @GreedyGlo Рік тому +224

    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
      @americanfresh17 Рік тому +53

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

    • @jacobbell8171
      @jacobbell8171 Рік тому +3

      7 years

    • @BigMallTV
      @BigMallTV Рік тому +16

      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
      @GreedyGlo Рік тому +16

      @@BigMallTV Different eras

    • @facelessandnameless
      @facelessandnameless Рік тому +23

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

  • @markula_4040
    @markula_4040 Рік тому +71

    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
      @cjvaye99 Рік тому +8

      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.

  • @KingCoopa17
    @KingCoopa17 Рік тому +120

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

    • @_M....
      @_M.... Рік тому

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

    • @Skinslyfe
      @Skinslyfe Рік тому

      Nah bro just made some money on a ticket

  • @kalanferguson
    @kalanferguson Рік тому +127

    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
      @jacoblee5796 Рік тому +35

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

    • @cscarly
      @cscarly Рік тому +6

      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_
      @SupremeSupervillain_ Рік тому +5

      ​@@jacoblee5796the east was pretty weak at that time

    • @Recurses
      @Recurses Рік тому +5

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

    • @LJMadrigalMusic
      @LJMadrigalMusic Рік тому +2

      "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?

  • @raywright8479
    @raywright8479 Рік тому +350

    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
      @TheDarkbluerock Рік тому +28

      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
      @Abbad1579 Рік тому +7

      Nice theory

    • @chri11203
      @chri11203 Рік тому +76

      @@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
      @stephordless8876 Рік тому +2

      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
      @slobberkissintl3548 Рік тому +16

      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

  • @chadbrisco4042
    @chadbrisco4042 Рік тому +107

    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
      @moblife3638 Рік тому +7

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

    • @JinDota
      @JinDota Рік тому +21

      ​@@moblife3638 bron was drafted in 2003

    • @pureakkuracy7510
      @pureakkuracy7510 Рік тому +9

      @@JinDotaKobe retired in 2016

    • @JinDota
      @JinDota Рік тому +1

      @@pureakkuracy7510 truetrue

    • @praiseorthodoxy
      @praiseorthodoxy Рік тому +8

      2020: Lebron James, No Kobe appearance

  • @asimedina6933
    @asimedina6933 Рік тому +108

    man.. i miss kobe

  • @williamanderson7594
    @williamanderson7594 Рік тому +73

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

    • @synthetic_sports
      @synthetic_sports  Рік тому +16

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

    • @starsesay5521
      @starsesay5521 Рік тому +28

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

    • @mr3000sr
      @mr3000sr Рік тому +5

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

    • @mybestnugget7514
      @mybestnugget7514 Рік тому +8

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

    • @mr3000sr
      @mr3000sr Рік тому

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

  • @jclight2675
    @jclight2675 Рік тому +14

    Also had the best playoff commercial with Kanye amazing playing

  • @maksimo2230
    @maksimo2230 Рік тому +12

    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.

  • @TK-vf2vy
    @TK-vf2vy Рік тому +8

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

  • @yj5069
    @yj5069 Рік тому +22

    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

  • @ninjitown23
    @ninjitown23 Рік тому +2

    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!

  • @jhomerlaurencio1975
    @jhomerlaurencio1975 Рік тому +15

    When Lebron was beaten during 08-10, it happens to be the opponent of Lakers in the Finals. Same thing when Kobe didn't get past their rivals (Mavs, Thunder, and Spurs)

    • @stephordless8876
      @stephordless8876 Рік тому +5

      They got past the prime Spurs in 08 and the Thunder too.

    • @easylife6348
      @easylife6348 Рік тому

      @@stephordless8876 yea it was just lakers got old after that 2010 ring.

    • @alexescutia4805
      @alexescutia4805 Рік тому +1

      @@stephordless8876 lebron got passed the Celtics too it just didn’t happen in the same year for Kobe and bron

    • @hhghjj3247
      @hhghjj3247 Рік тому

      Boston was old and he had to Hoi join wade abs Bosh the same guys Kobe took out with Paul as his second best player lol lequeen overrated

    • @alexescutia4805
      @alexescutia4805 Рік тому

      @@hhghjj3247 you’re a child

  • @rashaanholloway1760
    @rashaanholloway1760 Рік тому +5

    As a die-hard, life-long Cavs fan, and a basketball-head who just wanted to see Kobe vs LeBron once...I greatly loathe that 2009 Orlando Magic team. They. Would. Not. Miss in those ECF.

  • @azsportx
    @azsportx Рік тому +16

    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 🙏🏾.

  • @brandoncoxall6149
    @brandoncoxall6149 Рік тому +5

    Y’all are so dope. Been watching y’all for the last like 5 hrs and it’s been awesome. Automatic fan. Keep up the superb work fellas, definitely going to blow up🔥🔥🔥

  • @the_o_man
    @the_o_man Рік тому +27

    It was the 2015-16 Spurs that matched the 1986 Celtics home record. Not the 2016-17 Spurs

    • @chadbrisco4042
      @chadbrisco4042 Рік тому +3

      It's easy to mix things up lol. 2015-2016 has the year 2016 involved just like the 2016-2017 season does. Which year is the 2016 season? Lol.

    • @splashnskillz37
      @splashnskillz37 Рік тому

      @@chadbrisco4042 And the Warriors were better in both

  • @stashisahorse
    @stashisahorse Рік тому +4

    Love this channel for putting stuff like the puppet commercial in these videos

  • @LoadFaster
    @LoadFaster Рік тому +14

    If Kobe and LeBron had faced off in the finals even once, it would have been on par with Magic VS Bird.

  • @eazydro20
    @eazydro20 Рік тому +77

    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
      @mysportisyourpunishment73188 Рік тому +18

      Sad..but probably true

    • @israelmendoza7599
      @israelmendoza7599 Рік тому +15

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

    • @torhowell5202
      @torhowell5202 Рік тому +2

      That series was rigged. Cleveland still lost.

    • @xemir
      @xemir Рік тому +1

      he was fixing the games for the mob not ABC

    • @eazydro20
      @eazydro20 Рік тому +2

      @@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

  • @jeffreygutierrez4695
    @jeffreygutierrez4695 Рік тому +1

    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

  • @bowwowo
    @bowwowo Рік тому +3

    SYNTHETIC SPORTS IS IN THEIR BAG RIGHT NOW WITH THIS VIDEO

  • @ceasarsanchez9086
    @ceasarsanchez9086 Рік тому +22

    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
      @HipsterShiningArmor Рік тому

      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
      @ceasarsanchez9086 Рік тому

      @@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
      @romanramirez7847 Рік тому

      @@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
      @ceasarsanchez9086 Рік тому

      @@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
      @romanramirez7847 Рік тому

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

  • @Jrjr940
    @Jrjr940 Рік тому +9

    Y’all make such great content, deserve wayyyy more subscribers. Keep it up boys!🔥

  • @shlomoweis5974
    @shlomoweis5974 Рік тому +12

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

  • @pureakkuracy7510
    @pureakkuracy7510 Рік тому +6

    A Lebron and Kobe finals matchup would be undoubtedly the best finals ever by far

  • @xlr0gd205
    @xlr0gd205 Рік тому +5

    I actually think we were closer to it in 2008 than 2009. Game 7 between Celtics and Cavs was one of only TWO playoff games in which Paul Pierce scored more than 30 points (the other was Game 5 vs LAL). Had Paul Pierce played his average game, Boston would've lost. The ECF would've been the Cavs-Pistons rematch which the Cavs won just the year before. No sign they wouldn't have done it again

  • @TheJadariusExperience
    @TheJadariusExperience Рік тому +8

    Sad the only place we’ll see this is in 2k.

  • @rjhaney2614
    @rjhaney2614 Рік тому

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

  • @bdr113080
    @bdr113080 Рік тому +18

    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
      @1776carpediem Рік тому +1

      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
      @silkyjohnson7599 Рік тому

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

    • @peytonfechter3438
      @peytonfechter3438 Рік тому

      @@silkyjohnson7599 the east entirely was trash,

    • @silkyjohnson7599
      @silkyjohnson7599 Рік тому

      @@peytonfechter3438 that doesn’t contradict my statement though

  • @Mikeaj-un6mf
    @Mikeaj-un6mf Рік тому +1

    I love how you have the date to every video

  • @Thomas-bs9xv
    @Thomas-bs9xv Рік тому +4

    I give this documentary an A+!!!. All of the nostalgia was there. A 22 minute time machine spot on!!!👍👍👍

  • @CiabanItReal
    @CiabanItReal Рік тому +3

    You forgot all those Nike 23vs24 Kobe vs Lebron commercials, which after the magic beat the Cavs, Dwight mocked in comercials.

  • @urbaindelva7869
    @urbaindelva7869 10 місяців тому +3

    In hindsight, the Cavs were set up to fail in '09 and 2010. The basketball world was so hyped about a potential Kobe vs. LeBron Finals matchup that nobody considered whether or not the Cavs were actually good enough to get there in either year, and as the Orlando Magic proved, they were not. However, instead of acknowledging that proven fact, the narrative became that LeBron was a choker. The roles were reversed in 2011 and 2012, but ironically, Kobe did not receive that same level of scrutiny. We could've seen he and LeBron match up in the Finals in either year, but while LeBron and the Heat got there in both years, Kobe and the Lakers were eliminated early in both years. Imo, the Lakers would've beaten the Cavs in both '09 and 2010. The Heat would've won in both 2012 and 2013.

  • @allensmith9879
    @allensmith9879 Рік тому +1

    Love the old school VHS date & time overlays 👌

  • @ianrhodes8786
    @ianrhodes8786 Рік тому +3

    alr know this is bouta be a banger

  • @Ilkaygundogoat
    @Ilkaygundogoat Рік тому +2

    Y’all to underrated I swear amazing job ❤

  • @gamificationoflife
    @gamificationoflife Рік тому +3

    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)

  • @hatgamez913
    @hatgamez913 Рік тому +1

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

  • @jaylenbarnes2.079
    @jaylenbarnes2.079 Рік тому +3

    Fire Video

  • @SmusnSasketchewan
    @SmusnSasketchewan Рік тому +2

    the editing is insane 😮

  • @blacxice
    @blacxice Рік тому +17

    This matchup never happening always felt like kinda rigged to protect each players brand and legacy
    NO ONE would ever let up the fact of who lost in that finals match up no matter what else they did in their careers
    This would hurt they’re brands badly
    Kobe would’ve won btw

    • @starsesay5521
      @starsesay5521 Рік тому +1

      Agreed wholeheartedly.

    • @BayAreaHoops415
      @BayAreaHoops415 Рік тому +4

      Kobe's Lakers woulda beat LeBrons Cavs, his running man was Mo Williams. Heat would've destroyed the Lakers

    • @peytonfechter3438
      @peytonfechter3438 Рік тому +2

      @@BayAreaHoops415 well it was a super team, that is why Lebron went there, because he couldn't win with the cavs

    • @BayAreaHoops415
      @BayAreaHoops415 Рік тому +6

      @@peytonfechter3438 name a single player in nba history winning with mo Williams as his 2nd best player, sure as hell ain’t Kobe or MJ 😂

    • @peytonfechter3438
      @peytonfechter3438 Рік тому

      @@BayAreaHoops415we are talking about the heat, why you bring up mo williams, and mj in the year 86 when they lost to the celtics with 4 hofs

  • @kaplezedrummer24ify
    @kaplezedrummer24ify Рік тому +1

    Greatest commercials ever. Freaking GENIUS

  • @bl4ckuchiha
    @bl4ckuchiha Рік тому +7

    You didn't have to do Mo like that😂

  • @Rob8041289
    @Rob8041289 Рік тому

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

  • @khaitranngoc4176
    @khaitranngoc4176 Рік тому +73

    That matchup would have shaped the goat debate for YEARS

    • @Bmthighlights
      @Bmthighlights Рік тому +29

      Why? Kobe’s not even top 5

    • @slammydunk9787
      @slammydunk9787 Рік тому

      @@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
      @Abbad1579 Рік тому +1

      No not really

    • @TaeFrmHeaven
      @TaeFrmHeaven Рік тому +12

      @@Bmthighlights yes he is.

    • @Dmm314
      @Dmm314 Рік тому +6

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

  • @CSal97
    @CSal97 Рік тому

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

  • @kSwissh007
    @kSwissh007 Рік тому +3

    2009 and 2011 was the best time for kobe and lebron to go against eachother in the finals!!!! 2010 was meant for lakers vs. celtics

  • @NMac30
    @NMac30 Рік тому

    Great video! Awesome research and trip down memory lane.

  • @antonioguglielmetti2661
    @antonioguglielmetti2661 Рік тому +22

    This is the best thing that ever happened to LeBron.

    • @StarWarsReels
      @StarWarsReels Рік тому +10

      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
      @muhammadrajput3502 Рік тому

      @@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
      @FunnyBaseballStadium-cc5dk 11 місяців тому

      @@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
      @muhammadrajput3502 11 місяців тому

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

    • @FunnyBaseballStadium-cc5dk
      @FunnyBaseballStadium-cc5dk 11 місяців тому

      @@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.

  • @dstreet4599
    @dstreet4599 Рік тому +10

    0:35 I wouldn't say they were BY FAR the best players in that time period. Wade (2008-2012), Dwight (2008-2012), and Durant (2010 onwards) were in the mix.
    Edit: For example: ESPN comparing Wade and LeBron in the 08-09 season when they were in the MVP race (with Kobe). LeBron wasn't considered "far better" back then. ua-cam.com/video/5oKkw7eAKik/v-deo.html
    Kevin Durant vs LeBron was considered a "legendary rivalry in the making" during the 2012 Finals. ua-cam.com/video/p991N4thlE0/v-deo.html
    There's even a soundbite of Mike Breen saying that LeBron and Durant are "possibly the two best players on the planet."
    I'll see if I can find stuff for Durant and Dwight as well.

    • @kizitokatende412
      @kizitokatende412 Рік тому +3

      all respect to them, but bron and kobe were on another planet lmfao

    • @dstreet4599
      @dstreet4599 Рік тому +1

      ​@@kizitokatende412They just had the most media coverage in their comparisons.
      Wade was also thought to be in the mix at the time. FFS Wade finished top 3 in both MVP and DPOY in 2009. He and LeBron were considered so close that people were arguing (at least in their first year) who was "1A and 1B" on the Heat. Not to mention he was playing as good as LeBron in against the 2011 Celtics and was far better than him against the Mavs. Even if people thought LeBron was better, Wade wasn't far behind.
      Dwight was considered the next Shaq at that time, was easily in the MVP race with LeBron in the early 2010s and his matchups with them were considered must see TV. He was a perennial DPOY winner, making his 2-way prowess among the best in the league, if not the best.
      And like Dwight, KD was seen as the next big thing, especially after his finals appearance and was consistently among them in the MVP race by the end of the 2000's throughout the early 2010s.
      Really the only time it was considered "not even close" was in 2013 and only in regards to LeBron.

    • @Abbad1579
      @Abbad1579 Рік тому +2

      @@kizitokatende412By 2012 KD was much better than kobe

    • @tylercanton3836
      @tylercanton3836 Рік тому +1

      @@Abbad1579no he wasn’t

    • @Abbad1579
      @Abbad1579 Рік тому +2

      @@tylercanton3836 yes he was

  • @garudass3805
    @garudass3805 Рік тому

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

  • @GreedyGlo
    @GreedyGlo Рік тому +3

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

  • @Tyoxy
    @Tyoxy Рік тому

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

  • @kevinrichards4346
    @kevinrichards4346 Рік тому +6

    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
      @WRNIIVIIII Рік тому

      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
      @kevinrichards4346 Рік тому +6

      @@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
      @starsesay5521 Рік тому

      Yep

    • @ZZ-ex8py
      @ZZ-ex8py Рік тому +6

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

    • @kevinrichards4346
      @kevinrichards4346 Рік тому +2

      @@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

  • @potentially__9445
    @potentially__9445 Рік тому +1

    Great editing, awesome video.

  • @TK-vf2vy
    @TK-vf2vy Рік тому +3

    greatttttt vid

  • @long_strong8843
    @long_strong8843 6 місяців тому +1

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

  • @slimypickle19
    @slimypickle19 Рік тому +4

    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.

  • @josealmanza148
    @josealmanza148 Рік тому +1

    Great vid man
    Your Channels super underrated

  • @jaylenbarnes2.079
    @jaylenbarnes2.079 Рік тому +3

    Video Idea: Y'all could do a video about Chris Mullin or Mark Price

  • @CommandereON
    @CommandereON Рік тому

    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.

  • @Kingflowh
    @Kingflowh Рік тому +3

    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
      @starsesay5521 Рік тому

      Agreed. Ariza was like a Pippen to Kobe

  • @griffineleby8758
    @griffineleby8758 Рік тому +1

    Great video

  • @BlackFlash7
    @BlackFlash7 Рік тому +7

    Kobe would've torn brons ass up in 09 and 2010 lol

  • @long_strong8843
    @long_strong8843 6 місяців тому +1

    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

  • @christopherd.3291
    @christopherd.3291 Рік тому +6

    It’s sad the Celtics been stuck chip 17 for 15 years and counting 😂

  • @Flyerman777
    @Flyerman777 9 днів тому

    Kobe in the first round of his 3 year finals run from 2008-2010 had to play against the 3/4 best 8 seed's by record of all time. Crazy back then

  • @ajtheking23
    @ajtheking23 Рік тому +4

    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
      @starsesay5521 Рік тому +3

      Agreed *coughing* Kobe

    • @ajtheking23
      @ajtheking23 Рік тому +1

      @@starsesay5521 most definitely

    • @alexescutia4805
      @alexescutia4805 Рік тому +5

      Debatable everyone knows the lakers had a better team

    • @FireAngelChris
      @FireAngelChris Рік тому +2

      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
      @FireAngelChris Рік тому +2

      @@starsesay5521 Bron better

  • @MrSquaky
    @MrSquaky Рік тому

    This video was very well done

  • @thegaming.nerd2004
    @thegaming.nerd2004 Рік тому +4

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

  • @darrensinclair1363
    @darrensinclair1363 Рік тому

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

    • @Betlog-jr
      @Betlog-jr Рік тому

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

  • @potentially__9445
    @potentially__9445 Рік тому

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

  • @jakey_hendy
    @jakey_hendy Рік тому +7

    Bro did Lebron pay you to give him that hairline in the thumbnail?

  • @stevengonzalezfedex4641
    @stevengonzalezfedex4641 10 місяців тому +1

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

  • @stashisahorse
    @stashisahorse Рік тому +186

    Messi clears

  • @tymikelmusic
    @tymikelmusic Рік тому +2

    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.

  • @long_strong8843
    @long_strong8843 6 місяців тому +5

    0:13 you mean a 5 time NBA champion and he only played with Lakers

  • @jakeweston13
    @jakeweston13 9 місяців тому +1

    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.

  • @jamesh7469
    @jamesh7469 Рік тому +5

    @16:05 jesus christ that final score is atrocious

  • @StreetsofATL_19
    @StreetsofATL_19 Рік тому

    This was great!

  • @willdrob80
    @willdrob80 Рік тому +3

    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
      @splashnskillz37 Рік тому +1

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

  • @landohudson5864
    @landohudson5864 Рік тому +1

    I might’ve been one of the few who was both a Kobe & bron stan
    My 🐐s

  • @ryanokome5794
    @ryanokome5794 Рік тому +3

    bruh u sound so much like. Kevin O'Connor

  • @WWEKING232
    @WWEKING232 Рік тому +1

    Imagine putting up 40 plus in both games on the road but, your supporting cast can’t help you.. but then management gets you over the hill Shaq instead of Amare 💀

  • @houseofkungfu2543
    @houseofkungfu2543 Рік тому +6

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

    • @houseofkungfu2543
      @houseofkungfu2543 Рік тому +1

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

    • @gordonman2389
      @gordonman2389 Рік тому

      Because it was necessary

  • @jmcook96
    @jmcook96 Рік тому +1

    Can you guys do a vid on the 04 Mavs. A "super team" that never was

  • @jordandwiggins1026
    @jordandwiggins1026 Рік тому +3

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

    • @tylercanton3836
      @tylercanton3836 Рік тому

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

  • @username-I5J7ts5GCF
    @username-I5J7ts5GCF Рік тому +1

    This matchup is on the TV List in Heaven

  • @smol9832
    @smol9832 Рік тому +3

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

    • @WRNIIVIIII
      @WRNIIVIIII Рік тому

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

    • @starsesay5521
      @starsesay5521 Рік тому +2

      Sike

    • @That223mf
      @That223mf Рік тому

      3-6

    • @WRNIIVIIII
      @WRNIIVIIII Рік тому

      @@That223mf 4 FMVPs

    • @That223mf
      @That223mf Рік тому

      @@WRNIIVIIII 6 Finals Ls compared to 2

  • @shalimhasanrakhimhabibi4783
    @shalimhasanrakhimhabibi4783 Рік тому +2

    Crazy how the only chip dwight got was from the lakers lead by bron, wish they’ve kept him, he could of helped with jokic this year

    • @Mike1122.
      @Mike1122. Рік тому

      Huh? You counting that bubble ring? Lol

    • @shalimhasanrakhimhabibi4783
      @shalimhasanrakhimhabibi4783 Рік тому +1

      @@Mike1122. every team in the bubble was under the same exact circumstances so yes it does count dumbass

  • @theanonymouscommenter7445
    @theanonymouscommenter7445 Рік тому +1

    @4:51 My guy said Co player. Mo Williams was literally an all star. Put some respect on his name! 😤🔥💯

  • @kiddq
    @kiddq Рік тому +1

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

    • @yungxdee3053
      @yungxdee3053 Рік тому

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

  • @LeSteeler
    @LeSteeler 9 місяців тому +1

    Bron got double the FMVPs and rings in the best era

  • @isaidperez-u7o
    @isaidperez-u7o 3 місяці тому +1

    5:05
    GOOOOO SPUUUUUURS GOOOOO!