Kobe Vs LeBron: A Rivalry?

Kobe vs LeBron. Straight up the two best players in the association today. When you hear of one you think of the other. You hear "Black Mamba", you think of "King James". You cannot speak of one without mentioning the other in the same sentence.

Along with being two best players in the league and this generation, they are also mentioned to be the next MJ. Whenever you're labeled to be the next MJ, there's going to be competition. This is where the Kobe vs. LeBron discussions start. Many people say it's a Rivalry, and that it's the next Larry vs. Magic rivalry. How is it a rivalry? Doesn't a rivalry have to start with two teams or players playing against each other in a meaningful game? Larry and Magic started their rivalry in the 1979 National Championship game when Larry and His Indiana State Cyclone's took on Magic and his Michigan State Spartans, with Magics Spartans coming out on top. We all know what happened in the NBA and all the playoff series they played against each other.

Unlike Magic and Larry, Kobe and LeBron have yet to play an important game against each other. The only games we have seen them play each other in have been in the regular season, and we all know how important those games are. See, whenever you see the Kobe vs. LeBron puppet commercial or any other Kobe vs. LeBron commercials, you have to think: how is this even a rivalry? Kobe vs. LeBron is nothing but a great topic to discuss with your friends on who is a better basketball player, they have yet to meet in a playoff game, and the most important game they have played in was the Olympics and they were on the same team. Until they meet in the playoffs and both match the other player point for point, it is nothing but a great discussion not a great rivalry no matter how much ESPN, and the sports world wants to make it a rivalry.