NBA Finals: Dirk Nowtizki with a Ring or Lebron James Justifying His Decision?

The Dirk and LeBron matchup means more to basketball than you think.

The ubiquities of prominent names that survived throughout the last decade and a half of world class basketball vanished into oblivion all too fast. O'Neal, Duncan and Kobe have all appeared, in one combination or the other, in every single finals since 1999, guarding the liberties to the legacy-justifying ring.

Yet they have all fallen.

The new wave was evident. The emergence of young teams such as Rose's Bulls, Durant's Thunder and other young underdogs (Grizzlies, Nuggets, Blazers), has ushered the stars of our past to an early fishing session they were all too unfamiliar with.

Dirk Nowitzki is all that remains before all-star weekends begin to look a little different. Along with Jason Kidd, Nowitzki rightfully earns his spot as one of the best in the post-Jordan era, but we all know how legacies live without rings and no one wants a bigger shot at redemption than Dirk.

As for LeBron, this is not exactly a stepping-stone moment any more. It's ring or bust.

LeBron and his "decision"-making frenzies spurred (Amar'e and 'Melo to New York, Dwight rumors surfacing) an unprecedented public attitude of self-interest from superstars and the backlash has turned a global sports icon into everybody's favorite punching bag. The only way for LeBron to come through a winner is immediate vindication.

How much sweeter would it be to take it from the Black Mamba or Timmy? We've all thought about this, but the point is simple. Losing this year would mean that 'Bron couldn't survive the past era, despite his talents and selfish fulfillment, and winning in the future would be bullying instead of dynastic.

Redemption or revenge? Jump ball, baby.