Why NBA Needs LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony's Rivalry to Come Alive Again

The NBA's next Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird rivalry was supposed to be born nine years ago. The Cleveland Cavaliers selected LeBron James at No. 1 overall in the 2003 NBA Draft, and the Denver Nuggets followed by selecting Carmelo Anthony at No. 3 overall.

As they busted onto the NBA scene, the rivalry was born. Both stars were constantly compared to one another, both guys always tried to one-up each other.

Their two yearly matchups were always nationally televised, but from the outset, the rivalry almost seemed forced on NBA fans.

Cleveland and Denver are in two different conferences. No one's blood gets boiling for a Cleveland-Denver matchup unless we are talking Broncos and Browns in the late 1980s. Since John Elway wasn't a factor between the Cavs and the Nuggets, it really didn't matter much.

That is, until now.

It may have taken over eight years to get to this point, but we are in a spot where a rivalry between Anthony and James can matter. Quite frankly, the NBA needs it to.

All of the elements are now there.

Both are in the same conference, both are on teams that should be able to contend for an NBA championship.

More importantly, it's the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat.

The Knicks and Heat formed one of the great team rivalries of the 1990s. Indeed, it was a true rivalry with honest hatred between the two franchises.

Everything is there to really resume that rivalry and take it to the next level.

There's Pat Riley, Spike Lee and constant reminders of Alonzo Mourning vs. Larry Johnson with Jeff Van Gundy desperately holding onto the Mourning's leg.

However, most importantly, there is James and Anthony.

The NBA needs its share of real rivalries again, and while James and Anthony are good friends off the court, it wouldn't hurt to see some bad blood on it.

What can really get the blood boiling and make the rivalry come alive between the two is their need for a ring.

Coming into the league, who would have thought that nine years later both superstars would still be looking for that elusive first championship?

James has had his opportunities, but come up short. Anthony hasn't been as close.

Every other major sport has its share of high-profile, heated rivalries.

The NBA really needs some rivalries to come alive again.

It's good for the game and great for the fans and television ratings.

If you're looking for what could be the NBA's biggest rivalry, look no further than James vs. Anthony and the Heat vs. Knicks.

They have the opportunity to rekindle that rivalry beginning tonight.