15 Player Matchups We'd Love to See in NBA Finals over Next 5 Seasons

If you're a fan of epic, individual player matchups in the NBA Finals then this year's finals is perfect for you.

Whether it's LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade vs. Russell Westbrook or James Harden vs. Chris Bosh (in theory), the 2012 NBA Finals is full of memorable matchups.

While those matchups are great, there's no doubt that there are other potential NBA Finals matchups that would be epic to see.

From a rematch of LeBron James vs. Dirk Nowitzki, to Carmelo Anthony vs. Kobe Bryant, ahead are the 15 NBA Finals player matchups that we'd absolutely love to see over the next five years.  

Kobe Bryant vs. Lebron James

Not too much needs to be said about this one right?

More than any other player matchup on this list, NBA fans need to see LeBron and Kobe face off against each other at least once.

While they might not actually guard each other, because Kobe is a shooting guard and LeBron is a forward, there's no doubt that once the series gets heated these two stars will do everything in their power to help their team win.

That's exactly what would make this matchup so exciting to watch.  It would also add some fuel to the fire of the debate regarding whether Kobe or LeBron is a better player.  This matchup would be best in a few years, once LeBron has had a chance to catch up to Kobe's five rings.

Who Would Win?  LeBron James 

Andrew Bynum vs. Dwight Howard

Remember that time when Shaquille O'Neal dissed Dwight Howard by labeling Andrew Bynum as the "best big man in the game?"

Well instead of fans just talking about it, how about watching the two players battling it out in an NBA Finals?

That's exactly why this potential NBA Finals matchup would be at the top of the list of matchups fans would love to see.

NBA fans haven't been treated to a battle in the paint of this caliber in quite some time, and it would certainly not fail to disappoint.  Bynum vs. Howard would be the kind of matchup that would live on in NBA finals lore for the rest of time.

Who Would Win?  Dwight Howard 

LeBron James vs. Dirk Nowizki

The possibility of this one actually happening grows lesser and lesser as each day passes because the Mavericks aren't getting any younger.

With that being said, a rematch between LeBron James and Dirk Nowitzki would be an epic one to say the least.

It would be Nowitzki's chance at truly solidifying himself as one of the greatest players in the history of the game by winning his second NBA title, and it would be LeBron's chance at redeeming himself from his underwhelming performance in the 2011 NBA Finals.

While the likelihood of this matchup is based on the low chance of Nowitzki and the Mavericks making it back to the finals in the next few years, there's no doubt that the story lines surrounding this matchup would be enjoyable to watch.

Who Would Win?  LeBron James 

Derrick Rose vs. Russell Westbrook

Here's another point guard matchup that would be absolutely amazing to watch over the span of a potential seven-game series in an NBA Finals.

The storyline of Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook facing off in the 2008 NCAA tournament would be at the heart of this matchup, and for good reason.

In that matchup between UCLA and Memphis, Rose got the better of Westbrook by scoring 25 points and dished out eight assists, as compared to Westbrook, who scored 22 points with just two assists.

Rose led his Memphis team past Westbrook and UCLA that year.  Would he be able to do the same in the NBA Finals?

Who Would Win?  Russell Westbrook 

Jeremy Lin vs. Kobe Bryant

An NBA Finals matchup between Kobe Bryant and Jeremy Lin might not seem all that exciting at first glance but let's take a trip down memory lane real quick.

This past season when Linsanity was in full force, Kobe had this to say about Jeremy Lin, "I don't even know what he's done."

While Lin went on to introduce himself to Kobe with a 38-point performance when the Lakers and Knicks met this past season, that storyline would certainly be enough to fuel a compelling NBA Finals series between Lin and Kobe.

Lin and Kobe play the game in a different way and they also both approach the game very differently.  Lin is a humble and unassuming player, whereas Kobe is one of the most arrogant and confident personalities in the game.  Interesting matchup to say the least.

Who Would Win?  Kobe Bryant

Chris Paul vs. Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving vs. Chris Paul is a matchup that would feature two of the premiere scoring point guards in the game.

Irving and Paul would be an exciting matchup to watch because both players know how to score, but they also know how to get their teammates involved in the game.

While Irving might not be the double-double machine that Paul is, in a few years he could be on that level and that's at the foundation of what makes this matchup such a potentially exciting one to watch.

A win for Irving would solidify him as the post-LeBron savior for Cleveland and it would solidify him as the future of the NBA, whereas a title for Paul would make him the savior of a second-rate L.A. Clippers franchise.

It's a battle of the two potential saviors of their franchises, which is must watch TV to say the least.

Who Would Win?  Kyrie Irving  

Kobe Bryant vs. Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony has never really achieved the level of success that many thought he would in the NBA.

Winning a total against one of the greatest of all time in Kobe Bryant would help change that rather quickly, and that's what would make this NBA Finals matchup such an exciting one to watch.

For Kobe, this matchup would give him another chance to win a title against one of the elite competitors and superstars of his day, which would just solidify his greatness that much more.

Melo vs. Kobe would be a matchup that fans haven't seen that much over the past few seasons since Melo moved to the Big Apple, but it would still be one of the mots exciting matchups to watch.

Who Would Win?  Kobe Bryant 

Blake Griffin vs. Anthony Davis

This potential finals' matchup is the least likely to happen, mainly because we have no idea what kind of player Anthony Davis is going to be in the NBA.

The main reason why a finals matchup between Blake Griffin and Anthony Davis would be so exciting is because it would feature two of the most athletic players to ever play the game of basketball.

Again, Davis has yet to play a minute in the NBA, but the amount of hype surrounding his athletic potential is right around where Griffin's was when he entered the NBA.

Davis against Griffin would be a freakish show of athleticism and it would certainly be an entertaining matchup to watch that features the future talent of the NBA.

This matchup, of course, is based on either Davis or Griffin switching conferences in the next five seasons, or the Hornets passing on Davis in this year's draft.  Crazier things have happened.  

Who Would Win?  Blake Griffin 

Ricky Rubio vs. Steve Nash

This NBA Finals matchup would have to take place within the next year or two, and it would require Steve Nash to sign with a team in the Eastern Conference.

With that being said, it would be an exciting one for fans because it would be a battle between one of the greatest true point guards in the game and the next great rising true point guard in the NBA.

While Rubio isn't anywhere close to being on the same level as Nash right now in his career, this potential NBA Finals matchup would be an opportunity for Nash to pass the torch to Rubio of being the next great true point guard in the league.

Rubio vs. Nash would be a throwback to the great NBA Finals point guard battles of the day, and that's also part of what would make his matchup so exciting.

Who Would Win?  Steve Nash 

Rajon Rondo vs. Chris Paul

Rajon Rondo vs. Chris Paul is another point guard matchup that would be one of the most physical and most competitive matchups in NBA Finals history.

Rondo and Paul are no strangers to each other and while there's no real "bad blood" between them, their competitive nature would make this a heated battle throughout.

Rondo and Paul are two of the best ball handling point guards in the NBA, and their "street abilities" would make their one-on-one battle incredibly exciting to watch.

Paul is the future of the Clippers franchise just like Rondo is the future of the Celtics and that's another reason why this matchup would be so exciting to watch.  A battle between two players trying to solidify themselves as some of the best players of all time for their respective franchises.

Who Would Win?  Rajon Rondo 

Monta Ellis vs. Stephen Curry

This potential NBA Finals matchup is about as likely to happen as me becoming a starter in the NBA, but either way it would still be a really exciting one to watch. 

As teammates for the Golden State Warriors Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry created one of the most offensively explosive duos in the NBA, but they just couldn't find ways to win.

The Warriors then decided that they were better off with Curry as their franchise player, which led to Ellis being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. Seeing these two former teammates battling it out to prove that his value would be epic to say the least.

With Curry trying to prove that the Warriors were right by keeping him as their franchise talent, and Ellis trying to show just how big of a mistake it was to trade him away, this potential NBA Finals matchup would be one for the ages.

Who Would Win?  Monta Ellis

Carmelo Anthony vs. Kevin Durant

Here's a matchup that would feature two of the purest scorers in the game.

Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant would put on a shooting clinic against each other and the offensive explosive that would ensue would be memorable to watch.

Melo and Durant both know how to score in different ways and the creativity that would dominate this potential NBA Finals matchup would be exciting to say the least.

Durant has already proved that he's capable of carrying his team to the NBA Finals, Melo just needs to do his part now.

Who Would Win?  Carmelo Anthony

Kevin Garnett vs. Tim Duncan

Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan are very similar in the way they play the game, but they couldn't be more different in the way they approach it.

They are both big men with a seriously impressive range for their size, but that's all they have in common.  Aside from that, Garnett is one of the most intense, outspoken and somewhat dirty players in the game, whereas Duncan is soft-spoken and very fundamental.

The dichotomy that exists between these two players is what would make this potential NBA Finals matchup such an exciting one to watch.

This one will have to take place within the next year or two though as both players are nearing the end of their more productive days in the NBA.  The big fundamental against KG is a matchup that any basketball purist should be all about.

Who Would Win?  Kevin Garnett

Kobe Bryant vs. Dwyane Wade

Whenever there is a ranking of the best shooting guards in the league the two names you'll find at the top of the list are Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade.

The best way to prove which player is truly the best at their position is to just let them bang it out in an NBA Finals series, with their reputations on the line.

Kobe and Wade have battled a number of times in their NBA careers but they've never done so with title dreams on the line, and that's why this showdown between these two superstars would be such a special one.

Of all the matchups on this list this one is one of the more realistic possibilities.  The Heat and Lakers meeting up in an NBA Finals in the next year or two isn't too farfetched, and it would also give fans the LeBron vs. Kobe storyline that's included on this list.

Wade vs. Kobe.  Two of the greatest shooting guards of all time.  Can't get much more classic than that.

Who Would Win?  Dwyane Wade

Deron Williams vs. Chris Paul

Two of the premiere players and points guards in the league both battling it out for their first NBA title.

That's exactly what we have this year with LeBron James and Kevin Durant, and that's why a finals matchup between Deron Williams and Chris Paul would be such a special one.

With the future of Williams in Brooklyn up in the air, this matchup might not be able to happen if Williams moves to the Western Conference.

But if Williams keeps his talents on the East coast, this potential finals matchup would certainly be one of the best.

Who Would Win?  Chris Paul