LeBron James and Kobe Bryant: More to Gain Or More to Lose?

For just a minute, let's all assume that the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat meet in the 2011 NBA Finals. I am not discounting Dallas, Denver, Oklahoma City, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, or any other NBA team. I am just saying let's all imagine that all plays out like the media has led us to believe and these two teams face each other on the largest basketball stage on earth next season. Which player has more to gain? Or, more to lose from a potential finals victory or failure?

In the post-Shaq era, Kobe Bryant struggled for many years. In some instances, he demanded that the Lakers either build a stronger team around him, or let him be on his way. However, after putting in several years of hard work without any significant payoff, he was rewarded with a dominant second option in Pau Gasol, and everything seemingly fit into place. In his first finals appearance since Shaq in 2008, Kobe and Co. were out-muscled, outplayed, and out-coached by a very hungry Boston team. They were essentially swept in 6 games and suffered a brutal 39 point loss in a deciding game. However, Kobe and the Lakers came back strong and not only beat a strong Denver Nuggets team in the Western Conference Finals, but beat the Eastern Conference Champs in 5 games for NBA glory. The following year, many reporters and major sports media outlets were quick to discount Kobe and the Lakers, suggesting that he was too old, too injured, and that the Lakers simply lacked the drive to win another championship. The Lakers were quick to answer once the postseason began and beat a tough Oklahoma City team in the first round, swept the Utah Jazz, and beat the Phoenix Suns in 6. The ultimate test however were the Boston Celtics, who the Lakers, and Kobe, beat in 7 games to claim revenge against a dreadful foe to claim back to back championships. Kobe not only got the monkey off of his back following the O'Neil debacle, but buried it in claiming revenge against the Celtics. Kobe has now won 5 rings, back to back championships, and has two finals MVP awards to sweeten the deal. He has cemented his legacy in the NBA and anything further would simply be the "cherry on top". A Lakers three-peat is strongly expected in the city of Los Angeles, where I reside, especially since the Lakers seem to have gotten stronger in the off-season and have acquired the services of a Mr. Phil Jackson.

LeBron James's individual statistics are outstanding. He is a physical specimen to behold and a ruthless scorer and defender. He is likely the most physically gifted athlete in the modern era. However, although he "oohs" and "ahhhs" many fans and NBA personnel alike, he has had a horrible career in the postseason. His first and only finals appearance against the San Antonio Spurs ended in a sweep, even though Tim Duncan has been quoted in stating to LeBron after the series was over that he believed LeBron was the future. For the past two years, the expectations have been high for LeBron. He and his teammates have secured the best overall record for two years straight, however, have been quickly dismissed in the second round of the eastern conference playoffs. Some believe that LeBron "gave up" against the Celtics this past season, and although I am not a LeBron fan, I disagree. LeBron has done everything physically possible to add some hardware to his throne, but he has failed, repeatedly, despite the fact that the Cavaliers organization has made every effort possible to secure a strong supporting cast around LeBron, especially this past season. This failure ultimately led him to join Wade and Bosh, instead of trying to beat them, as certain basketball hall of famers reportedly would not have done.

If Kobe Bryant wins his third consecutive championship next season, the road to the three-peat will be of epic proportions. He will have bounced back from getting absolutely destroyed by the Boston Celtics in the Finals one year, to winning it in 5 games the following - NBA statistics alone do not favor a team losing in the Finals and returing the next. He will have gotten revenge against the very team that manhandeled him and his team two years earlier in the Boston Celtics. And above all, if this plays out - he will have beat a team of 3 superstars uniting together to build a dynasty, and essentially beating the Lakers. I don't think there is any doubt in anyones mind that the Heat were assembled to beat the likes of the Celtics and Lakers. If however, Kobe and Co. beat the Heat in the finals, it will be suggesting that all three superstars teamed up to beat them and it still wasn't enough. Kobe will have had possibly one of the most historic three-peats in NBA history. If they lose, although it will be painful for many, an argument could be made that "so what, it took all three of them to team up together to beat the Lakers".

If LeBron James and the Miami heat win then it will show everyone that you can in fact form an almost entirely new team and win an NBA championship the very same season. Furthermore, it will show that superstars can put aside their egos and unite for one common goal, even when they are young. LeBron will finally get his ring, and the Heat will look to build on a storybook dynasty. However, if they win, does LeBron really get that much credit? I mean, it is after all Dwayne Wade's team, and always will be. I would expect Wade to also grab the Finals MVP, what does that say about LeBron's legacy? Will he win a few here, then leave and try to grab a few more as the leader? Although an NBA champion, many people will think that LeBron couldn't do it alone, or as the primary scoring option, and only after joining the likes of Wade and Bosh was he able to. If he really is the so-called "King", then he should've been able to do it like Jordan did it, like Magic and Kobe did (and yes, I know Magic had Kareem and Kobe had Shaq), but you can't really argue against this position.

But what if, LeBron James... loses.

It will be an epic failure. Although many will quickly point out that "the three kings" are still young and will inevitably win, although I agree, the permanent stain will still be there. Even after LeBron joins the likes of Wade and Bosh, two of the most dominant players in the East if not in the NBA, they still lose to the Lakers. LeBron will endure harsher criticism than he did for his "decision" and the Lakers, and Kobe, will indulge in eternal NBA greatness for a three-peat consisting of such epic victories. Whether or not my own perspective confirms or denies this argument is irrelevant, I am simply making an argument for how things will likely play out.

At the end of the day, LeBron James has more to lose, Kobe Bryant has more to gain.