When basketball scholars look back at the career of LeBron James, they will see this generation’s greatness personified. The King has done it all in the NBA, from championships to MVPs, from big-time moments to endless highlight reels. And at 41 years old, he’s still doing it. But one thing James doesn’t have? A true all-time rival.
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James and the Lakers play Kevin Durant and the Rockets later on Monday evening, marking the 45th time the two future Hall of Famers will have faced one another in the league. That matchup spans two decades and includes three NBA Finals meetings. So, can Durant be called the rival that James is otherwise missing? Chris Bosh doesn’t think so.
CB4 appeared on Peacock’s pregame coverage of the Rockets and Lakers to discuss the matchup. When asked whether Durant was the Joker to LBJ’s Batman, the two-time NBA champion explained that the King has never really had a true foe, because his main rivals were always the goals he set for himself.
“I think for him it was always about his focus. Of course there were people along the way that would be in the way of his goal but I think when you’re that great or you’re that talented there is no individual you look at,” claimed Bosh.
The other panelist tried to make an argument for Kobe Bryant, but Chris wasn’t convinced due to one key reason.
“But they never played each other in the Finals. That was something that never happened,” answered the former Miami Heat star, making a good point. A true rivalry would culminate in the biggest series the league has to offer. The fact that we never saw the King and the Mamba face off in the Finals will forever remain a massive what-if.
Chris Bosh was asked if LeBron had a rival that he would always look at during their time together:
“I think for him it was always about his focus. Of course there were people along the way that would be in the way of his goal but I think when you’re that great or talented there… pic.twitter.com/jj79AHHuuE
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That said, Bosh’s main point was an interesting one. There have been numerous obstacles in LeBron’s path toward achieving the greatness he strived for. Steph Curry and the Warriors beat him three times in the Finals, yet no LeBron stans view The Chef as an archenemy to their hero.
The closest name would have to be Paul Pierce during the Truth’s stint with the Celtics. Why him? Because that’s who LeBron mentioned by name in a 2013 interview, well before Curry and Durant entered the conversation.
“I would say that I don’t really have an individual rivalry. I think the closest would be Paul Pierce,” James stated. “I would say Boston is a rival of mine because I’ve met them so many times in the postseason.”
That’s a nice notch on the belt for Pierce, who loves talking trash and delivering it even more. And while James may not have had an Isiah Thomas like MJ or a Larry Bird like Magic, he has still had his share of enemies. To be honest, his greatest rival may have been the constant attempts to deny what he has achieved. “Rule changes, softer defense, better doctors.” These are just a few of the claims LeBron haters throw around when comparing him to their GOAT.
But again, when scholars of the game reflect on its history, LeBron is now one of its biggest chapters. His longevity has proven how much he loves the game, finding every possible way to stay in it for as long as he can. And at 41, he is still pretty darn good too.
