8 NBA players who will remind you of Kobe Bryant this season

3. LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)

On the court, LeBron and Kobe weren’t very alike at all. Different positions, different body types, different skills, different styles, different demeanor.

That’s part of what fueled the raging feud between their passionate fan bases. Even if you weren’t an avowed fanatic of one or the other, every basketball fan had at least a slight bias. Whichever side you took in the Kobe-LeBron debate was likely based on what kind of player or personality you preferred: scorer vs. passer, shooter vs. driver, fiery vs. fun, etc.

And odds are you’d never be convinced one polar opposite was better than the other based on those beliefs.

As Kobe marched toward retirement and LeBron later joined the Lakers, they grew closer as friends. Kobe was more public about his respect and admiration for LeBron’s game, while LeBron spoke more often about how he looked up to Kobe.

That didn’t stop the Kobe Bryant and LeBron James loyalists from waging war against each other, a fight that didn’t slow down until it was suddenly tempered by Kobe’s tragic death.

Despite their differences as players, you cannot watch LeBron play and not think about Kobe. They’re too closely linked in the annals of history and pop culture.

They were the two biggest superstars of the post-Jordan era. One dominated the East, while the other was the best in the West. Their careers overlapped for 13 years, from 2003-16, covering both Kobe’s prime and LeBron’s peak. They never met in a playoff series, but were always considered rivals.

When LeBron joined the Lakers, he and Kobe became allies.

What Kobe and LeBron shared is a maniacal work ethic, the ability to lead, resumes marked by championship success, a dedication to the craft of perfecting the game of basketball, while at the same time building entrepreneurial empires off the court.

While Kobe Bryant was cast as the next Jordan and LeBron was viewed as the next Magic Johnson, their games did match in some areas.

Their 3-point shooting numbers, from attempts and makes to percentages, are almost identical. LeBron’s offensive move set has always been underrated, while Kobe’s passing ability was always underrated. Extremely high basketball IQ was another shared trait, and while they didn’t always make the big shot, they’re proven clutch performers.

Now, the death of Kobe becomes part of LeBron’s legacy.

This season and perhaps the rest of LeBron’s time with the Lakers will have a “Do it for Kobe” cloud looming overhead.

It can be a motivator, or a source of enormous pressure. Winning a championship in L.A. is now as important for the memory of Kobe as it is for the career of LeBron.