Since LeBron James took his talents to South Beach and Kevin Durant proved himself as the NBAโs most dangerous offensive weapon, weโve wanted nothing more than the inevitable NBA Finals matchup pitting these two against each other.ย Now that itโs finally here, donโt expect this to be a one-time confrontation.ย In reality, this LeBron v. Durant championship showdownโa preview of more Finals matchups to come, no doubtโshould be the beginning of a storied NBA rivalry, one that could ultimately evoke memories of the Bird-Magic duels of the 80s.
Is there really any doubt these two players are the best in the league right now?ย Derrick Rose is coming off an ACL tear, Chris Paulโs knees have an unfortunately short shelf life and Dwight Howard is busy trying to date supermodels despite already committing to another year on the lease of his girlfriendโs apartment.ย Even as their superstar teammates let loose a roar from time to time, everyone knows Durant and LeBron are the leagueโs unquestioned alpha dogs.
Just ask San Antonio, who couldnโt handle Durant no matter who or how many they threw at him, supporting Gregg Popovichโs opinion that OKCโs offense was the toughest heโs faced in his tenure with the Spurs. With deadly shooting precision that rivals Dirk Nowitzkiโa skill that should only improve over timeโand finishing ability around the hoop that only LeBron can exceed, thereโs no better closer in the game today than KD. ย Have I mentioned heโs just 23 years old?
And yet, no player impacts every aspect of every game as profoundly as James, whose chase-down blocks and brilliant passes have somehow made us take his freakish scoring ability for granted.ย Say what you will about his fourth quarter performances, but itโs still a testament to LeBronโs brilliance that Miami has reached consecutive NBA Finals amid the Big Three circus.ย And despite nine years in the league, heโs still a 27-year-old whose physique couldnโt be more conducive to a lengthy career.
Not only are these megastars the leagueโs two best players, but their respective conferences are opening up just as Miami and OKC prepare to peak.ย The Westโs old guard of the Lakers, Spurs and Mavericks is crumbling, while Blake Griffin may need more time for polishing than Paul has left in his creaky knees.ย Meanwhile, Bostonโs Big Three has probably seen its final playoffs together, while Roseโs injury leaves Chicagoโs immediate future murky at best.ย Even with a healthy Rose, the Bulls couldnโt handle the Heat last year, and you can be sure the Pacers, Hawks and Knicks wonโt be able to in the future.
So unless Howard and Deron Williams team up in Brooklyn or find a way to unite in Dallas, the Heat and Thunder should rule their respective conferences for years to come.
But can they even hold a candle to Bird and Magic in the 80s?
From 1980-1989, Larryโs Celtics and Magicโs Lakers combined for 8 NBA Championships in 13 Finals appearances (three against each other), while the two took home six of seven MVP trophies from 1984-1990.
LeBron already has three of the last four MVPโs, while Durant has captured three consecutive scoring titles and will inevitably win a few MVPโs of his own.ย With their respective ages, taking home five of the next six or seven wouldnโt be out of the question.
As for those title runs, the 2012 Finals will mark the second and third combined appearances for Durantโs Thunder and Jamesโ Heat.ย Even if Miami breaks up its Big Three, the Heat might still play in three or four of the next five championship series.ย Likewise, Oklahoma Cityโs core of young talent and Durantโs brilliance could have them in the Finals for six or seven of the next 10 years, even after James Hardenโs inevitable departure.
Much more important than the numbers, however, will be how often these two match up on the court.ย The fact that they play the same position only sweetens the potential drama between them.ย LeBron showed his defensive prowess in the playoffs last season, smothering Rose late in games, but can he handle a player as lanky and smooth as Durant?ย Could KD guard James through key moments if Scott Brooks decides to let him?ย Will Durantโs closing brilliance actually force LeBron to become the fourth quarter scorer we all expect him to be? ย Can you imagine the thrill of the league’s most ferocious weapons trading buckets down the stretch of a Game 7?
The Bird-Magic rivalry was greatest because of those moments, when each star fed off the other like the two were playing a game of H-O-R-S-E without any limitations. ย Should we be lucky enough to see Durant and James play that same game,ย the NBA may very well have found its next storied rivalry.
