Kobe Bryant. Tim Duncan.
They aren’t just future Hall of Famers, they’re two of the top 15 basketball players of all time. Friday night, they take the court against one another for the final time.
Consider this: In the 19 years in which Duncan and Bryant have both been in the league, the San Antonio Spurs or Los Angeles Lakers have won 10 NBA championships. Pardon the obvious math, but that’s more than half. To call that type of dominance from two players “unbelievable” (with respect to Bill Russell and the 1950s and 60s Boston Celtics) is an understatement.
According to Basketball Reference, Duncan holds the regular-season edge, 30 wins to 21, head-to-head with Bryant. They’ve battled another 30 times in the postseason, though, where Bryant holds the edge 18-12.
Enjoy whatever we get from two fading giants Friday. We won’t see anything like these two again.
Here’s how to watch Lakers-Spurs:
When: Friday, Feb. 19, 10:30 p.m. ET
Watch: NBA League Pass
Thumbnail photo via Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports Images
