Kobe Bryant entered the NBA in 1996 as an explosive shooting guard out of Lower Merion High School. Tim Duncan joined the league the next year after averaging 16.5 points and 12.3 rebounds per game over four seasons at Wake Forest. Despite taking different paths to legendary status, these two future Hall of Famers would battle several times over the next two decades.
Spurs-Lakers might not jump to the top of the list when ranking NBA rivalries, but consider this — Bryant or Duncan captured the NBA title in 10 out of the last 17 seasons. That level of excellence created a mutual respect, and that respect was on full display as Bryant stepped on the floor in San Antonio for the final time.