NBA: Will the West come down to a battle between LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard?
By Todd Dudas
LeBron vs. Kawhi will decide the NBA’s West
For much of the last few months, the biggest narrative in Los Angeles involving NBA basketball has surrounded around the premise of whether LeBron James or Kawhi Leonard is the bigger, and better, superstar.
If you ask 20 different fans, the answer will probably be split in half – especially with the way Kawhi elevated the defending champion Toronto Raptors last season. In his own right, LeBron has been sensational this season, even at the ripe age of 35.
As the battle for Los Angeles continues in the NBA restart, you can’t help but wonder which supreme talent will emerge from the Western Conference.
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Earlier in the season, it looked like the LA Clippers, and Kawhi Leonard had the Los Angeles Lakers‘ number. Plus, LeBron was still rounding into form. Now, though, even despite a bit of a slow start in the bubble, you can make the case that it’s LeBron and the Lakers that have the upper hand.
On re-opening night, the Lakers beat the Clippers for the second-straight time. In what was a struggle all night for LeBron – he finished with 16 points on 6-19 shooting from the field – it was encouraging to see the Lakers beat the Clippers despite a lackluster night from The King.
Kawhi has picked up where he left off in the bubble, where he’s averaging 26 points, five rebounds, and four assists per game through two games.
There is plenty at stake for both players. Kawhi winning a second-straight championship with two different franchises would be historic. The same could be said about LeBron, winning a fourth championship (with his third team) would be equally as impressive. This might be LeBron’s last great chance at winning another championship before he retires.
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Despite the threat of the Houston Rockets or even the Denver Nuggets, it’ll be LeBron’s Los Angeles Lakers and Kawhi’s LA Clippers that will decide who emerges from the Western Conference. Depending on what you think about the Eastern Conference, the battle for LA could also determine which team hoists the 2020 NBA Championship.