In the early 2010s, the two best players in the league were none other than Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. The two men were leagues above the rest.

Kobe was a dominant scorer and elite defender. Whereas LeBron’s game was very much that of an all-rounder, as he excelled in various areas.

If you had to pick between the two, it would be a tough choice to make. But, for Hall of Famer Larry Bird, the decision was simple.

Larry Bird chose to play with Kobe Bryant over LeBron James

When it comes to expert opinions about basketball, there are few you can turn to. One of them is Larry Bird, the Celtics legend who lives and breathes ball, winning every major trophy possible and cementing his place in the Hall of Fame.

So, in 2012 when Larry Legend was asked to pick between LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, he knew exactly what he was going. Bird made it clear. If he wanted to have fun he’d pick The King, and if he wanted to win, he’d pick the Black Mamba.

An interesting choice from Larry, but at the time, it was understandable. After all, at that point, Kobe had five rings, and LeBron had none.

Kobe won his fifth championship against Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics

Larry Bird was and is a big fan of Kobe Bryant. However, his Boston Celtics will always come first. He spent 13 seasons with the team and won it all. Which is why it must have hurt seeing the Black Mamba win his fifth ring against the Celtics in 2010.

It certainly was an iconic moment. Especially for the Black Mamba, as he established his legacy as one of the greatest to ever play.