After winning his fourth NBA championship in 2009, Kobe Bryant was considered the best player in the NBA during the 2009-10 season, but a new generation of players was on his heels.
LeBron James was the leader of this new crop of stars, which included Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, both of whom played for the Oklahoma City Thunder at the time.
On Dec. 22, the Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Thunder, and it was an opportunity for Bryant and Durant to battle head-to-head.
The 21-year-old Durant, who became the league’s youngest scoring champion that year, scored 30 points on 11-of-19 shooting. But Bryant bettered him with 40 points on 14-of-26 from the field, to go along with eight rebounds, six assists and two steals.
The Thunder recovered from this loss and was hot down the stretch to clinch a playoff spot. Once in the postseason, they met the Lakers again and gave them fits before bowing out in six games.
Bryant and crew made it clear, both in their December matchup and in the playoffs, that they were still the top dogs.
