National Basketball Association

Update: Kobe in lineup for final showdown with LeBron

Published Mar. 10, 2016 3:22 p.m. ET

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UPDATE: Kobe Bryant is playing tonight against LeBron James and Cleveland, in what should be the final matchup of the two legends. Follow it live here!

Kobe Bryant has squared off against LeBron James 21 times over the past 13 years. Tonight, Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers host the Cleveland Cavaliers for the final time, but, sadly, the retiring icon may not be healthy enough to play:

This would sort of be really terrible. There's almost no chance Bryant and James can supply a dramatic showdown, being that one guy is 37 years old and basically has only one arm. 

But it's still sad to think that All-Star Weekend is the last time we'll ever get to see them go at each other. 

Kobe and LeBron might be the two most recognizable players (outside Steph Curry's orbit) in the NBA, and even though one more showdown would be meaningless within the context of this season's standings, it'd still make for a fantastic viewing experience. 

For those scoring at home, if Bryant is unable to go tonight, James will end his career with a 15-6 career record against the Lakers whenever Kobe plays. In head-to-head meetings, LeBron's averaged more points, blocks, steals, assists, rebounds and free-throw attempts per game. His field goal percentage is exactly 5.0 percent higher, too. 

The last time Bryant won? March 4, 2012, scoring 33 points on 23 shots while LeBron only managed 25 points on 26 shots. 

Is one final tussle between these two legends too much to ask? Hopefully the answer is no.

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