I can’t believe I’m writing about this. But I think I need to. To be finally at peace. For so long I’ve been fighting and arguing that Kobe Bryant has been better than LeBron James. However, I can’t lie to myself anymore. After what James did in the playoffs this year, I will whole-heartedly admit that LeBron James is better than Kobe, I think I’m sick.

It seemed like the Kobe-LeBron rivalry was something that they both knew about, but always pretended there really wasn’t one. They would always act buddy-buddy when they saw each other. Always laughing and talking it up after a game. Their smiles seemed real. And if you think that it was real then you’re crazy. It was faker than a teenage-girl friendship. They both didn’t like each other. They probably still don’t. No one competing to be the best likes the person they’re going up against. That’s just a fact. And don’t give me the, “Well on the court they hated each other, but off the court they were friends” line. That’s garbage.

Now, some will say that LeBron has always been better than Kobe even before the 2016 NBA Playoffs. Mostly Cavs fans–yes I know. But what LeBron did in the past month–Kobe could have never done. I apologize Lakers fans. It’s sad but extremely true. James led all players in the Finals in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals. Excuse me? That’s absurd. He’s the first to ever do so in a playoff series (Cavs fans thinking, “Where’s MJ on that list”.)

I could rattle off more statistics that will prove why LeBron is better, but we all watched the Finals. We know what happened. And quite frankly, I don’t want to get more nauseous than I am right now.

I remember always arguing that Kobe has more rings than LeBron. So obviously Kobe was better. DUH! It’s a childish argument. It also happened to be my only one. It’s like saying Eli Manning is better than Aaron Rodgers. The only people that actually believe that are Giants fans. It’s the same situation here. The only people who think Kobe is better than LeBron are Lakers fans. And I think that’s the cool part about sports. How you can have so much passion for a team that you’d defend the players like they were your family.

And for so long I did that for Kobe. Day after day. Argument after argument. But I can’t anymore. It’s not because I don’t want to. I just don’t have the numbers to back it up. People lie, numbers don’t.

It got to the point where I started betting on LeBron because I rather lose money than see him do well. And if he did well, then at least my wallet was happy. I think being a LeBron-hater was just a product of the love I have for Kobe. I rooted so hard against LeBron. I didn’t want anyone getting on Kobe’s level.

It sucked to write this. In fact, after I’m done writing this I’ll try to convince myself that Kobe is still better than LeBron. “Kobe won a dunk contest and LeBron didn’t.” Ha!

Unless the NBA legalizes the use of steroids then we probably won’t see another player like LeBron ever again. And we probably won’t see another player do so much for a city like he did. You kept your promise and I have to respect that. Congrats, King.