The Los Angeles Lakers were defending back-to-back NBA champs in 2010, and Kobe Bryant felt confident about guiding his squad to a three-peat the following season.
As the summer of 2010 became engulfed by rumors surrounding LeBron James and his free agency decision, Kobe let King James know via text that he would be standing in his path towards the Larry O’Brien trophy. (The Black Mamba’s bold prediction, of course, never came true.) Per Bleacher Report:
With a brutal seven-game victory over the Celtics in the bank for Bryant, the 2010 offseason is dominated by LeBron James’ decision to leave Cleveland for Miami.
What matters to Bryant is Phil Jackson agreeing to return to coach the Lakers again in pursuit of a third consecutive NBA title. Bryant sends James a text message. It goes like this:
“Go ahead and get another MVP, if you want. And find the city you want to live in. But we’re going to win the championship. Don’t worry about it.”