The NBA is full of “what if” moments that could’ve completely changed the league’s history. What if Michael Jordan never retired for the first time? What if LeBron James stayed in Miami? And for Lakers fans, one of the biggest “what ifs” is, what if the San Antonio Spurs hadn’t been such a powerhouse in the 2000s? For Kobe Bryant, it was a question that hit close to home. Bryant once suggested that if it weren’t for the Spurs—and specifically Tony Parker—he and the Lakers could’ve easily racked up 10 championships.

Tony Parker himself recently spoke about this on Winning Minds with Oscar Bruel. When Bruel brought up Kobe’s claim, he asked Parker to share his thoughts on Bryant’s greatness. Bruel quoted Kobe, recalling how he said in Parker’s documentary that the Spurs had cost him rings. Parker, without hesitation, called Kobe “one of the best,” especially when it came to the mental side of the game. “He was definitely one of the best up there, you know, with Michael Jordan,” Parker remarked.

Parker went on, diving into what truly set Kobe apart. He acknowledged that while Kobe was the best player he’d faced; it was Kobe’s mentality that was unmatched. “His mentality is very, very similar to Michael’s,” Parker explained, “but it’s not for everybody.”

He talked about how Bryant would push and challenge his teammates, even when they didn’t want it—a quality not every player could handle, but one that set him apart in the league. Throughout the early 2000s, the Spurs and Lakers defined the Western Conference, clashing repeatedly in the playoffs with championship hopes on the line. Both teams ended up capturing eight titles apiece, with the Lakers dominating in the early and late 2000s and the Spurs making their mark in the middle.

Kobe Bryant opened up on the rivalry

When Parker released Tony Parker: The Final Shot in 2021, Kobe appeared in the documentary, making his feelings clear. “I’m Kobe Bryant, and I played against Tony for years. Years and years and years. He’s responsible for me not winning more championships.” It was a humble, almost nostalgic acknowledgment from Bryant, revealing just how much he respected his old rival.

Back in 2020, Kobe Bryant sat down with All The Smoke and again reflected on the fierce rivalry between the Lakers and Spurs. He didn’t hold back on his thoughts. “San Antonio was tough. They were tough, and when the playoffs came around, it wasn’t like Shaq and I weren’t on the same page. We just got beat,” Kobe said, giving credit to the formidable Spurs lineup. But he left fans with a tantalizing “what if”: “The bigger question should be, ‘How many would we have won if the Spurs weren’t the Spurs?’ We would have run the table for a decade.”

Moreover, Kobe didn’t just stop at the rivalry itself. He praised the Spurs’ “perfect storm” of talent and coaching, acknowledging how well-oiled they were as a team. “The talent, the coaching, everything in San Antonio was kind of a perfect storm,” he said. And indeed, that rivalry gave fans some of the most unforgettable moments of the 2000s.

From 1999 to 2004, the two teams faced off 5 times, with the Lakers winning thrice and the Spurs on 2 occasions. Interestingly, the winner of these matchups went on to win the title 4 times out of 5. The two teams met again in 2008, with the Lakers emerging victorious only to lose in the Finals to the Celtics. They last matched up in 2013, when the Spurs swept the Lakers en route to another championship.

There were also unforgettable highlights, like Derek Fisher’s legendary “.4” shot and Phil Jackson’s verbal jabs aimed at the Spurs, making the tension palpable every time these teams met. This intensity was something fans rarely saw again, even with later rivalries, like LeBron James facing off against the Warriors in the Finals.

Kobe recalls his on-court tricks to deal with Tony Parker

It’s no surprise that Kobe Bryant and Tony Parker had countless battles on the court. As Western Conference rivals, their playoff clashes became a regular feature of their careers, meeting in six intense series over the years. In the end, Kobe’s Lakers held a 4-2 edge over Parker’s Spurs, but each matchup brought a fierce level of competition that fans won’t soon forget.

And while Kobe always had a deep respect for Parker, he wasn’t afraid to employ some crafty tactics to throw him off his game. In Tony Parker: The Final Shot, Kobe shared a fascinating insight into how he’d pressure Parker.

“I remember games where Tony had a really, really short leash,” Kobe said, explaining how he’d trap Parker and force mistakes, knowing Coach Popovich would pull him out for any slip-ups. But Kobe didn’t just see this as a tactic—he saw it as a way that helped Parker develop. “I think that kind of pressure and environment helped Tony play in those precious situations.” Their rivalry, as intense as it was, ultimately pushed them both to become better players.