#19: 1998 – Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings
In the late ’90s, Lakers vs. Kings wasn’t yet the rivalry it would become, but you could see hints of it forming in this Christmas matchup. Young Kobe Bryant showed flashes of the leadership that would later define his career, while Sacramento played with a mix of creativity and fearlessness.
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The energy felt closer to a postseason meeting than a holiday showcase, and fans who revisit the tape can spot the early roots of the battles that would dominate the early 2000s.