Kobe Bryant and LeBron James were without a doubt the two biggest stars in the NBA during the late 2000s. Who would have thought that a decade later, King James would not only join the Los Angeles Lakers but also bring a title to Kobe's beloved franchise.

However, Bryant's former teammate, Metta World Peace, revealed that James almost inadvertently sabotaged one of the Mamba's own trophies. The former Defensive Player of the Year recently appeared on Shannon Sharpe's show Club Shay Shay where he admitted that King James was in his proverbial DMs back in 2009, right before he joined the Lakers.

Via Darryn Albert of Larry Brown Sports:

“LeBron James hit me up one time when he was with the Cavs,” said the former Lakers star. “I remember I was excited because LeBron hit me up. I’m a big fan. Even though he’s younger, I was a big fan. But before that, I didn’t want to play with Kobe, I didn’t want to play with LeBron., I didn’t want to play with T-Mac [Tracy McGrady]. I wanted to play against these guys.

“So when LeBron hit me up to come play for the team, I was like, ‘Um, I can’t come play,'” he went on. “You know, because many reasons. But I said, ‘I can’t come.’ Then I was trying to go to Detroit or Indiana. That’s where I wanted to go. That’s just in me. But when no teams wanted me, after that, I didn’t call back LeBron. So then the [Los Angeles] Lakers called, I said, ‘I gotta just go because I don’t know if I’m going to get a contract.’ But, it’s not in me to play with anyone.”

Timing is indeed everything. Back in the summer of 2009, the Lakers ended up losing their young defensive stud in Trevor Ariza. The player then known as Ron Artest opted to renege LeBron James' offer and come join Kobe Bryant in La La Land.

World Peace famously hit the dagger three-pointer off a Kobe Bryant assist in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, which ended up being LA's last field goal that sealed their title.

Had LeBron James been more convincing or maybe decided to call back after the initial rejection, maybe Metta World Peace would have been swayed to join him in Cleveland, taking away a key member of Kobe's championship roster.

Perhaps his skill set could have aided James to advance further in the playoffs with the Cavs, which would have potentially altered the course of NBA history. One phone call could have been the difference.