NBA - LeBron and Dirk ready to battle it out for a ring

MIAMI (NBA) - LeBron James and Dirk Nowitzki have accomplished great things in their illustrious careers, but neither has won an NBA Championship.

That will change for one of them over next two weeks as James' Miami Heat and Nowitzki's Dallas Mavericks meet in the NBA Finals.

For the Miami Heat, reaching this moment is the culmination of a season in which anything less would have been a failure.

The free agency signing of James, the re-signing of Dwyane Wade and the addition of Chris Bosh - these were not moves made by a team that was going to be content with anything less than a championship.

For the Mavericks, getting here was a harder road as they battled injuries, but their talent - and the determination of their veteran players - told in the end.

Nowitzki has played 13 long and grueling NBA seasons and a championship ring has always eluded the Germany international.

This might just be his last chance to get what he needs to cement his place as one of the game's greats.

For now, the 32-year-old prefers not to see it that way.

"I'm not worried about my legacy, with or without a ring," said Nowitzki.

"Right now we just have another chance and I'm going for it.

"In a couple of years we'll talk about my legacy, when my career is over. Right now I'm just focused on winning."

If Nowitzki has been waiting a long time for a ring, his team-mate Jason Kidd has been in line even longer.

It's why Nowitzki calls him a "fossil".

The 38-year-old will set a new record as the oldest guard to start in an NBA Finals this week, comfortably beating the record of Ron Harper who was 36 when he lined out for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000.

In his 17-year NBA career, Kidd has piled up assists, steals, three-pointers and triple-doubles at record rates, but has missed out on a championship.

He has, however, come close on a number of occasions.

"I thought we were going to go on a roll in Jersey and make it three or four in a row," Kidd said of his days with the New Jersey Nets, when they reached the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003, but ended on the losing end against the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs respectively.

"But, now we're here. And hopefully we can find a way to win a championship."

To do so they will have to find a way to beat James and the star-studded Heat.

As James himself noted, it should be an intriguing match-up.

"Defensively, we're the best team left, and they're the best team offensively," said the Team USA star.

It's hard not to wonder if the Heat have destiny on their side after putting together such a roster.

"Winning a championship is the only reason I'm here," James explained. "I don't waste opportunities. I don't waste years.

"For us, we feel like we need a win or it's a bust. Now we're in a position to bring it home."

When James made his controversial move from Cleveland to Miami last summer, it was easy to get lost in the hype of 'The Decision' or, conversely, the backlash against it.

The 26-year-old insisted the move was not about money but about winning.

He said the rings that eluded him with Cleveland would come, and come in droves.

But there's something he needs to do first.

"Before you can win many," he said, "you've got to start with one."

FIBA