Rip Hamilton and Kobe Bryant been battling each other since high school days in the Philadelphia area, and they'll be facing each other again on Christmas Day when Hamilton and the Bulls visit the Lakers.

"I enjoy it," Hamilton said after the Bulls' practice Friday afternoon. "It's fun because we've been knowing each other since we were 16, playing on the same [summer league] team. Getting an opportunity to play in high school and then in the Finals. And still get an opportunity to play against each other [is great]."

Hamilton got the best of Bryant when his Detroit Pistons won the NBA Championship in 2004. He knows that the future Hall of Famer is one of the toughest guys in the league to defend. The key in Hamilton's mind is to make Bryant work for everything he gets.

"Just make it tough [on] both ends," Hamilton said. "Just as hard as you got to guard him, you got to force him to guard you also. It's fun. It's an exciting matchup."