Home Basketball LeBron James Reflects on Limited Matchups Left with Kevin Durant in Their Careers

LeBron James Reflects on Limited Matchups Left with Kevin Durant in Their Careers

Basketball — 10/28/2023

Knowing that he and Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns may not have many more opportunities to go head-to-head, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James savored Thursday night’s clash.

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 26: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns speak before the game on October 26, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Tyler Ross/NBAE via Getty Images)

James told reporters after the Heat’s 100-95 victory against the Suns, “We don’t have many matchups left,” referring to the number of games in which the two stars will play together. How many are still available is a mystery. When you’re on the field with a legend like him, you can’t afford to take anything for granted.

As their teams met for the first time in four seasons on Thursday, it marked the first time LeBron and KD had played against one other since Christmas Day, 2018.

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While James and Durant haven’t faced off much in recent years, they’ll always be associated as two of the greatest players of their generation and in NBA history.

LeBron James and Kevin Durant have met three times in the NBA Finals, with James winning NBA Finals MVP the first time as he led the Miami Heat to victory over Durant’s Oklahoma City Thunder, and Durant winning NBA Finals MVP twice as he led the Golden State Warriors to victories over James’ Cleveland Cavaliers.

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James, who turns 39 in December, is the NBA’s oldest active player, and how much longer he will be willing and able to play is anyone’s guess.

With an average of 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game last season, and 21 points, nine assists, and eight boards in Thursday’s win, the four-time NBA champion, NBA MVP, and NBA Finals MVP is still playing at an elite level.

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Durant is much younger at 35, but injuries have hampered him in recent years to the point where he hasn’t played in 60 games in a season since 2018-2019.

The two-time NBA champion, NBA Finals MVP, scoring champion four times, and NBA MVP once is still a formidable opponent when in top form.

On Thursday, he put it on display by scoring a game-high 39 points despite the absence of Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, two of the Suns’ important players.

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On November 10, then again on January 11 and again on February 25, plus a potential playoff meeting between L.A. and Phoenix, James and Durant will have four more opportunities to face each other.