Kevin Durant and LeBron James are undeniably among the greatest players in the NBA. James debuted in the league in 2003, whereas, Durant joined five years later. Their on-court battle and off-court friendship have often made it to the headlines. Their presence together in the 2024 Paris Olympics is awaited by the fans. Recently, the two faced each other off in the In-Season tournament.
“We both have made our mark in the history of this game… it’s always an honor to share the floor with him.”
LBJ on KD 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/nFfpCAyqFR
— NBA (@NBA) November 11, 2023
In the postgame interview, James could not hold back from praising Durant. The Lakers star spoke about the time when the two played together in Team USA for the Olympics and off-season as well. James stated, “We both have made our mark in the history of this game. It’s always special and always an honor to share the court with him”. It is undeniable that the two of them are still ruling the league despite being in their late 30s.
LeBron James and Kevin Durant are set to play in the 2024 Paris Olympics
King James while praising Kevin Durant and calling him the greatest player, reminisced about the time when they played together in the 2012 Olympics. He said, “One of the greatest to play the game and we have had so many matches in our career. I play with him in the Olympics team as well”. They won the gold Olympic medal together and claimed victory by a margin of 32 points.
On October 2, Durant confirmed that he will be a part of the Team USA roaster for the 2024 Olympics to be held in Paris. He said, “I will play in the Olympics next year”. Even though James has not given a confirmation yet, he has spoken about his interest in playing on multiple occasions. It would be thrilling to see them together donning the Team USA jersey and giving their best performance.
LeBron James revealed that Kevin Durant could pass him on the NBA all-time scoring list
The recent praise by LeBron James for Kevin Durant is neither the first nor the last one. The two have throughout their illustrious careers uplifted each other. In an interview with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, James spoke about how he feels that Durant is the only player who could pass him on the NBA all-time scoring list.
LeBron James and Kevin Durant have played 13 games against each other in the playoffs. Their scoring in those games has been identical.
Head-to-Head in Playoffs
LeBron 424 points
Durant 424 points pic.twitter.com/EnrA0AxANZ— Playmaker Hoops (@HoopsPlaymaker) June 9, 2018
In his own words, “He does it (scoring) so effortlessly. His ability to shoot the three-ball, shoot the mid-range, get to the paint, and also shoot 85%, and 90% from the free-throw line. Those are key ingredients and most important is being available”. This was said by James in January 2023 when Durant was not playing due to injuries.
Furthermore, James also stated that when his name comes, he is reminded that there is a reason why he is given the names “Easy Money” or “Slim Reaper”. James has more often than not called Durant not only a top scorer but also the greatest player.