Anticipation was high every time the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors met this season, but one thing never materialised, a single matchup between LeBron James and Stephen Curry.
A mix of injuries and rest decisions ultimately kept the two superstars from sharing the floor across all four meetings, something even James admitted caught both players off guard.
“We actually talked about it a little bit,” James said on Spectrum SportsNet after the Lakers’ 119–103 win. “We both didn’t even realize it until, I guess, today. I was hurt early on, and then in the last two games, he didn’t play. We never know. We don’t know what the future holds. We don’t know when we get the opportunity to play against each other or how many more times we get to play against each other. But it was always a pleasure and always an honor just to be in his presence, to be on the floor with him, and what we had in the past.”
James missed the opening night clash due to a sciatica issue, while Curry, who had just returned from a lengthy absence with a knee injury, was rested during the final matchup as part of a back-to-back schedule.
It marked a rare gap in one of the NBA’s most iconic modern rivalries, built through multiple NBA Finals battles during James’ time with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since joining Los Angeles, James and Curry have continued to cross paths regularly, whether in the regular season, Play-In Tournament, or postseason, making this year’s absence even more notable.
Both stars showed they still have plenty left. Curry dropped 29 points in his return game against Houston, while James continues to anchor the Lakers deep into his 23rd season, recently posting 26 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists in a win over Golden State.
Looking ahead, there is growing expectation that James could return for a 24th NBA season.
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