In October 2007, as `Crank That (Soulja Boy)` topped the music charts and the first iPhone made its debut, Kevin Durant and LeBron James faced off on the basketball court for the very first time. It was a preseason game that LeBron later described as forgettable, despite Durant, then a rookie, scoring 15 points and James contributing 14.
Durant and James are truly seasoned veterans of the NBA, having navigated three decades of the league. Their careers have consistently intertwined, marking significant milestones along the way.
Their shared history is rich with memorable moments: from summer training sessions in Akron and a flag football game during the 2011 lockout to a humorous incident at the 2022 All-Star Game where, as captains, they famously avoided drafting James Harden. They clinched two Olympic gold medals together for Team USA and clashed in three NBA Finals. As James once remarked, both believe they would have more championship rings if not for their rivalry with each other.
A New Chapter in an Enduring Rivalry
After 18 seasons, 43 head-to-head games, and 14 Finals matchups (plus an NBA Cup quarterfinal), James and Durant continue to revitalize their rivalry. The upcoming season is poised to be one of the league`s top storylines, as Durant will face James in his sixth different jersey, this time with the Houston Rockets, following another blockbuster transaction involving one of these future first-ballot Hall of Famers.
James will face Durant with a new superstar running mate for the fourth time (following Dwyane Wade, Kyrie Irving, and Anthony Davis), as he embarks on his first full season alongside Luka Doncic.
Durant openly admires LeBron, noting that he consistently emphasizes keeping the main thing the main thing:
“To still get up and go to the gym at 6 a.m. and want to put up 1,000 shots every day… That`s what keeps me going, that love of the game.”
The Lakers and Rockets are anticipated to contend for playoff positioning all season, with their star players set to clash on opening night and again on Christmas Day.
As James articulated:
“If you don`t have that burning feeling in your stomach or your nerves when you`re competing against the best… if you`re not getting up to play KD or Steph [Curry] or some of the great talents we have in the league, then I`ve lost my drive of what the game is about.”
Facing the Next Generation and Future Uncertainty
Beyond their head-to-head matchups, James and Durant face a new shared reality. For the first time, both find themselves looking up at a superior `superteam`—the Oklahoma City Thunder. After securing the championship in June and extending maximum contracts to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, the Thunder stand as a youthful, deep squad poised to disrupt the era that James and Durant helped initiate with their high-profile free agent moves and blockbuster trades aimed at forming championship cores. To add to their combined 14 Finals appearances, they will likely need to not only defeat each other but also dethrone the reigning champions.
When Durant and James first played against each other in 2007, Gilgeous-Alexander was merely 9 years old, Williams was 6, and Holmgren was 5. Durant aptly observed:
“We`re at the point where we`ve got guys that were kids when we were first in the league and we inspired them, and now we`re playing against them.”
Another common thread in their current situations is the uncertainty surrounding their futures beyond the 2025-26 season. LeBron and the Lakers did not reach an agreement on a new contract, and by opting out of his player option, James finds himself without a contract or option for the subsequent season for the first time in his career. The Lakers have naturally re-centered their future plans around 26-year-old Doncic, rather than 40-year-old James.
Similarly, when Durant requested a trade to the Rockets, a contract extension was implied, but the June deal proceeded without one, meaning he will also become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Despite ongoing discussions and confidence in reaching an agreement, Durant, much like James, is no longer viewed as the centerpiece. The Rockets are building their team around young players, seeing Durant as a veteran who can elevate them to true contender status, while managing the contracts of key players like Jabari Smith Jr., Fred VanVleet, Alperen Sengun, and emerging talents Amen Thompson and Tari Eason. Ultimately, Durant may need to accept less than a maximum contract, which he has been on since 2011, to remain in Houston.
Just as James is gradually transitioning from being the undisputed face of his franchise, these shifts are not intended as deliberate insults to the former MVPs. Both teams are simply navigating the modern realities of roster construction under new league rules. Nevertheless, before anyone begins contemplating career retrospectives, it`s worth noting that James was named to the All-NBA Second Team last season, and Durant averaged 26.6 points, achieving his 13th consecutive season with a shooting efficiency of 50% or better.
Provided they remain healthy, James and Durant will once again significantly influence the unfolding season. They show no signs of slowing down, even if their age might suggest otherwise. As James remarked after a game against the Suns last winter:
“I`ve had so many battles with KD over the years and we don`t have many matchups left. You don`t want to ever take it for granted.”