LeBron Hypes Kevin Durant After Lakers' Win, 'S--t… He's Never Not Been Great at Basketball'
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant have battled one another for nearly two decades, and by James' estimation, not much has changed.
After the Lakers' 100-92 win over the Rockets on Monday night, James was asked which version of Durant he felt was the toughest to defend over the years, and the 41-year-old refused to pick just one, largely because of Durant's consistency as one of the greatest scorers the NBA has ever seen.
"S--t, every version. He continues to get better and better and better," James told reporters. "Obviously, him in Golden State was super dynamic because you just couldn't put multiple bodies in front of him because of the threat of Klay [Thompson] and Steph [Curry] at all times... Also, his time in Brooklyn, too... Anytime you can't put multiple bodies in front of a great like that, that has that ability to score the ball, is very, very challenging. Also, we had our battles in the Finals, too. Even when he was young... He's never not been great at basketball. So, every version."
The Lakers held Durant to 18 points and seven turnovers in Monday's win, which extended their win streak to six straight games. James also produced 18 points, while star guard Luka Doncic dropped a game-high 36 points to spearhead the victory for Los Angeles.
James and Durant will continue to battle it out while vying for supremacy in the competitive Western Conference this year. The Lakers (43-25) and Rockets (41-26) will have a rematch on Wednesday, adding another entry to their storied rivalry.
