Kevin Durant 'So Grateful' to Spend NBA Career Playing Against LeBron James, Steph Curry
As he gears up for another playoff run, Houston Rockets star forward Kevin Durant reflected on his generation of rivals and how they've all found ways to succeed as they got older.
While speaking to The Athletic's Nick Friedell, Durant explained why he appreciates his era so much after going up against the likes of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry.
"I'm just so grateful that I graced the league with these guys at the same time," Durant told Friedell. "Because we've competed so hard against one another for so long, and then when you get older you start appreciating how hard it is to get up every day. You got aches and bruises sometimes, you don't even know where they come from."
Durant is in his 18th season in the NBA, and he will add another chapter to his rivalry with James when the Rockets and Lakers face each other in the first round of the playoffs. Curry is hoping to help the Warriors earn a postseason spot through the play-in tournament.
At 37 years old, Durant knows that nothing is guaranteed in the NBA, so it can be easy to lose motivation as the years go by. However, he went on to add that he's always been inspired by James and Curry, as well as former teammates James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
"You see guys get up with that much energy every day, you get inspired and want to do the same thing," Durant said. "LeBron has been pushing me since he turned 37, 38. And he's setting a new standard for older guys in the league. And so with Steph, he's (38), I feel like he got quicker and faster. James (Harden), after he left Brooklyn he turned it up a notch when he got to the Clippers. Russ, still look good coming off the bench. So seeing these dudes makes me want to go to the gym and work on my game and keep going."
Durant will begin his pursuit of a third career NBA championship when the Rockets and Lakers meet in Game 1 of their first-round series on Saturday night.
