Stephen Curry's Postgame Exchange with Kevin Durant After Game 7 Revealed

Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors have an NBA Finals clash against the Cleveland Cavaliers to worry about, but the two-time MVP first needed a moment to embrace a formidable foe after a grueling Western Conference Finals. 

After Golden State won Monday’s Game 7, Curry reportedly told the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant, per Marcus Thompson of the San Jose Mercury News: "This is what it’s all about. This is what we play for. Those battles, those moments people will remember for a long time."

The NBA shared the exchange between the winners of the last three MVP awards:

Curry led his team with 36 points in Game 7, while Durant finished with 27 points and averaged 30 per night during the series. The two stars and teams traded blows throughout the Western Conference Finals until the Warriors emerged with the series victory after falling behind 3-1.

Golden State used its sharpshooting and outscored the Thunder 114-30 from three-point range in the last three games, per FoxSports.com's Nunzio Ingrassia.

Golden State's attention now turns to another battle with a former MVP in LeBron James.

The Warriors beat the Cavaliers in six games in last year’s NBA Finals, but Kevin Love missed the series because of a shoulder injury, and Kyrie Irving played only Game 1 thanks to a knee injury.

Golden State won the championship, but beating a full-strength Cleveland team that includes James would earn Curry and Co. even more respect than last year’s win did.

Thompson said: "Taking down James a second time should officially complete the transfer of power, a transaction that still hasn’t been made in the minds of many current and former players. Because there is no disputing LeBron belongs on the short list of all-time greats."

Curry wasn't ready to look at the symbolic meaning of another title in that light, per Thompson: "I appreciate the platform I have and what I get to do every single day. I don’t play to pass up somebody else’s shine or star or take whatever from them. That’s not what I care about."

The guard didn’t only take a humble approach when deflecting the legacy comparisons between himself and James. He also seemed in awe of the King when reflecting on his overall career, per Thompson: "He's been to the Finals six times. That's crazy. You appreciate that greatness right there. I won't be thinking about that on the court, but afterwards, you can appreciate the star power he brings and the high level of basketball it is."

If there is one knock on James, it's that he is a mere 2-4 in those six Finals appearances. One of those losses came against Curry last year, and the Cavaliers leader will be motivated to gain revenge on the Warriors and the current NBA MVP.

If Curry can hold off James once again, it will only add to his legacy and increase the respect factor Thompson talked about. Curry already drilled an NBA-record 402 three-pointers in the regular season (surpassing his own record of 286 by an absurd 116 threes) and led his team to 73 wins, one better than the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.

The Finals are set to begin Thursday night in Oakland, California.