Back when “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” topped the Billboard charts, “Saw IV” dominated cinemas, and the inaugural iPhone had just hit the market, a significant basketball moment was unfolding. It was in this era that Kevin Durant and LeBron James first crossed paths on the professional hardwood.
Their initial encounter, a preseason match in October 2007, was largely unremarkable. James, contributing 14 points, saw limited action in the second half, while rookie Durant, coming off the bench, scored 15 points, sealing a five-point victory for the Seattle SuperSonics with a crucial fourth-quarter three-pointer.
Reflecting on that game in 2023, James famously remarked, “I don`t even remember it. And I remember a lot.”
Durant and James are undisputed veterans of the league, often labeled as “OGs” or “graybeards.” Spanning three decades in the NBA, their careers have unfolded in parallel, marked by numerous shared milestones.
Their bond extends beyond competitive play; they trained together during late summers in James` hometown of Akron, Ohio. Stunned students at James` high school would often witness them running up a formidable nearby hill.
During the 2011 NBA lockout, they even engaged in a flag football game, streamed online for free, where James` team secured victory thanks to his late pick-six.
At the 2022 All-Star Game, as team captains, they delivered a memorable moment by comically sidestepping James Harden in the draft, following Harden`s request to be traded from Durant`s Brooklyn Nets.
In Paris last summer, they once again served as cornerstones for Team USA, securing their second Olympic gold together, twelve years after their triumph in London.
Their rivalry famously escalated across three NBA Finals. James led the Miami Heat to victory over Durant`s Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012, while Durant, with the Golden State Warriors, bested James` Cleveland Cavaliers in both 2017 and 2018.
During the recent Olympics, James remarked candidly, “We both think we should have more rings, but don`t because of each other.”
A Rivalry Refreshed
After 18 illustrious seasons, 43 head-to-head games, and 14 Finals showdowns (along with an NBA Cup quarterfinal), James and Durant continue to evolve their legendary rivalry. This upcoming season is poised to highlight their ongoing saga, as Durant prepares to face James in his sixth different team jersey, now as a member of the Houston Rockets. This move follows yet another monumental trade involving one of these two undeniable future Hall of Famers.
James, for his part, will square off against Durant with a fourth different superstar teammate, entering his inaugural full season playing alongside Luka Doncic, adding to a list that includes Dwyane Wade, Kyrie Irving, and Anthony Davis. (Durant has not yet competed against a Lakers team featuring both James and Doncic).
“LeBron always emphasizes keeping the main thing, the main thing,” Durant noted during the recent Olympics. He elaborated on James` dedication: “To still wake up and hit the gym at 6 AM, committed to taking 1,000 shots daily. To maintain that profound love for the game amidst all the external pressures and monumental expectations. To always prioritize that intrinsic joy and passion for basketball is truly admirable. It’s what drives me forward – that pure love for the game. Witnessing his preparation as a teammate brings a genuine smile to my face.”
Both the Lakers and Rockets are anticipated to contend for prime playoff spots this season, with James and Durant, even after all these years, still serving as their primary attractions. Both players are scheduled for opening night appearances, and they are set to clash again on Christmas Day, marking their fifth such encounter on the NBA`s premier regular-season event.
James himself articulated his enduring motivation last season: “If you don`t feel that burning sensation in your stomach or those nerves when you`re competing against the best, then I suppose at that point, you realize it`s over. If I`m not motivated to play against talents like KD, Steph [Curry], or the other elite players in the league, then I`ve lost the essence of what this game means to me.”
Yet, as they embark on the 2025-26 season—James` 23rd and Durant`s 19th—their paths converge in two additional, significant ways.
Throughout their careers, both players have frequently spearheaded “superteams,” from James` stints in Cleveland and Miami to Durant`s time with Golden State, Brooklyn, and his attempted superteam in Phoenix. However, for the first time, they now find themselves looking up at the same dominant force – a team that is arguably superior to their own.
Following their championship victory in June and the subsequent maximum contract extensions for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren in July, the Oklahoma City Thunder have solidified their claim as that formidable presence.
Despite James` 10 Finals appearances and Durant`s four, totaling 14 between them, extending those numbers this season will likely demand not only overcoming each other in the playoffs but also dethroning the reigning champions.
The Thunder, brimming with young talent and considerable depth, are constructed in a manner that fundamentally challenges the “superteam” era ushered in by James and Durant, an era defined by high-profile free agent signings and blockbuster trades designed to assemble championship rosters in mere days.
When Durant and James first met on the court in 2007, Gilgeous-Alexander was a mere nine years old, Williams was six, and Holmgren just five.
“We`ve reached a point where players who were children when we entered the league, players we inspired, are now our opponents,” Durant reflected last year.
Uncertain Futures Amidst Shifting Sands
Another pivotal aspect of this season is the unprecedented uncertainty both James and Durant face regarding their futures beyond the 2025-26 season. This is largely due to the evolving landscape of team construction, which has compelled their respective franchises to strategize beyond their veteran stars.
James and the Lakers did not pursue a new contract this summer. With James exercising his player option, he is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026, a career first where he holds no contract or option for the subsequent season.
Predictably, the Lakers have shifted their foundational strategy, moving from building around the 40-year-old James to centering their future on the 26-year-old Luka Doncic, who recently inked a significant three-year extension.
When Durant provided the Suns with a list of preferred trade destinations that included the Rockets, it was understood that he would be amenable to extending his contract as part of any deal. However, no contract extension was finalized during the June trade, leaving Durant, much like James, on track to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
While the Rockets and Durant have reportedly engaged in contract discussions, and there`s optimism for an agreement, a deal has not yet been reached.
Similar to James, Durant is no longer seen as the primary cornerstone of his franchise, as Houston focuses its long-term strategy on a youth movement, building around players acquired through the draft.
The Rockets envision Durant as the crucial final piece, a seasoned veteran capable of elevating them to genuine contender status. Concurrently, they are meticulously managing their young core, including Jabari Smith Jr. and Fred VanVleet, both recipients of substantial contracts this summer, and Alperen Sengun, a 2025 All-Star who secured a major deal in the summer of 2024. Additionally, young talents like Amen Thompson and Tari Eason are approaching eligibility for new contracts in the coming year.
Ultimately, Durant may have to consider a contract below the maximum, a threshold he has consistently met since 2011, if he intends to remain with the Rockets.
Just as James` role as the undisputed face of his franchise is gradually transitioning, these developments are not intended as slights to these former MVPs. Instead, both teams are navigating the contemporary realities of roster construction for competitive teams within the current salary cap era.
Nevertheless, before prematurely penning their career retrospectives, it`s worth noting James earned Second Team All-NBA honors last season, while Durant averaged 26.6 points and achieved 50% or better shooting for the 13th straight season.
Assuming they can maintain their health, James and Durant are poised to significantly influence the unfolding of this season. Despite their advanced age for NBA players, they show no signs of slowing down.
After a game against the Suns last winter, James poignantly stated, “I`ve engaged in countless battles with KD over the years, and we don`t have many matchups remaining. You never want to take those for granted.”
