ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 07: Stephen Curry #30 and Lebron James #23 of Team LeBron react during the first half against Team Durant in the 70th NBA All-Star Game at State Farm Arena on March 07, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LeBron James and the Lakers look to face the Warriors on Wednesday, May 15. The winner will earn a first-round matchup with the Phoenix Suns while the loser will play either the ninth-seeded Grizzlies or the tenth-seeded Spurs.
“It’s always been level respect that’s even beyond the game of basketball,” James commented on what it means to him to compete with Warriors’ star Stephen Curry after defeating the Pelicans on May 16. “I mean, just look at what he’s done this year,” he added, “I don’t know anything else if you’re looking for an MVP. If Steph is not on Golden State’s team, what are we looking at?” James further commented on Curry, adding “We get caught up in the, OK, who has the best record, instead of just saying who had the best season that year. And Steph has had, in my opinion, the best season all year.”
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Curry has averaged 31.8 points per game and claimed the scoring title in the NBA this year. He further cements his status as an all-time great as he is entered into an elite group of players to win several scoring titles, MVPs, and championships. The only other players to do this are Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The Lakers finished the season with a five-game stretch of victories. James posted 24.5 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game in the last two games he has played after missing all but two of the team’s preceding 28 games. A championship for the seventh-seed Lakers would be unprecedented, as the highest-seeded team to win the trophy was the sixth-seeded 1995 Rockets.
James further commented in the face of this, stating “I don’t look at our seeding. It doesn’t matter. Obviously, we know we wanted to play a lot better this season but the injuries took a toll on our team,” referencing his personal ankle injury along with the calf and Achilles problems of Anthony Davis. James concluded with “But I look forward to the challenge. It’s another challenge for me in the postseason. I’m looking forward to it.”
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