For nearly half a decade, the NBA has been without LeBron James and Kevin Durant to face off. Thankfully, last season saw the two stars face off early in the season, with the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns, including a quarterfinal matchup of the season tournament that saw James emerge victorious.
However, Durant and James are at the tail end of their careers, meaning there aren’t many individual battles left. But the 2024 Paris Olympics were a saving grace in seeing these two legends team up for the final time.
This Olympic run for Team USA has been significant as James, Durant and Stephen Curry have been the headliners for the team despite being in their late 30s. But that doesn’t mean they can’t still put on legendary performances as each of these three players have had their highlights along the way.
Ultimately, the United States was able to win another gold medal, their fifth in a row. It’s hard to give them equal credit because of the number of stars in attendance, but James gave Durant his fair share, calling him one of the greatest players of all time, via Sam Amick of The Athletic:
“KD?” James replied. “KD is one of the greatest of all time. That’s not even a question. I mean, just look at his frame, look at his talent. He’s one of the best basketball players we’ve ever seen play the game of basketball.”
While Curry stole the show with his late heroics in the gold medal game against France, Durant also made some timely shots, drilling contested mid-range shots. Despite dealing with a calf issue during the U.S. exhibition game, upon his return, Durant was able to make an immediate impact.
Much like James, the 35-year-old forward is a one-of-a-kind scorer and fans realize that this particular trio will never be seen on the same team again. So it’s special for them to realize and appreciate it, even if they become enemies again when the 2024-25 NBA season begins.
LeBron James hopes Team USA’s Olympic run can ‘inspire people’
The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles will be a chance for the United States to cook up a home-cooked meal. But Team USA could look very different in four years.
To this extent, LeBron James hopes this 2024 race can ‘inspire people’ given the aging of the stars on this list.
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