TITLE: Durant Says He Values Every Showdown With LeBron After Rockets’ Christmas Victory
SLUG: durant-values-every-showdown-with-lebron-after-rockets-christmas-win
CONTENT:
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant said he is “grateful for every matchup” against Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James after Houston’s 128-123 win on Christmas Day at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
The Dec. 25 contest was the highest-scoring game in NBA history featuring the league’s No. 1 all-time scorer, James, and the No. 8 scorer, Durant. Despite the league’s shift toward younger talent, the two veterans again headlined one of the NBA’s marquee holiday dates.
“I feel like the standard that LeBron has set for greatness and being prepared and loving the game and enthusiasm for the game is something I’m trying to emulate as I get older,” Durant said postgame. “Just grateful for every matchup we have.”
Veteran respect remains strong
Durant’s remarks underscored the mutual admiration that has characterized the current generation of elite players, which also includes Stephen Curry, James Harden and Russell Westbrook. The tone contrasts with the more contentious rivalries of earlier eras, even as the league transitions to rising stars such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards.
Luka Doncic: “Something needs to change” for Lakers
Following the same Christmas loss, Luka Doncic said the Lakers must address recent collapses. “I don’t know what has to change, but definitely something needs to change,” he remarked, noting L.A. had surrendered late leads in consecutive games. “We have to figure it out. Everybody has to talk about it.”
The Christmas Day matchup may have been one of the final high-profile meetings between Durant and James, whose careers have spanned more than two decades combined. For Durant, each remaining game is “cherished” as both players continue to chase championships and milestones.
Source: Lakers Nation
