Luka Doncic Says First Matchup Proved Kevin Durant Is Every Bit as Good as Advertised
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic singled out Kevin Durant as the NBA opponent who most exceeded expectations when they first met on the court, praising the Houston Rockets forward during a recent appearance on the “Cousins” podcast with Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter.
The conversation, published on May 31, 2026, prompted Doncic to reflect on the early days of his career. Although he had long admired veterans such as Stephen Curry and current teammate LeBron James, he said Durant’s combination of size, ball-handling and shooting made their initial head-to-head matchup unforgettable.
Durant’s resume backs up Doncic’s impression
Now in his 18th NBA season, Durant continues to compile accolades. The 16-time All-Star was named to the 2025-26 All-NBA Second Team and recently moved to fifth place on the league’s all-time scoring list, trailing only Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James. At 7 feet tall with elite perimeter skills, the two-time champion and two-time Finals MVP remains one of the game’s most prolific scorers.
Doncic aims to add a championship of his own
While acknowledging Durant’s accomplishments, Doncic reiterated that capturing a title with the Lakers is his top priority. The 27-year-old has already secured multiple individual honors but has yet to win an NBA championship since arriving in Los Angeles via trade in 2024.
The mutual respect underscores the bond among the league’s top talents; for Doncic, one meeting with Durant was enough to confirm the veteran’s legendary status.
Source: Lakers Nation
