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"We both think we should have more rings" - LeBron James on how he and Kevin Durant impacted each other's legacies


LeBron James and Kevin Durant are still the talk of the NBA town. Well into their careers, the two superstars continue to dominate individually despite their respective teams' lack of success, years after their head-to-head was a guaranteed sighting in the NBA Finals.

The two met 43 times throughout their iconic NBA careers. James won 24 of those games, Durant won 19. Still, the latter holds a 9-5 head-to-head playoff record and is 2-1 in the NBA Finals against James.

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Despite their on-court rivalry, James and Durant have always held each other in high regard — this was esp ecially noticeable during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris when the two former MVPs were standing on the same side rather than competing against each other. Nonetheless, James acknowledged that he and Durant created hurdles for each other throughout their basketball journeys.

"We both think we should have more rings, but don't because of each other," he said.

Clashing in the NBA Finals

Two superstars chasing greatness, James and Durant had their first Finals meeting in 2012, representing the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder, respectively. Back then, the Big 3 of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh crushed the championship aspirations of a young Durant-led OKC team in five games.

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Getting his reve nge five years later, Durant played for the Golden State Warriors while James was back with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In what was a thoroughly dominant display, Durant earned his first-ever championship and Finals MVP.

"I think that was the peak of basketball in the league at that time. You had all that talent on one court at the highest stage in the Finals. That sh–t was fun," said Durant about the 2017 Finals.

The Warriors met the Cavaliers again in the 2018 Finals, with the outcome being the same. Durant became a two-time champion and two-time Finals MVP.

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Related: "If I beat you in a game of H-O-R-S-E would you come and visit my school?" - When a college coach challenged Larry Bird to a game during a recruitment trip

Creating history with Team USA

In a bid to secure the fifth consecutive gold medal for Team USA Men's Basketball, James and Durant aligned forces with the Avengers squad. Leaving no stone unturned, the Steve Kerr-coached team was on the hunt, starting with a perfect 5-0 in their exhibition games.

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Durant, who had been nursing a calf strain, made it back in time for the preliminary round. In the very first game against Serbia, he led Team USA in scoring with 23 points.

Moving ahead in the knockout stages, Team USA stumbled at certain critical junctures but managed to find a way out. Etching their fifth consecu tive gold, James and Durant showed the world they still had it in them, with the former named tournament MVP.

Be it as rivals or as teammates, James and Durant have always been a delight to watch on the hardwood. Though the two superstars did rob each other of a few rings — as well as some individual awards — they made up for it with gold medals on the global stage at the Olympics.

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Still, the two have highlighted one of the best eras in NBA history, showing an unprecedented level of individual greatness. And they are still going strong.

Related: "I didn't get a call or a text or anything" - Chris Bosh recalls the moment he realized the Heat had moved on without telling him

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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