The LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant matchup is always a treat. It is almost a turn back of the clock: The last two superstars from the mid 2000s balling it out. And James knows how formidable an opponent Durant has been.
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To put into context just how good Durant’s numbers have been, his worst-ever scoring season in the league was his rookie campaign with Seattle (2007-08), when he put up 20.8 ppg. His best? With the OKC Thunder, he won the MVP in 2014. He averaged 32.0 ppg that season.
KD, one of the greatest and most versatile scorers ever, has maintained his production on several teams right through his career. On Monday, however, when Durant, now with the Rockets, faced the Lakers, he faltered, putting up just 18 points. Does that mean James found out a way to contain him? Absolutely not.
After their 45th matchup (regular season and postseason included), James was told that Durant admitted the Miami Heat version of the King was the toughest to guard. When asked which version of KD he would put up there, the Lakers icon said, “Every version.”
James’ answer describes in the best way possible Durant’s impact on the game and his consistency as a top scorer ever since he was drafted into the league in 2007. That’s almost two decades.
“He just gets better and better and better. Honestly, him at Golden State was super dynamic; he could just put multiple bodies in front of him because of the threat of playing Steph. So, that was super dynamic,” continued James.
“And also, his time in Brooklyn, too. When Kyrie and James were out there, he could [do the same],” added the Lakers star, before mentioning their battles in the NBA finals.
“And also, we had our battles in the finals, too. Even when he was young, him and Russ [Russell Westbrook] and James [Harden], he was, he’s never not been great at basketball. So every version,” James added.
Kevin Durant said Heat Lebron is the toughest player he had to guard in his career
LBJ on which version of KD is hard to guard:
“Every version. He’s never not been great at basketball” pic.twitter.com/aoUDNoFQ55
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) March 17, 2026
LeBron covered it all when he said Durant has always been great. Of course, the only titles he won were with Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors. But even the OKC Thunder, Brooklyn Nets, and the Phoenix Suns versions of the Slim Reaper were deadly.
Now 37, some would say Durant is slowing down. But he’s still averaging 26 points a game, and is the most important piece in the Rockets’ bid for a championship.
