LeBron James scored a near triple-double Thursday night, finishing with 26 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds on 11-of-17 shooting, but the man he wanted to share the floor with never showed up.
The Los Angeles Lakers escaped with a convincing 119-103 victory against the Golden State Warriors, and after the final buzzer, the 41-year-old made sure everyone knew what was missing.
King James was actually missing Stephen Curry on the court since they didn't play against each other at all this regular season. Injuries kept the two stars apart all year. James missed the season opener with sciatica, and Curry’s knee issues sidelined him for the later matchups.
Thursday was their final chance to share the floor, but the Warriors chose to rest him. With the Warriors playing again on Friday against the Sacramento Kings, coach Steve Kerr decided to rest the 38-year-old to manage his workload, as he is still working his way back from a 27-game absence caused by "runner’s knee."
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Speaking with reporters following the 16-point victory, James didn't hide it, saying, "We both didn't even realize it until today."
When asked if he was disappointed not to compete against Curry this season, he answered, "We don't know if we'll get the opportunity to play against each other [again]... it's always a pleasure and it's always an honor to be in his presence."
These missed games highlight where both stars are in their careers right now. James is in his record-setting 23rd season, and Curry just turned 38. James just acknowledged that harsh reality.
It’s been a rough season for the Warriors. With Curry sidelined for most of the year, the team went 13–26 and is now stuck with the No. 10 seed in the play-in tournament. Curry has described his recovery as a "new normal," admitting that the first thing he does every morning is check how his knee feels.
Meanwhile, James struggled with a left foot injury this year and won't play enough games to qualify for major awards like MVP or All-NBA. He even sat out Tuesday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. With only two games remaining in the Lakers' regular season, the maximum number of games he can reach is 59.
The Lakers, however, stayed competitive thanks to Luka Doncic, who put up huge numbers before a hamstring injury sidelined him. During a dominant 13–1 run in March, the Lakers looked like true contenders and clinched their second straight division title.
Right now, the only way for the two to face off is if their teams meet in the postseason, potentially starting with the Western Conference Play-In tournament.
