There aren’t many Steph vs. LeBron showdowns left on the calendar - and that’s starting to hit home.
With LeBron James in his 23rd NBA season and Steph Curry in his 17th, both future Hall of Famers are nearing the twilight of their storied careers. James will turn 41 later this year, Curry not far behind at 38. And while both continue to battle Father Time better than just about anyone we've ever seen, the 2025-26 season could realistically be the last time we see these two legends share the floor in a meaningful way.
That’s what made Saturday night’s game at Crypto.com Arena feel a little bittersweet. The Lakers pulled out a 105-99 win over a Curry-less Warriors squad, but the absence of Golden State’s No. 30 was felt - especially by James.
"Of course," LeBron told ESPN’s Lisa Salters postgame, when asked if he wished Curry had played. "The most important is health, obviously. Especially for the both of us, where we are in our career, so speedy recovery to Steph, we miss him out here."
James did his part in the win, dropping 20 points to go with seven rebounds and 10 assists in 35 minutes. It was a vintage LeBron performance - measured, efficient, and in control - and a reminder that, even as the years pile up, he’s still capable of impacting the game in just about every way imaginable.
Curry, meanwhile, continues to recover from patellofemoral pain syndrome in his right knee - an injury that’s kept him out of Golden State’s last three games. He hasn’t been officially ruled out for the Warriors’ final two games before the All-Star break (Monday vs.
Memphis and Wednesday vs. San Antonio), but the team has listed him as doubtful.
The expectation, though, is that he’ll be back in the lineup when the Warriors return from the break to host the Boston Celtics on Feb. 19.
And then, just four games later, the Lakers come to town.
That Feb. 28 matchup at Chase Center could be the last time we see Steph and LeBron go head-to-head - at least in a regular-season setting. And while that may sound dramatic, it’s not out of the question. These two have been linked for over a decade, from epic Finals battles to All-Star team-ups, and every meeting now carries a little more weight, a little more nostalgia.
After Saturday’s game, the two icons shared a quiet moment on the court - a brief exchange, a handshake, a few words. No microphones, no theatrics. Just mutual respect between two of the greatest to ever do it.
It was a reminder that these moments - Steph vs. LeBron - are becoming increasingly rare. So when they do happen, you savor them.
Because no matter how many more times we get to see it, we’re already witnessing the final chapters of one of the NBA’s greatest rivalries.