Tuesday night’s showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets added another layer to one of the NBA’s most intriguing modern rivalries. The Lakers’ 115-107 comeback win wasn’t just about standings or playoff positioning-it was a reminder of the mutual respect between two of the game’s most accomplished stars: LeBron James and Nikola Jokić.
Jokić didn’t suit up for this one, sidelined with a knee injury, but his presence was still felt. Late in the game, LeBron made a point to walk over to the Nuggets’ bench and share a moment with the Serbian big man-one MVP acknowledging another.
This wasn’t just a casual courtside handshake. There’s history here, and it runs deeper than their NBA clashes.
Their paths crossed in a major way during the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where Team USA and Serbia delivered one of the most unforgettable games in recent international basketball memory. That battle on the global stage helped cement Jokić as not just a dominant NBA force, but a world-class competitor-one who earned LeBron’s admiration in the process.
After the game, LeBron didn’t hold back in his praise.
“It’s the utmost respect,” he said. “Jokić is one of the greatest to ever play this game. For me to see him and go over and pay my respect, that’s easy.”
It’s rare to see two players at this level speak so openly about their appreciation for each other’s game. Both are multi-time MVPs.
Both have redefined their positions-LeBron as the ultimate point-forward hybrid, Jokić as the most creative center we’ve ever seen. And both have led their teams to the mountaintop.
But what makes their connection special is that it’s not built on trash talk or animosity. It’s built on battles-hard-fought, high-stakes games where greatness recognizes greatness. Whether it’s the Olympic stage or a regular season tilt in January, when these two share the court-or even just the sideline-it’s a moment worth watching.
The Lakers may have gotten the win this time, but the bigger story was the continued evolution of a rivalry that’s more about legacy than box scores. And with both players still performing at elite levels, there’s a good chance we haven’t seen the last chapter.