The Western Conference Semifinals will feature a highly anticipated matchup between the Lakers and the Warriors. Both teams have defied the odds by eliminating higher-seeded opponents in the first round, setting the stage for an exciting duel between two of the greatest players of this generation: LeBron James and Steph Curry.
Lakers head coach Darvin Ham summed up the excitement around this matchup by calling it “the best rivalry of this generation,” via Mark Medina. Both James and Curry have established themselves as four-time NBA champions, with Curry winning his latest championship just last year in 2022.
The history between these two superstars dates back to the NBA Finals from 2015-2018, when James and Curry faced off against each other in four consecutive championship series. The Warriors emerged victorious in three of those matchups, while James led the Cavaliers to a historic comeback in 2016 to secure his only championship against Curry’s Warriors.
The intensity of these matchups was palpable, with both James and Curry putting on unforgettable performances. In 2015, Curry’s Warriors won the championship in six games, with the guard averaging 26 points per game. In 2016, James led the Cavaliers to their first championship in franchise history, averaging 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game while becoming the first player in NBA Finals history to lead both teams in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
In 2017 and 2018, Curry and the Warriors regained the championship, with the guard averaging 26.8 and 27.5 points per game, respectively. These matchups solidified James and Curry as two of the greatest players in NBA history, with their rivalry becoming a mainstay in the league.
In the present day, both James and Curry are still performing at an elite level. Curry, who recently became the first player to score 50 or more points in Game 7, is averaging an incredible 33.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 39.1 minutes per game in this year’s playoffs. James, at 38 years old, is averaging 22.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in 37.2 minutes per game.
The Lakers, who qualified for the playoffs via the play-in tournament, have shown resilience and determination in their playoff run so far. They eliminated the 2-seed Memphis Grizzlies in six games.
The Warriors, on the other hand, faced a tough 7-game series against the 3-seed Sacramento Kings. Curry’s historic 50-point performance in Game 7 secured their spot in the conference semifinals.
The winner of this matchup will face either the Denver Nuggets or Phoenix Suns in the Conference Finals, making this series even more crucial. The stage is set for a clash between two of the greatest players in NBA history, as James and Curry look to add another chapter to their storied rivalry.
