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LeBron James and Kevin Durant have easily been the two best players in the NBA over the last decade. The notion of James being the best player in the league right now has been changing lately and Durant's rise has been a major reason behind that.
Many fans and analysts believe that Kevin Durant is the heir to King James' throne in the NBA as the best player in the league. Some say he has already claimed it.
Next season will be crucial for LeBron James in scrapping the belief that he isn't the best player in the NBA anymore. There's a possibility that he may face Kevin Durant in the NBA Finals next year. If James and the LA Lakers manage to topple Durant and the Brooklyn Nets, it would be hard to argue the former's case of still being the 'King' of the NBA.
The two have faced off in three NBA Finals series in the last decade. Kevin Durant currently holds a 2-1 head-to-head advantage over LeBron James in those matchups. James may not have had collective success against Durant, but individually he has been phenomenal.
The two superstars have had some epic duels in their careers for a very long time. Kevin Durant has averaged 29.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game against LeBron James' teams, while the latter has managed 29.6 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game against Durant's rosters.
On that note, let's take a look at the top five duels between LeBron James and Kevin Durant in the NBA.
#5 Miami Heat vs. OKC Thunder - April 2012
LeBron James' Miami Heat and Kevin Durant's OKC Thunder were two of the most dominant teams in the 2011-12 NBA season. They also went on to represent their respective conference's in the NBA Finals that year.
The Heat were the more experienced side compared to the Thunder. Nevertheless, the young OKC team, led by the likes of Durant and Westbrook, was very gritty and fought hard against all the superior teams they faced off during that season.
In one of the regular-season matchups between the two teams in April 2012, LeBron James and Kevin Durant put on a show for their respective sides. James and Durant each had 30-point games. The former tallied a game-high 34 points, seven rebounds and ten assists, while the latter scored a team-high 30 points, four rebounds and three assists.
LeBron James was a tad better than Kevin Durant in that game. The Miami Heat ended up winning the tie 98-93. It was the first of many epic battles between the two players.
#4 Miami Heat vs. OKC Thunder - 2012 NBA Finals
The Miami Heat and OKC Thunder's NBA Finals matchup in 2012 was the first between LeBron James and Kevin Durant. James and Heat were the better team due to their experience and emerged victorious by a 4-1 margin in that series.
Game 2 was a close contest, as LeBron James and Kevin Durant recorded impressive performances for their respective teams. They both scored 32 points in that game.
James had a better all-round game as he also tallied eight rebounds and five assists, while Durant had three rebounds and one assist to his name. Nevertheless, Durant had a more efficient shooting night as he converted 54.5% of his field goals compared to James, who made 45.5% of his shot attempts.
#3 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors - December 2016
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors had one of the biggest team rivalries in sporting history between 2015 and 2018 when they squared off in four straight NBA finals.
The last two finals series' were one-sided in favor of the Warriors. Kevin Durant, who joined the team in 2016, had a huge role to play in that. The Warriors went on to register a formidable 8-1 record in nine finals matchups against LeBron James' Cavs after the signing of Durant.
Despite that, James still managed to have many great individual games during the stretch as Durant continued to bring out the best in him. The two teams were scheduled to face off on Christmas Day during the 2016-17 NBA season. Fans witnessed a belter of a game, as LeBron James and Kevin Durant put on a show.
Both recorded 30-point double-doubles. James scored 31 points and 13 rebounds, while Durant registered 36 points and 15 rebounds in that matchup. KD had the better individual stat-line, but it was James who emerged victorious that night. Cleveland edged the Warriors by a margin of one point, beating them 109-108.
#2 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors - 2017 NBA Finals
The Cleveland Cavaliers had a difficult time competing against the Golden State Warriors in the 2017 NBA Finals. The Cavs avoided a series sweep in Game 4 but eventually lost the tie in Game 5 to go down 1-4 and lose the title to the Warriors.
LeBron James tried his best to help his team get over the line, but Kevin Durant ensured the Warriors did not squander another opportunity to finish the series. James scored 41 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in that game, while Durant had 39 points, six rebounds and five assists.
It was one of the most epic duels in an NBA Finals game. The Warriors won that tie 129-120. Durant was named Finals MVP that year.
#1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors - January 2018
The regular-season matchup in January 2018 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors was the last time LeBron James and Kevin Durant were firing on all cylinders against each other at the same time.
The duo tallied 32 points each for their respective teams and were highly efficient with their shooting. James shot 12 of 18 from the field, while Durant made 9 of 15 shots. The latter also managed to knock down all ten of his free-throw attempts.
LeBron James and Kevin Durant were unstoppable that night. Durant's Golden State Warriors were the better team, though, as they won the tie 118-108.
