Friday night saw a clash of titans on a basketball court. LeBron James, considered by many as the greatest active basketball player on planet earth, faced off against Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of the most physically dominant NBA players of this generation.

While Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks got the better of James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a tightly contested battle, the spotlight quickly shifted toward the interaction between theses two living legends that ensued following the game.

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Entering Friday’s contest, game No. 38 and 36 for the Bucks and Lakers respectively this season, the storyline surrounded these two giants of the sport, with many wondering if this would be the last time they would ever face each other in an NBA game. While the two teams played each other in November, James wasn’t active on that day, making Friday’s game the first time James and Antetokounmpo played each other in a regular season game since December of 2022.

LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo Postgame Interaction Catches Attention

The Bucks took down the Lakers 105-101, with Antetokounmpo closing the show, on the road, with two clutch defensive possessions against James. And while disappointment seemed evident for James and Lakers faithful, “King James” and the “Greek Freak” were quick to embrace, on the court, during the postgame pleasantries.

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And the NBA, on it’s official X account (@NBA), was quick to react to the interaction turned hug.

“The King. The Greak Freek,” the post reads.

The NBA was so enthralled with the interaction, it garnered two posts by the league’s X account:

“LeBron (handshake emoji) Giannis. Stars showing respect after a hard-fought battle in LA!” the second post reads.

This was as competitive as any game you’ll find at any point of this NBA season (especially for a regular-season game), however, these two superstars still appear to have nothing but respect for one another.

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James, at 41 years of age, gave his all in this one. He scored 26 points on 10-for-21 shooting from the field to go along with 10 assists, nine rebounds, and three steals. It wasn’t enough, as Antetokounmpo’s 21 points on 9-for-11 shooting, six rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and two steals proved to be enough to escape Los Angeles with a victory.

James also spoke to reporters following the game, speaking to the fact that it’s always a special occasion to play against another one of the game’s all-time greats.

“At this point in my career, it’s always great to go against some of the greats. This is year 13 for Giannis, so it’s always an honor and a pleasure to go against the greats,” James said on his matchup against Antetokounmpo.

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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.