There likely are very, very few Steph Curry vs. LeBron James matchups remaining.
As the soon-to-be 38-year-old and 41-year-old close out their 17th and 23rd seasons, respectively, the 2025-26 NBA campaign could be the final one in which the two face off against each other.
Of course, both superstars continue to defy Father Time, so chances are there at least will be one more season where they face off against each other. But Curry, recovering from patellofemoral pain syndrome in his right knee, missed Golden State’s 105-99 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena.
James, after scoring 20 points, with seven rebounds and 10 assists in 35 minutes against Golden State, spoke to ESPN’s Lisa Salters after the game about facing a Curry-less Warriors team.
“Oh, of course,” James said when asked if he preferred if Curry were on the court. “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.”
The matchup was the second of the season between the two teams, and after James (sciatica) missed the first on Oct. 21, there only are two Warriors vs. Lakers games remaining before an offseason clouded by uncertainty, specifically for James.
Both Curry and James met up on the court after Saturday’s game and exchanged words.
Curry has missed Golden State’s last three games, and while he has not been officially ruled out for the final two (Monday vs. Memphis, Wednesday vs. San Antonio) before the All-Star break, he is considered doubtful.
However, if he does miss both, he should be back on the court for the Warriors’ first game out of the break, a matchup vs. the Boston Celtics on Feb. 19 at Chase Center.
And then, four games later, James and the Lakers come to town on Feb. 28.
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