LeBron James Sends Kevin Durant Message Before Rockets Series
LeBron James and Kevin Durant will relive a long-standing rivalry in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. James' Los Angeles Lakers will face Durant and the Houston Rockets in the first round of the postseason.
It's the fourth-seeded Lakers who will have home-court advantage against the fifth-seeded Rockets. Game 1 at Crypto.com Arena is on Saturday. This will be the latest and potentially one of the last times James and Durant will face off in the playoffs as their respective careers near their conclusion.
James, 41, is now in his 23rd season in the NBA. Durant, on the other hand, is in Year 19 and will turn 38 later this year.
James knows Durant all too well. The NBA's all-time leading scorer has faced off against Durant many times in the past, and James is very familiar with how he operates.
This is exactly why James admitted that the Lakers are wary of Durant in their upcoming series. At the same time, however, the 22-time All-Star made it abundantly clear that they aren't looking past what Durant's teammates are capable of.
"He's the head of the snake," James said of Durant. "But it's the Houston Rockets and they have some damn good players on that team. So, it's not just a KD team. … KD is going to do what KD does. … We know that. We have to prepare not only for him, but the whole group"
"He's the head of the snake. But it's the Houston Rockets and they have some damn good players on that team. So, it's not just a KD team. … KD is going to do what KD does. … We know that. We have to prepare not only for him, but the whole group" - LeBron on Kevin Durant pic.twitter.com/SqzY8IDASb
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 16, 2026
Durant may be the biggest name on the Rockets' roster, but he has an elite supporting cast around him. James and Co. also have to deal with the likes of Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, to name a couple.
With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined, the Lakers are considered the underdogs heading into the Rockets series. The Rockets are currently listed as -600 favorites to win the series.
Related: LeBron James Addresses Lakers' Upcoming Bronny James Decision
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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 10:56 PM.