LeBron James was nostalgic about his old rivalry with the Warriors when he was with the Cavaliers.
After returning to the Cavaliers, James led the team to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances (all against the Warriors) from 2015 to 2018.
James spoke about his NBA legacy and recalled those days with Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant in an interview with ESPN published Tuesday.
Curry led the Warriors for all four years of that span and remains with the team, while Durant joined Golden State for the final two years.
In 2015, the Warriors won the first meeting in six games, and in 2016, the Cavaliers trailed 3-1 in the series before winning in seven games.
Then, after acquiring Durant, the Warriors easily won the next two years, 2017 and 2018, with five games and a sweep, respectively.
“Those four years in a row, Cleveland vs. Golden State, it was literally like East Coast vs. West Coast,” James said. “It was like a rap beef. Golden State on the West Coast versus the Cavs on the East Coast. It was like a rap beef.”
Curry opened up about their relationship.
“We all have the experience of watching each other play and knowing each other from when we first met to now, and it's been really cool to see that evolution. Because he really understands what it takes to be great at the level,” Curry said. “So there’s always that respect.”
He also admitted that he was nearing the end of his career.
“Every year, there's a new style, a new energy coming through, and it's challenging,” Curry said. “We know it's not going to last forever, so I think it gives us perspective on enjoying the game now and enjoying every moment of the game.”
