Lakers' Ham: LeBron-Steph is 'best rivalry of this generation'
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham described LeBron James versus Stephen Curry as "the best rivalry of this generation" ahead of another showdown between the two superstars.
"LeBron, what he was able to do, going to (eight) straight Finals, and obviously Steph and those guys, what they were able to do with those four championships," Ham said Monday, courtesy of Sports Central LA.
"That's the rivalry. Rivalry of the generations, particularly those two players. It's going to be another fun battle."
From 2015-19, James and the Cleveland Cavaliers squared off against Curry's Golden State Warriors in four straight Finals. The Warriors came out on top three times, with the lone defeat coming in 2016.
The Cavs rallied from a 3-1 series deficit that year for their first and only championship in franchise history. They also spoiled Golden State's record-setting 73-win regular-season campaign.
James and Curry also went to battle in the play-in tournament two years ago. The Lakers prevailed in a thrilling 103-100 affair, overcoming a 13-point halftime deficit. James registered a triple-double and Curry dropped a game-high 37 points, including six triples.
Both players continue to perform at an elite level as they enter the latest chapter of their rivalry.
James recently became the first Lakers player since Shaquille O'Neal in 2004 to tally at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in one playoff game. Meanwhile, Curry is coming off an NBA Game 7-record 50-point performance in Golden State's series-clinching victory over the Sacramento Kings.
"Just two of the most competitive players that have ever played this game," James said of himself and Curry on Monday, per NBA writer Mark Medina. "And we want to etch our names in the history books as much as we can. But playing and doing it our own way."
Game 1 between the Lakers and Warriors is Tuesday at Chase Center.