Kevin Durant and LeBron James stand as two of the most iconic figures in the NBA. Their breathtaking NBA Finals clashes have treated fans to some of the most intense battles in basketball history. In their inaugural showdown for the 2023-24 season, the two greats went head-to-head for the first time in five years. Even though the two matched in a recent preseason game; the regular season, however, brings a whole new level of competition.

Amidst the electric atmosphere, Kevin Durant presented LeBron James with his flowers, adding an element of surprise to the encounter. However, what ensued was a humorous moment, courtesy of a slip of the tongue by Durant.

Kevin Durant accidentally called James 40-years-old

During the pregame rituals, Kevin Durant engaged in a conversation with Jared Greenberg, an NBA on TNT reporter. While talking about James, Durant confidently asserted that LeBron James ranks as one of the top two players of all time, second only to Michael Jordan.

However, while extolling James’ basketball skills, Durant unintentionally slipped up and referred to him as a 40-year-old. Jared, quick to catch the error, remarked, “You do know he’s not 40 yet, right?” Realizing his mistake, KD flashed a sheepish smile and uttered, “Sorry, Bron.”

Kevin Durant emphasized that LeBron James’ immense skillset adds significance to any game he’s a part of. Furthermore, he commended the James for continuing to ignite fans and arenas.

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Staying true to Durant’s sentiments, LeBron James delivered crucial plays in the waning moments of the fourth quarter to propel the Lakers to a 100-95 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

Injuries have kept James and Durant apart on the court

Given their incredible skills and the excitement they generate among fans, it’s hard to believe that LeBron James and Kevin Durant went for years without facing each other. Since their Christmas Day clash in 2018, their respective teams went through 13 games without a LeBron-KD matchup. Furthermore, they also missed each other in three All-Star games. To put it in perspective, Durant has changed teams twice since that Christmas game in 2018.

In the 2018-19 season, during the Christmas game, LeBron suffered the first semi-serious injury of his career. As a result, it kept him from the subsequent matchups against Durant. Furthemore, the other absences were influenced by rest and load management.

Fast forward to the 2019 season, Durant was in his first year with the Brooklyn Nets. While he was sidelined due to Achilles rehab, LeBron James and Anthony Davis secured an NBA championship in the Orlando bubble.

The following year, LeBron missed time due to an ankle injury, while Durant dealt with a hamstring issue. Crummy injury luck struck Durant again when he suffered a knee sprain just days before a showdown with the Lakers on his home court.

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In the most recent season, LeBron missed time due to an abductor strain, ankle problems, and a foot issue. On the other hand, Durant grappled with knee troubles and ankle injuries.