Bracing for Round 2, James shows 'utmost respect' for Curry - ESPN

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Before LeBron James walked off the practice court to speak to reporters Monday, he tracked down a loose ball near the half-court line and flung it over his right shoulder back towards the basket where he had just been shooting with Anthony Davis.

The ball swished clean through the net.

«Not bad,» James said.

And not a bad approximation of the type of shot making the Los Angeles Lakers can expect to see out of Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors when their second-round series opens up with Game 1 on Tuesday in San Francisco.

«They obviously shoot a lot of 3s,» Lakers guard Austin Reaves said. «Transition 3s. You know, just 3s everywhere, honestly.»

James knows the Warriors' strengths all too well. This will be his sixth postseason meeting with Golden State. Golden State beat his Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals in 2015, 2017 and 2018. James' Cavs beat the Warriors in the 2016 Finals and James' Lakers beat them in the play-in tournament in 2021.

«Just two of the most competitive players that have ever played this game,» James said of the dynamic between him and Curry. «And we want to etch our names in the history books as much as we can. But playing and doing it our own way.»

James is a four-time champion, four-time Finals MVP, four-time MVP and the all-time leading scorer in league history. Curry is a four-time champion, one-time Finals MVP, two-time MVP and the league's all-time leader in 3-pointers made.

"(Curry) puts in the work," James said. «And when you put in the work, nine times out of 10 you're going to see the results. And he's done that throughout his whole, entire career. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Steph and everything he's been able to accomplish, not only on