LeBron James and Kevin Durant are set to meet in the 2026 NBA playoffs after the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets finished as the fourth and fifth seeds in the Western Conference, respectively.
This will mark James’ third time being the underdog in a playoff series against Durant. The first two times were during their meetings in the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Durant’s team won both series. With James heading into the playoffs without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, fans fear a third loss against a Durant-led team could be on the books.
James’ fans reacted to the news on X, expressing their frustration with the matchup without Doncic and Reaves.
“KD gets to play LeBron while he’s alone again,” one fan said.
“Katie fans can run as many laps as they want lmao they’ll get OKC belt the round after anyways,” another fan said.
“This is gonna be an ugly series without Luka and Reaves,” a fan wrote.
“KD sweeping grandpa bron lmaoooo,” another fan wrote.
“Tale as old as old as time,” a fan commented.
LeBron James’ former teammate warns Kevin Durant ahead of first-round playoffs meeting
With the first-round series between the Lakers and Rockets all set, many fans on social media have questioned whether LeBron James can lead a team in the playoffs at the age of 41.
However, his former teammate, Kendrick Perkins, pushed back against the narrative, arguing that Durant can’t afford to lose.
“Out of all match-ups that are in the Western Conference. When you talk about pressure, just in the first round. Kevin Durant is under the most pressure. You better not f—ing lose to that Lakers team,” Perkins said. “You better not lose to LeBron at 41. I don’t give a f—k that’s what it is. You better not f—-ing lose.”
The Rockets will visit the Lakers on Saturday, April 18, for Game 1 of the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs. The matchup will tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC.
Read More: 2026 Lakers Playoffs Schedule: First-Round Matchup, TV, Date, Time and More
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball and college baseball.
