Crew chief Tyler Ford’s eyes were on the monitor at the scorer’s table. All other eyes in Ball Arena were focused on the interaction taking place behind him.
Nikola Jokic wandered toward the table but didn’t stray far from the Nuggets’ bench, wearing a patterned green suit over a dark T-shirt. LeBron James, in uniform, took a detour from the Lakers’ huddle to greet him. Two of the 21st century’s most decorated basketball players shared a hug and caught up for a couple of minutes while Ford was reviewing an out-of-bounds call that Denver had challenged.
The meeting wasn’t revelatory — it happened in the literal background of a 115-107 Nuggets loss Tuesday night — but it also wasn’t obligatory. James was playing. Jokic wasn’t. They didn’t need to share a moment in the middle of the action. If anything, it was a reminder that their encounters are numbered. That it was a shame, to the neutral basketball enthusiast, for one of them to be sidelined as the other nears the end.
“It’s the utmost respect,” James said. “I mean, for the greats of the game, for the greats of today, the greats of the past, the greats that come after. Jokic is one of the greatest players to ever play this game.”
James was effusive in his praise of both Denver star players Tuesday after the latest clash between the Nuggets and Lakers, two franchises that have grown painfully familiar with each other this decade. James, Jokic and Jamal Murray are the remaining constants from those matchups — the 2020 Western Conference Finals (point, Lakers), the 2023 West Finals (point, Nuggets), the first round in 2024 (when Jamal Murray made a shot).
“Not just playoffs, but regular season games that we’ve had with them,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said.
The mini-rivalry already reached an impasse when Anthony Davis was traded for Luka Doncic last year. What’s left of it could be phasing out as James — who’s 41 years old and in a contract year — nears the end of his career, or at least his time with the Lakers. Tuesday was the first of three matchups this season. The other two are slated for March, by which point Jokic will be back from his left knee injury.
James went for 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in a comeback win at Ball Arena, egged on my a loud minority of Lakers fans. Their most animated cheers were in response to LeBron’s dunks, one of which cemented the loss for Denver in the last two minutes.
Jokic and James are the only players with three MVP trophies this century. Their primes briefly overlapped, if only for a couple of years while James was transitioning out of his. They also faced off in an Olympic semifinal thriller in 2024, when Team USA mounted a furious comeback to defeat Jokic’s Team Serbia for a spot in the gold medal game.
“It’s one of the greatest games I’ve ever played in,” James said while reflecting on his relationship with Jokic. “I’ve played in a lot of great games. NBA Finals games. Olympic games. High school games. Regular season games. That ranks right up there as one of the greatest games I’ve ever played in. I’ll never forget that moment.”
LeBron on Jamal Murray’s season
As James’ future hangs in the balance, so does his multi-decade streak of NBA All-Star appearances. Seven Western Conference reserves are yet to be named — they’ll be voted on by head coaches — and Murray is considered likely to take one of those spots.
Even so, James gave Murray his flowers after the Canadian guard went for 28 points and 11 assists in Denver’s loss.
“He’s been playing exceptionally well. Shooting the ball at a high level. Scoring at a high level. They’ve been able to stay afloat. They’ve won some big games without Jokic,” James said. “I think he’s an All-Star player for sure. (It has been) depending on his injuries or whatever the case may be, but when he’s on the floor, he’s an All-Star point guard. He’s an All-Star caliber player. But that’s for the coaches to decide. I think he’s an All-Star. He’s playing great basketball.”
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