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Warriors’ Kerr, Lakers’ Redick address potential end of LeBron James/Steph Curry rivalry

April 10, 2026

SAN FRANCISCO — Outside of the narrow narrative of two Western Conference teams playing for identity and clarity ahead of the postseason next week looms a larger picture.

The holistic view of Thursday night’s game between the Lakers and the Golden State Warriors includes a reality, something that Lakers coach JJ Redick called “dark” when asked about it before the game.

Steph Curry, 38, and LeBron James, 41, might have already played their final NBA game against each other.

Curry was a late scratch on Thursday with right knee injury management as the Warriors prepare for next week’s four-team Play-In Tournament, hoping to keep their star guard fresh before needing to win a pair of win-or-go-home games. James, however, re-entered the Lakers’ lineup after sitting out Tuesday night’s blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder while nursing his left foot to remain fresh himself.

“They’ve been the faces of the league for a long, long time,” Redick said. “And it’s been fun to watch as a fan, and it’s been fun to be a part of it the last couple years.”

The Warriors’ Steve Kerr coached in four straight NBA Finals featuring James-vs.-Curry matchups during his storied career on the sidelines. He had the best view in the arena for the back and forth of Warriors-Cavaliers clashes as James and Curry often went shot for shot – Curry snatching three championships while James brought one title back home to Cleveland.

“I think rivalries, in general, are defined by playoff matchups,” Kerr said. “That’s kind of the history of the league when you look at Wilt (Chamberlain) vs. Bill Russell. Or (Larry) Bird and Magic (Johnson). … Steph and LeBron has to be up there near the top.”

Redick quipped that he’s no longer an analyst on ESPN’s morning sports-debate show “First Take” when asked if he could rank the James/Curry rivalry.

Now, with James’ future as a player with the Lakers (or any NBA team) unclear, Kerr might have coached his final game between the future first-ballot Hall of Famers. When asked what it is about the way Curry and James approach playing against each other that intrigues so many, Kerr referenced their respective love for basketball, their love for competition and their obsession with getting better despite being past typical NBA retirement age.

“When you combine that with incredible talent, which both guys have, Steph has the greatest hand-eye coordination of anybody on earth,” Kerr said. “And LeBron is probably the greatest athlete, physical specimen that I’ve ever seen. So you get those qualities combined and this is the result. There’s a reason they’re both still going. They love it. They’re obsessed with it.”

SMART ‘GETTING CLOSE’ TO RETURN

Redick said before Thursday’s game that guard Marcus Smart, who has missed nine consecutive games after being a day-of scratch against the Warriors, is nearing a return. Smart could return against the Phoenix Suns in the second half of the back-to-back set on Friday night in Los Angeles.

“He did another on-court workout this morning, and we’re hopeful he’ll be back,” Redick said.

Backup center Jaxson Hayes, on the other hand, is day-to-day with left foot soreness after missing his second consecutive game on Thursday, Redick said.

Hayes and Smart, if/when they are available, will be part of playoff rotations as Redick continues to sort through his options with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined indefinitely by injuries.

Orange County Register

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Warriors’ Kerr, Lakers’ Redick address potential end of LeBron James/Steph Curry rivalry

SMART ‘GETTING CLOSE’ TO RETURN

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