Steph Curry Hails LeBron James After Lakers Eliminate Warriors From Playoffs

• Stephen Curry paid LeBron James the ultimate compliment after Game 6
• James' Lakers beat Curry's Warriors 122-101 to eliminate them from the 2023 playoffs
• The Warriors veteran is now 3-2 in the playoffs against the Lakers' star
• Curry lauded the 38-year-old for his performance

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry has showered LeBron James with praise after the Los Angeles Lakers eliminated the defending NBA champions from the 2023 playoffs.

The Game 6 defeat in the Western Conference semifinals was the first time the Warriors lost a series before the NBA finals.

It was also the first time in the Steve Kerr era the Warriors lost a western conference playoff series. Before the 4-2 defeat to the Lakers, they had won 19 straight playoff series in the West.

The only time the Warriors lost a playoff series in the Stephen Curry dynasty was in the 2016 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors.

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Moreover, the defeat against the Lakers was the first time they had failed to win a game on the road.

The second-round matchup was the fifth time the two met in the playoffs. Each of the previous ones came in the Finals in consecutive seasons when James was a member of the Cavaliers, per Sporting News.

Curry compliments James

Speaking after the game, Curry had some lovely words for the 20-year veteran.

"He's an amazing basketball player...he brings the best out of you, and you have to be your best to beat him, and vice versa so you love those experiences. There's so much respect and appreciation for the battles, the experiences, and the back and forths. It's basketball at the highest level."

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The two veterans each have four NBA titles. The two stars will likely meet again in the playoffs before they retire.

James on Curry

Sports Brief earlier reported on James showering Curry with praise before their showdown in Round 2 tipped off.

The two veterans have battled each other for many years, especially in the playoffs, and are probably still the faces of the league.

James said he has a lot of respect for Curry because he works hard and has achieved a lot on and off the court.