In one of the first big matches of the 2023-24 NBA season, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers faced Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns on Thursday evening. The contest was the first time Durant and James have played each other in a non-preseason game since December 2018, and the Lakers won by a close 100-95 margin after an amazing fourth-quarter comeback.

Following the game, James took to Instagram to post a shot of himself and Durant, writing, “A true LEGEND!!!” My puppy.”

On Friday night, Kevin Durant scored 39 points and grabbed 11 rebounds while missing Suns teammates Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. Meanwhile, James finished with 21 points, including back-to-back layups in the final seconds of the game to help the Lakers pull away.

Throughout their respective careers, James and Durant have had several high-profile matchups. They first met in the NBA Finals in 2012, when James’ Miami Heat defeated Durant’s Oklahoma City Thunder to win James his first championship. The Golden State Warriors then defeated James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in consecutive NBA Finals in 2017 and 2018, giving Durant two straight titles.

With James at 38 years old and Durant 35, there won’t be many more matchups between perhaps the finest players of their time, so fans should enjoy them while they can. It’s also fantastic to observe the stars’ mutual respect, which was evident after the game on Thursday.