LeBron James gets brutally honest about matching up against rival Steph Curry on Christmas Day

LeBron James shared his thoughts on the upcoming showdown against long-time rival Steph Curry following the Lakers' narrow 117-114 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday. LeBron and Curry will square off for the first time this season when the Lakers and Warriors clash on Christmas Day.

This highly anticipated game will mark the fourth Christmas Day matchup between the two generational talents, building excitement among basketball fans eager to witness the marquee battle.

LeBron expressed his enthusiasm for the matchup, acknowledging the significance of these encounters as both he and Curry approach the twilight of their illustrious careers.

"Any time you get an opportunity to be on the court and compete vs. one of the greatest to ever play this game, you don't take it for granted," LeBron said. "I don't know how many more opportunities will get to go against each other, so it's always fun."

In their three previous Christmas Day matchups, LeBron holds a 2-1 advantage over Curry. Across their careers, the two superstars have crossed swords in 23 regular season games, with Curry narrowly leading 12-11. In the playoffs, Curry has a more decisive edge, winning 17 of their 28 encounters.

LeBron James on playing with and against Steph Curry

LeBron James was also asked about witnessing Steph Curry deliver one of his trademark shooting performances, both as a teammate and as an opponent. Earlier this year, LeBron and Curry joined forces for Team USA at the Paris Olympics, where they played a key role in securing the gold medal for the nation.

"Depends on what side I'm on," LeBron said. "I got to see it this past summer with Team USA and it was a great feeling. Obviously, on the other side is a not so good feeling."

The Lakers vs. Warriors matchup is poised to be one of the most-watched games of the season, with LeBron James and Steph Curry headlining the action. According to an NBA report released on Monday, LeBron remains the league's most-viewed player across its social media platforms, amassing 623 million views, while Curry ranks fourth with 350 million views.