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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

After those countless NBA finals battles, the fans finally saw the rivalry unfold once again. LeBron James and Stephen Curry met on the battlefield during the Western Conference Semifinals. The matchup brought in excitement, electric energy, and an eagerness – who will win this time? The King and the Los Angeles Lakers emerged victorious after a strenuous six-game series. The contest had fans on the edge of their seats the entire time.

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As two of the NBA’s most influential stars collided, history was bound to be made. The Golden State Warriors-Lakers series broke a 27-year-old record. And the fans, while knowing the reason, were in absolute disbelief with the numbers the series achieved.

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Stephen Curry and LeBron James rewrite history together

As individual icons of basketball, both James and Curry have a knack for breaking records. Their resumes are amongst the most elite having achieved in all on the hardwood. So, imagine what would happen if they collided on the same stage after years of stagnancy! The reaction was nothing short of an explosion when it came to the viewership.

The clash between the Warriors and the Lakers drew in an average of 7.8 million viewers all across ABC, ESPN and TNT. The tally was the most for an NBA conference semifinal in the last 27 years.

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USA Today via Reuters

It seems to be a large number of eyes tuning in for the battle, but why wouldn’t they be? The last time Stephen Curry and LeBron James shared the floor in the postseason came back in the 2018 NBA finals. The Lakers forward was still on the Cleveland Cavaliers while Curry formed a dynasty besides Kevin Durant.

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Yes, they had a run-in during the play-in tournament. However, the playoff intensity ranks on a completely different scale. The NBA fans got what they asked for, a scrappy matchup that gave them the theatrics in just six games. It was a battle viewers got to savor once again, but it did bring in a rather sad question. Is this the last of the James-Curry saga in the playoffs?

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NBA fans are in shock as the Lakers-Warriors series breaks a 27-year-old deadlock

There were the obvious LeBron James and Stephen Curry stans who directed the glory toward their beloved superstars. But there were also the ones who knew it was the Akron duo that made it possible to have a whopping 7.8 million average viewers consistently tune in. The only wish seemed to be for the iconic battle to never stop.

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The festivities were soon followed by concern. Fans wondered if the NBA will ever reach such heights in the ongoing playoffs again.

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What do you make of the astounding number of viewers the reignited rivalry attracted? Let us know in the comments below!

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Written by

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Anuj Talwalkar

4,509 Articles

Anuj Talwalkar is a senior NBA Newsbreak specialist at EssentiallySports, trusted for his real-time coverage and fast, accurate updates on league developments. With five NBA seasons and two Olympics coverages under his belt, Anuj stands out as the go-to reporter for the NBA Matchday Newsdesk. As part of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, he continuously refines his hard reporting with grounded storytelling shaped by fan culture and court-level insights. An economics graduate and lifelong OKC fan since the Supersonics era, Anuj combines analytical thinking and a genuine passion for basketball. He’s recognized for both his live news coverage and feature writing, with aspirations to someday interview Russell Westbrook. Anuj’s reporting is marked by its reliability, depth, and strong connection to the pulse of the NBA.

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Aayush Kapoor

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