Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James commented on the Golden State Warriors’ trade for Jimmy Butler, saying it reminded him of the team’s era with Kevin Durant in the NBA.

© Michael Owens / GettyLeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the first half of a game against Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors

Los Angeles Lakers suffered a tough 123–116 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night, despite a standout performance from LeBron James.

The Warriors’ new star trio—Jimmy Butler, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green—proved too much to handle, evoking memories for James of another dominant Golden State NBA era: the Kevin Durant years.

After the game, LeBron was asked about the Warriors’ acquisition of Butler and how it changes the team’s dynamic. “They made a big acquisition that really shifts their team dynamics,” James said.

“I’ve had to go against them when they added Kevin Durant… I mean, Jimmy Butler brings toughness, championship DNA, and leadership. They always figure it out.”

The loss brought back memories of the Warriors’ dynasty during Durant’s prime—when Golden State seemed nearly unstoppable. Now, James sees a similar formula emerging.

While Butler isn’t putting up eye-popping numbers, his all-around impact is undeniable. Draymond Green is pushing for another Defensive Player of the Year campaign, and Stephen Curry, at 37, continues to defy age and make history.

LeBron responds to Draymond’s championship confidence

James was also asked about Draymond Green’s recent comments in which the Warriors forward declared they would win another NBA championship with this current roster.

LeBron didn’t take the bait. “I’ve got to worry about us,” James said. “I can’t be worrying about other teams. That ain’t my job.”

LeBron James 23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives against Stephen Curry 30 and Kevin Durant 35 of the Golden State Warriors during their NBA Basketball Herren USA Championship Game 1 at Oracle Arena in Oakland

LeBron vs Warriors: the Durant years

During Kevin Durant’s time with the Warriors (2016–2019), LeBron James faced Golden State in some of the most intense matchups of his career.

The most iconic showdowns came in the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals, when James’ Cleveland Cavaliers met Durant’s star-studded squad. The Warriors won both series convincingly—4–1 in 2017 and a 4–0 sweep in 2018—with Durant earning Finals MVP honors each time.

Even outside of the Finals, their regular-season battles were marquee events, marked by national broadcasts and playoff-level energy.

While LeBron consistently delivered elite individual performances, his teams often couldn’t match the depth and firepower of a Warriors roster that included Curry, Klay Thompson, and Durant.

In total, James faced Durant’s Warriors in 14 playoff games, going 1–8 in 2017 and 0–4 in 2018. Those matchups helped define an era of NBA dominance and further established the legacies of both LeBron James and the Golden State dynasty.