‘It’s a beautiful thing’: LeBron James will finally play Chris Paul in playoffs

LeBron James and Chris Paul, in their own ways, are two of the most influential players in the NBA.

They’ve also shared a banana boat ride. They’re good friends with a long history.

For the first time, they will face one another in the NBA Playoffs.

James pushed the Los Angeles Lakers to a play-in game win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, setting his team up to face the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the postseason.

“It’s a beautiful thing. Our journeys, we’ve been playing this game at such a high level for a long time,” James told reporters after the win Wednesday, listing Paul along with close friends Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony.

“I’ve always rooted for him, for D-Wade, for Melo to succeed. Got an opportunity to play against Melo in the playoffs a few times. I never got the opportunity to play against D-Wade in the postseason … obviously had a great four-year run (together) in Miami. It’s going to be pretty cool just to be on the same floor competing. One of the most fierce competitors this game has had over his career. Looking forward to the matchup.”

Paul and James have made the playoffs in the same season 11 times since Paul entered the league in 2005, but the pair up until 2018-19 weren’t in the same conference. Because Paul has never made the NBA Finals, that means they’ve never squared off in the postseason.

They finally get their chance starting Sunday at Phoenix Suns Arena.

LeBron had praise for the Lakers' first-round playoff opponent – the Suns.

"We know how great CP is, how great Book is, up-and-coming … from Ayton."

(via @Rachel__Nichols) pic.twitter.com/5Zo8aduGai

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 20, 2021

“They’ve played well, extremely well all year,” James told ESPN’s Rachel Nichols. “They’re deserve to host homecourt in the first round. CP played at an MVP-caliber year all year. Book, Ayton has grown all year and those guys have given them a supporting cast around them.

“We know how good, how great CP is, how great Book is, up-and-coming (surge) from Ayton. It’s the other guys as well that we got to make sure we key on because they’ve been playing well all year, and that’s why they’re the second-best team in the West.”

Related

Charles Barkley in Suns hype video: It's time to rally the ValleyLakers matchup is the 'hard' Suns coach Monty Williams spoke ofLakers are heavy favorites over Suns with historic opening oddsSuns vs. Lakers NBA Playoffs full series time, TV scheduleNuggets trade Peyton Watson to Cavaliers in latest Western Conference offseason moveSuns, Mercury unveil plan for largest outdoor screen for NBA, WNBA arena