The last time Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry teamed up in the NBA, the result was three NBA Finals appearances and two titles in three years. And then, a few years after separating, they got together as part of the USA Basketball Avengers with LeBron James to lead the United States to a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics last summer.

Durant, 36, famously signed with the Curry-Klay Thompson-Draymond Green Warriors in the summer of 2016, joining a team that had just lost to the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals a year after defeating Cleveland for its first championship in 40 years.

Despite initial shock over the Luka Dončić deal, the Lakers captain is leading with his trademark poise and professionalism, writes .