The rivalry between Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is no secret.
The two have traded slight jabs all season long, with the latest coming from Leonard in regards to his belief that James is reluctant to guard him.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith detailed the message on a recent episode of “First Take.”
If true, this would certainly mark a new development in the Leonard-James rivalry. While James is certainly not the defensive force that he once was earlier in his career, he is still one of the most intelligent players in the entire league on both sides of the court.
That being said, in both matchups this season, Leonard has put on an offensive clinic. He scored 30 points and recorded five assists in the the opening-night matchup between the two teams. On Christmas Day, Leonard recorded 35 points and once again logged five assists in the win.
Right now, the Clippers are 4.5 games back in the standings behind the No. 1 seeded Lakers. Despite that, many fans and experts alike believe that the two teams will face one another in the Western Conference Finals this season.
“I was personally told that the quote was, ‘Tell LeBron to stop being scared to guard me,'” said Smith. “That’s what Kawhi Leonard has said to people.”