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Surprise, surprise, Stephen Curry did not face LeBron James this season. Across the regular-season meetings between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, the league’s most familiar rivalry never took the floor.

Thursday night in San Francisco summed it up. LeBron James returned and led the Lakers to a 119-103 win, finishing with 26 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds. Stephen Curry, however, watched from the sidelines, managing a knee issue that has kept him in and out over the past stretch.

LeBron James goes candid about not playing against Stephen Curry this season

It took until the final meeting for both stars to fully register what had happened. Between injuries and timing, they had missed each other every single time.

“We actually talked about it a little bit. We both didn’t even realize it until today. I was like: ‘We haven’t played against each other this year.’ I didn’t even realize that until actually seeing it and they broke down the games. We never know. We don’t know what the future holds. We don’t know if we’ll get the opportunity to play against each other,” LeBron James said of not playing against Stephen Curry this season.

For over a decade, their matchups have shaped the league, from four straight Finals battles to countless regular-season moments. This season, though, timing refused to cooperate.

Curry missed the final three games in the series due to knee management. James had sat out the first, still dealing with sciatica. Individually, the absences made sense. Together, they created a rare gap in one of basketball’s most consistent storylines.

Even so, the respect between them remains unchanged.

“It’s always a pleasure. It’s always an honor just to be in his presence and to be on the floor with him when we have in the past.”

LeBron James may never play against Stephen Curry again

Both players are still performing at a high level, but James' retirement is on the horizon. James is approaching another offseason filled with questions about his future, while Curry continues to manage his workload carefully as the Warriors navigate a shifting roster.

There is no guarantee the two will cross paths again in a regular-season setting. A playoff meeting feels unlikely given the current standings, and the window, while not closed, is no longer wide open.

But again, as of now, it is hard to say, as James might just opt for another season in the league.