Nothing plagues LeBron James like Stephen Curry and the Warriors

Best player of his generation should have nothing to prove. And yet Golden State always seem to end up standing in his way

In his 20th NBA season LeBron James has officially reached the ageist chapter of his hero's journey. Since passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer, the 38-year-old hasn't been able to take a dribble without being declared the oldest to do this or that, as his son literally waits in the wings to take up his father's mantle. But nothing plagues the elder James quite like the Golden State Warriors, a royal pain that simply refuses to go away.

King James surely winced when the defending champions outlasted Sacramento in Game 7 of their playoff series to set up a showdown with his Lakers, which starts on Tuesday night. Already, fan conspiracy theorists are hinting at Adam Silver's invisible hand. This heavyweight fight between sixth-seeded Golden State and the No 7 Lakers isn't just mega for the Western Conference second round; it will hijack the NBA playoffs for the next two weeks. The legacies at stake alone are enormous.