Los Angeles Clippers big man Patrick Patterson believes Kawhi Leonard and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James are motivated by the thought of defeating each other.

Both Leonard and James are trying to deliver a championship to LA, for different franchises of course. Whichever star wins a title first in LA will likely be deemed the King of the city, something Patterson says is likely on the minds of LeBron and Kawhi:

“They’ll never acknowledge it, but I think under the table, yeah,” Patterson told Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report. “You’ve got two guys in L.A., of all places, who are both eyeing the same prize and are on tremendous teams and have a tremendous chance of making it to a championship and winning it. Our goal, first and foremost, is to get to the postseason, but I think there’s a little eyeing going back and forth. There’s got to be.”

The Lakers are in first place in the Western Conference with a record of 24-6. The Clippers, meanwhile, are 22-10, good for fourth place.

The Lakers and Clippers face off for the second time this season on Christmas Day. Leonard and the Clippers won the first matchup on opening night. The Clippers won despite not having Paul George in the lineup.