With December 22nd recently confirmed as the start date of the 2020-21 season, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers now have a little over a month to rest and recuperate before their title defense commences. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith has spoken out about the same, and he's adamant as to which team will serve as L.A.'s biggest threat to a repeat.

According to Smith, no other team in the NBA will pose a bigger challenge to the Lakers than the Golden State Warriors:

“For a simple reason, it doesn’t need to be complicated, like some people might try to make it, they have the greatest shooting backcourt known to man,” Smith said on First Take, via Alex Didion of NBC Sports. “There has never been anybody, a backcourt in NBA history, that can shoot like these brothers, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.”

Article Continues Below
More Warriors News
Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) looks on during the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers in game two of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center with Draymond Green and Thunder's Chet Holmgren in the background
Thunder’s Draymond Green drops Alex Caruso over Chet Holmgren NBA Finals takeJosue Pavon ·
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr talks to guard Brandin Podziemski (2) during the second half.
Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski hilariously shoots down Steve Kerr comparisonsJosh Davis ·
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts during the second half in game five of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena.
How Don Nelson will ‘protest’ Luka Doncic trade at award ceremonyMalik Brown ·
Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) sit on the bench during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game one of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena
Former Warrior Nick Young admits ‘confusion’ on JR Smith ruining LeBron James’ NBA Finals masterpieceJosue Pavon ·
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) defends against Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) during the fourth quarter at Chase Center.
Warriors’ Draymond Green reveals Kevin Durant trade was ‘at finish line’Troy Finnegan ·
Stephen Curry Olympics dagger against France
Clippers’ Nic Batum drops eye-opening take on Stephen Curry’s Olympic heroicsAlex House ·

There are no lies here. The Warriors had a miserable run in the 2019-20 season–they ended up with literally the worst record in the entire league with 15 wins against 50 losses–simply because both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were sidelined with injuries. Both players will be back for the Dubs to start the new campaign, and much like Smith, many consider the Warriors to mount a serious challenge to the title this coming season.

Smith was also emphatic–as always–about his belief in how Curry and Thompson represent the greatest backcourt in the history of the sport. It's also hard to argue against his point here, given how the two have terrorized the league for many years.

Nevertheless, LeBon James and the Lakers will certainly be up for the challenge.