Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James have been competitors, friends, and occasional teammates for nearly two decades, yet the ongoing first-round series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers marks just the second time the two stars have faced off in the postseason (2012 Eastern Conference semifinals).

As much as the two enjoy challenging each other, Anthony isn't thinking about their friendship when he's matched up with James on the court.

“It's fun for me…I've been playing against him since we was 16, 17-years old, so I actually enjoy those moments,” Anthony told ESPN's Cassidy Hubbarth about competing against James ahead of Monday's Game 4.

“When I'm inside that rectangle, I don't look at him as LeBron…I look at him as someone who can take over the game and dominate a game—who has been dominating the game for so long….We'll still be friends, we'll still be brothers, we'll talk about it after the game or when we get together. But when we inside them lines, I'm trying to beat you, you trying to beat me. And I know that and he knows that.”

Anthony said he's too focused on his team's game plan to converse with a good friend during a heated playoff game. “There's no dialogue. We go through so much as a team…to prepare for those game, you don't have time to say anything during those games.”

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After the Lakers Game 3 win on Saturday, James seemed a bit more affected about the the rare matchup between the two veterans.

“It’s unbelievable,” LeBron James said about guarding Anthony. “We’re 20 years in our friendship. To be at this stage and to see where he is right now after not being with a team and things of that nature, I salute Portland giving him the opportunity.”

“And like I said, it’s just very humbling and something we’ll talk about long after our careers. The battles, not only as opponents as you see tonight, but as teammates in All-Star games and Olympic teams.”