The Miami Heat forward and Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant are the two best players in the NBA on the two best teams. For each of the past two offseasons they’ve been working out against each other in James’ hometown of Akron, Ohio.

Come Tuesday on Christmas, a day more suited for Peace on Earth, the two will go at each other at AmericanAirlines Arena in their first meeting since the Heat won last season’s NBA Finals. James, despite some believing the friendship between the two stars could soften them up, isn’t expecting their battle to be genteel.

“We’re good friends and we really respect each other’s games, and we love to compete,” Durant said. “You play to win. That’s what we both do. We built a relationship because we were in the Olympics and practiced on the same team every day for a month and a half. That brought us closer.”

“It’s great that they have a relationship, but when they get on a basketball court, they’re competitors,” said Heat guard Dwyane Wade. “They’re going to go after each other just like they would if they didn’t know each other.”

via Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Sun Sports