The similarities are obvious: They’re both All-Star small forwards with laid-back personalities, silky jump shots and dogged work ethics.

It is the foundation of a bond based on mutual respect. Because when the Warriors host the Pacers on Monday night, Kevin Durant will not only match up against one of his elite counterparts.

“He’s my favorite player in the league,” Durant said of George at shootaround. “I’ve been saying that for a while. Just so smooth, man. He can do it all: pass, rebound, defend, post up, shoot the ball. He’s my favorite player.”

Unlike Durant, a prodigy groomed for greatness since grade school, George was the prototypical late-bloomer. A lightly touted prospect coming out of Knight High School outside Los Angeles, he spent two seasons at Fresno State before the Pacers took him 10th overall in the 2010 NBA Draft.

It wasn’t until George’s third NBA season, when he started to emerge as one of the league’s best forwards, that Durant started to take a real interest in George’s career. The two became close playing together for the U.S. national team. During the season, they know when to be friends and when to be competitors.

“When you’re on the court, you act like you don’t really know those guys,” Durant said. “Then, when the game’s over, it’s all love.”

Durant has gotten the best of his buddy for the most part. In their eight career meetings, he has gone 5-3 and averaged 33 points. Monday marks Durant’s first time facing George because, when Golden State routed Indiana on Nov. 21, George was out with an ankle injury. He returned for Sunday’s win over the Clippers, finishing with 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.

“You really can’t even look at the film from last game” against the Pacers, Stephen Curry said. “They run the same plays, but different personnel. We have to be ready for what we’ve seen them do in their last couple games.”

Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @Con_Chron