LeBron James and Stephen Curry have become icons of the NBA. The two have been rivals throughout their prime, most notably during the 2015-2018 season, when Curry and James repeatedly met in the NBA Finals.
James and Curry have never been shy about admitting their admiration for each other. When Curry emerged as a rising star at Davidson College, James was in the stands watching the game. Despite being rivals for more than a decade in the NBA, they have always praised each other and expressed their desire to one day become teammates.
After the NBA All-Star Games, we finally got to see James and Curry play together in a major tournament, the 2024 Paris Olympics. Join Sporting News to learn about the journey from rivals to teammates of two of the NBA’s top stars.
The Relationship Between LeBron James and Stephen Curry
LeBron James Watched Stephen Curry’s Davidson Live Twice
It all started when Curry blew up at March Madness in 2008. The “Baby-Faced Assassin” captured the hearts of Americans by scoring 40 points against Gonzaga and 30 points against Georgetown in two surprising wins to open the tournament.
In the Sweet 16, Davidson played in Detroit. At the same time, James’ Cleveland Cavaliers were visiting the Detroit Pistons. And so the then 23-year-old LeBron got his first taste of his future opponent.
The following December, James and Curry met again on the court, this time in Charlotte. Curry’s Davidson played NC State in Charlotte, while James’ Cavaliers played the Hornets in the NBA. In that game, Curry once again exploded with 44 points and led Davidson to victory.
In the 2009 Draft, Curry was selected 7th overall by the Golden State Warriors and officially entered the NBA. However, the two only really reached their peak and created the most exciting competition in NBA history since 2015, when the Cavaliers and Warriors met in 4 consecutive NBA Finals.
4 straight NBA Finals
Of the four meetings, Curry and the Golden Gate Warriors have won three, with James and the Cavaliers winning the other. The superstars have always respected each other, but Curry revealed that he believes there is a “healthy resentment” between him and James.
“It’s like a healthy resentment towards someone who’s in your way,” Curry told The Athletic. “But through it all, you have to have the utmost respect for him as a player and as a person. We all know how good James is, and it’s always great to have the challenge of beating him and solving it every year.”
James agrees with Curry, saying the two’s dislike for each other is just a media myth. “No basketball game lasts forever,” James told The Athletic. “You don’t want to waste an opportunity to have a relationship with someone just because of basketball. A lot of you guys grew up in the Bird-Magic era and they didn’t like each other, but Isiah [Thomas] and Magic hugged and kissed each other on the court because it was just mutual respect.”
“They say Michael [Jordan] doesn’t talk to any of the players, but I’m smart enough to know that he and Charles [Barkley] talked a lot in the 1993 NBA Finals and played golf together. So I don’t want to lose those moments [with Curry],” James concluded.
LeBron James and Stephen Curry Finally Team Up for the U.S. Olympic Team
Back in 2022, James mentioned in an episode of “The Shop” that Curry was the player he wanted to play with the most.
“Steph Curry is definitely the guy I want to play with the most. … I love everything about him. You have to keep your eyes on Curry. … You have to be on him from the moment he wakes up and gets out of bed,” James joked.
Curry offered similar praise after playing alongside James during Team USA’s training camp for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Having LeBron as a teammate is incredible, the way he plays is incredible. You know the type of person he is, seeing James practice and prepare every day. I’ve never had that perspective on him,” Curry told Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill.
