LeBron James and Stephen Curry acted like buddies at the Paris Olympic Games this summer but there was a point where they were legitimate rivals. Speaking on ‘The TK Show’ this week, NBA insider Sam Amick detailed some of their history and revealed the time that LeBron’s people took issue with Curry’s ascension.
“It was really surreal for me to watch Curry and LeBron specifically just enjoy each other as much as they did (in the Olympics) because we were at all those Finals where it’s not a matter of them having animosity towards one another, but they were rivals,” said Amick. “Their camps didn’t always love the way that the other player was talked about.”
“LeBron’s people did not love it when people started calling Steph the best player in the world, and there was a tension that was real. And then there were on-court moments, right, where LeBron, with his massive size, is kinda bodying Steph and making sure the world sees him as less than and kinda the small, younger guy. That dynamic was real. So, to go from that to these guys genuinely clicking and havin’ such a great time together was the kind of thing I never thought I’d see.”
LeBron James and Stephen Curry were happy to be on the same side this summer and they learned a lot about each other throughout the Olympic tournament. But for those who know their history, the moment was surreal given how much tension there was between them during their many playoff clashes.
For LeBron, the biggest issue was Curry’s greatness overshadowing his own. LeBron has worked tirelessly over the past 21 years to build a legacy as one of the greatest players ever and Steph’s Warriors have been arguably his biggest challenge so far.
LeBron James was still at the peak of his powers when Stephen Curry stole the show. After completing his stint with the Heat, where he won back-to-back championships, LeBron changed the basketball world by returning to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers four years after leaving. With Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love at his side, LeBron was poised to take the Cavaliers to the depths of the NBA playoffs… but Stephen Curry and the Warriors had other plans.
Curry’s reign began back in 2014, months after the Warriors were eliminated by the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round. That year was the start of Steph’s breakout campaign and he went on to win his first MVP with averages of 23.8 points, 7.7 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game on 44.3% shooting from three.
As Steph led a dynasty with the Warriors, winning four championships in the process, LeBron was forced to try his luck out West and it wasn’t until 2020 that he’d win his next title. In that span, countless individuals declared Steph as the best in the league and even though there may have been some truth to it, it rubbed LeBron and his allies the wrong way.
Somewhere down the road, the animosity between LeBron and Curry turned into admiration and now the two superstars are closer to being brothers than they are rivals. Sadly, we’ll probably never get to see them join forces again outside the All-Star game but they’ve done enough in one career to ensure their legacies last for all eternity.
