After their harmonious performance together in Paris, there's now speculation about LeBron James and Steph Curry possibly joining forces on the same NBA team in the next few years.
Both LeBron and Steph made it clear that playing with each other in the 2024 Olympics was a great experience for them. But while the superstars are set to return to their respective NBA teams, several media outlets are saying that there is a possibility that they could play together before they retire.
That's great to hear, but according to Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd , that talk is nothing but fantasy. Cowherd says that the Olympic tournament is a totally different animal from the NBA and it's unrealistic to expect Bron and Steph to team up.
"Let's appreciate it for what it was," said Colin. "Our aging and somewhat fading superstars on a really cool long vacation and they were asked to work two hours a day on that vacation. Don't confuse a 10-day vacation in July in Nantucket for full-time residency."
A different ballgame
According to Cowherd, the Olympics is a much shorter tournament than the NBA season. It consists of only six games per team—four in the group stages and two medal-round games. The games in the Olympics are shorter by eight minutes, with the FIBA game composed of four 10-minute quarters.
In the Olympics, there is no travel. There are no back-to-back games, three games in four days, or five games in seven days schedules. The players play on a stacked team, where the second unit is as good as the starting five. With all these luxuries, Colin says the Olympics are designed for older players, and that's precisely why Team USA's "elder citizens" shone in the tournament.
"The Olympics is not real life," added Cowherd. "Soak it in. It's like honeymoons…The Olympics are a totally separate experience. Steph and LeBron, if they could play together in 2026, LeBron's in his 40s, Steph's playing 45-55 games, Come on, now."
Related: "You could just feel it, the lack of respect" - Alonzo Mourning on the tense environment in the gold medal game against France in the 2000 Olympics
ESPN insider says 2026 could be an interesting summer
Cowherd was reacting to a recent ESPN show where NBA insider Bobby Marks insinuated that James and Curry could become teammates in the NBA . Marks was making his theory based on the existing contracts that both players currently have.
“I think the big thing to keep an eye on is the summer of 2026,” Marks said . “Steph Curry has two years left on his contract, he has the ability to sign an extension. He could become a free agent also. So, certainly LeBron next offseason or potentially the summer of 2026 when both could be free agents.”
But as Colin said, it's more than just making the finances and rosters work. Winning a championship in the NBA takes much more than that, and with eight titles across their names, both LeBron and Steph know that. I mean, it would be cute if two of the generation's greatest superstars finished their NBA careers as teammates, but that's easier said than done. And even if it can be done, it's not a guarantee of winning the ring.
Related: “An absolutely terrible shot for every other person in the world” - Mike Greenberg crowns Steph Curry’s golden dagger vs. France as the most memorable shot in history
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