Rivalry aside, Stephen Curry and LeBron James have suited as NBA All-Star Game teammates for the Western Conference on occasions. Though typically, these games are more like high-energy scrimmages than nail-biters. However, this time, the stakes are high as the two NBA superstar rivals are teammates for the Team USA basketball team at the Paris 2024 Olympics. It’s no longer about entertaining the fans but proving who truly reigns supreme on the global basketball stage — a stage that Curry is ready to dominate alongside James.
“I’m a good screener and can cause some confusion for a guy like [LeBron] having the ball,” the point guard told The Athletic. “We do it a little bit in Golden State where you have somebody else having the ball and me setting it, and I have a lot of different actions you can run, but if you get (LeBron) going downhill, good luck to anybody trying to stop him and having me come off into space.”
One goal for gold
When Curry and James finally teamed up for Team USA during their Olympic warm-up exhibition against Canada in July, it was a surreal feeling for all NBA fans — two of the NBA's greatest players ever playing side-by-side. In a moment so distinguished, the guard couldn’t help but recount the times he and LeBron were at odds in the past. But their “resentment” from years back has helped channel a fun new relationship on and off the court.
The duo combined for an iconic alley-oop, showcasing the magic they can create together on the court. There were many rotations being a test match as Coach Steve Kerr was still figuring out the best lineup. But all indications pointed to Curry and James being regular starters in Paris as the team is built around the duo.
After going five of five in their pre-Olympic test games, Team USA cruised through group play with a perfect record. Expectations are sky-high for Team USA to sweep through the 2024 Paris Olympics without a single loss. So far, things are on track for the LeBron-led side. They crushed Brazil in the quarterfinals to set up a semifinal against the Nikola Jokic-led Serbia, a familiar face from their group stage.
Devin Booker led the team with 18 points against the Brazilians while Kevin Durant set an all-time Team USA scoring record for both men and women.
Related: Oscar Schmidt shares how beating Team USA after a miraculous 35-point second-half performance was ‘the best part of his life’
Rivals to teammates
For nearly a decade, Curry and James have been fierce rivals, especially during those epic NBA Finals showdowns between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers from 2015 to 2018. In the 2015 Finals, despite No. 23 averaging 35.8 ppg, Curry and the Warriors clinched their first NBA title in 40 years, defeating the Cavs 105-97 in Game 6.
The rivalry was just heating up. The very next year, it was a déjà vu moment as Bron led the Cavs from a 3-1 series deficit, marking the most historic comeback in NBA Finals history and delivering Cleveland its first-ever NBA title. For his heroics, The Chosen One was named Finals MVP for the third time.
In 2017, these two powerhouses were at it again for the third consecutive year. A dominant 22-point victory in Game 1 by the Warriors set the tone, and they went on to beat the Cavs in five games. The 2018 Finals looked different, with Kyrie Irving now absent, LeBron and Kevin Love were left in Cleveland up against Golden State's fearsome quartet.
In Game 1, LeBron delivered one of his best performances ever, dropping 51 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in a heart-wrenching 10-point overtime loss. But Steph and the Warriors proved too strong, sweeping the series and giving No. 30 a 3-1 edge over the four-time MVP in their Finals face-offs.
While these two have battled fiercely as rivals, their individual brilliance has been a treat for fans. Curry might have the upper hand in titles, but he always respected the competition.
“It was like a healthy resentment of somebody that’s standing in your way,” the Dubs guard said . “But through it all, like there’s obviously the utmost respect for who he is as a person and a player and like how good he is and the challenge of trying to beat him and trying to solve that problem every year.”
The Warriors toyed with the idea of teaming up the duo at last season’s trade deadline. Fast forward to the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and the mission is to bring the gold medal home as teammates.
Related: Steve Kerr on why Devin Booker has started every game for Team USA: "He's probably been the guy who's been most adaptable"
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