LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry recently sat down for a conversation, where they discussed all types of topics — ranging from life to the NBA, and even to the game itself. They also spoke on that four four-year from 2015 to 2018 where they met in four straight trips to the Finals.
“Those four straight years, Cleveland vs. Golden State, it was literally like, the East cast vs. the West Coast,” said James. “It was like a rap beef. Golden State on the West Coast and Cavs on the East Coast. It was like a rap beef.”
NBA rivalries can often define a whole era of the sport, and that’s almost what we got between LeBron James and Stephen Curry. By now, we all know of their many achievements on the court but some may have forgotten just how intense and passionate their Finals showdowns were.
For James, the whole thing was like a clash of cultures between the East and West and it was fascinating to see how intense the fans could get on either side. He still remembers how much tension there was between the teams, but it was all centered around two players in particular: LeBron James and Stephen Curry. They are arguably the greatest players in the modern NBA and when they battled in their prime, it defined the entire league.
James’ track record dates back 21 years. After being drafted 1st overall in 2003, he has risen to become one of the GOATs of the game as a 20x All-Star, 4x champion, 4x MVP, and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. From 2015-2018, he led the Cavaliers to four straight Finals appearances, including one championship run in 2016.
All of those Finals were against Curry and the Warriors. At the time, Curry was the spearhead of a dynasty in the West with Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and (starting in 2016) Kevin Durant. They won three titles during that span to complete a historic championship run.
As opponents for four straight years, the Warriors and Cavs were pitted as fierce rivals and their high-intensity matchups were always must-see TV. As the leaders of their respective teams, LeBron and Steph were at the center of it all and they were constantly trying to out-perform the other to help their team win the game.
Today, we know that both players actually harbor great respect for each other. As two pioneers of the game, they have acknowledged each other’s skills many times before and they mentioned it again during their time as teammates during the Olympics.
Together, LeBron and Curry gave fans an entirely new perspective on their relationship. Not only was it highly effective, but it was an enjoyable experience for both parties after having learned so much from each other.
Sadly, while the best days of the rivalry are over, it’s not too late for these two to meet up again in a high-stakes environment. With no retirement plans imminent, we might still see the Lakers and Warriors make a run in the West and somehow meet up in the playoffs like they did in 2023.
This Christmas, we’ll get to see the two basketball legends battle it out once again in what could be one of their final showdowns. LeBron has already spoken about the big day and he made it clear that the fans should enjoy it while they still can.
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