The NBA offseason often sees players getting involved in recreational activities, which include other sports as well. In the first week of July, LeBron James posted on Instagram about his experience trying to learn golf during this offseason. Kevin Love, Stephen Curry, Michael Phelps, and even Michael Jordan’s son, Jeffrey Jordan, among other NBA players, and Lakers fans took notice of James’ post and also trolled him for it.
“Welcome. We’ve been waiting for you ,” wrote Stephen Curry in the comments section. While Curry seemed sincere and admirable about James’ attempt at playing golf, he made sure to make fun of the King as well.
During the 36th Annual American Century Championship, Curry impersonated James by copying his golf swing in a video on social media. Following the swing, Curry had a shoutout for James, showing tribute to the King’s very presence in the sport.
“Unbelievable impersonation of my guy Bron’s follow-through in a golf swing. We all want to welcome LeBron James to the world of golf because the game needs you, big fella.”
steph's lebron impression 🤣
"unbelievable impersonation of my guy bron's follow through in the golf swing. but we all want to welcome lebron james to the world of golf because the game needs you, big fella."
(via: @/pgatoursuperstore • ig) pic.twitter.com/d8YZHRjGVf
— nana (@namxsj) July 10, 2025
Some NBA fans were also worried that James is finally embracing retirement as he picked up a commonly known old people’s sport. But Curry and other NBA players seemed to be playful and cheery about it.
Curry is one of the few active NBA players who regularly also play golf. Some other former and active NBA players who play golf are: Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Dwyane Wade, Zach LaVine, and Austin Reaves.
In the offseason of 2023, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson lost in a 12-hole golf challenge against Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, the NFL superstars from the Kansas City Chiefs. If NBA fans are lucky, we could see a similar event where even LeBron James takes part. But that would be his involvement in the sport by playing it. He could also invest in the sport, like Michael Jordan did.
Michael Jordan owns an 18-hole golf course called ‘Grove XXXIII’, which has an exclusive list of members who pay $1 million as a membership fee. Twenty-three seasons into the NBA, James is on the verge of retirement. As a billionaire, if he decides to invest in something like what Jordan did, then maybe he will be able to enjoy his retirement while continuing to earn more money.
As a result, we could see another version of the LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan debate, i.e., the business edition. While Jordan is far ahead in that debate, the world is an oyster of opportunities for James to leave his mark on the business world.
While all of these are major what-ifs, one thing that is for certain is that Curry would welcome and support all of James’ involvement in the sport to help it further grow. Curry seems to like the idea that James could use his platform to promote the sport and enjoy his retirement at the same time.
