Stephen Curry just completed a historic summer for Team USA and now he has some time to reflect before getting back to action in October. In a recent interview with PEOPLE, the 4x champion opened up about his Olympic experience and the relationship he developed with his longtime rival, LeBron James.
“All the battles we’ve had on the court and the back and forth, the fact that we actually got to be teammates, not just in any game like an All-Star game or whatever, but in high stakes basketball with a lot on the line…I think there’s a deepened respect and friendship there,” Curry said. “Hopefully, there will be more experiences in the future, even if we’re teammates or not. We still have to compete against each other until it’s all over.”
“I posted the picture of us holding our medals,” Curry added. “There’s a sense of pride being an Olympian, and for him, I know he’s done it before but it’s been a minute since 2012 when he played.”
Curry and James have spent most of their time as enemies, competing for the NBA championship on opposite sides. From 2015-2018, they faced off in four consecutive Finals series with varying results. That doesn’t count their latest clash in 2023 when James and the Lakers defeated the Warriors in the Western Conference Semi-Finals.
This summer, however, James and Curry got to join forces on Team USA and they stole the show at the Paris Olympic Games. During practice and behind the scenes, the pair observed one another and got to strengthen their connection as two students of the game.
On the court, their chemistry made the USA nearly unbeatable. At 39 years old, LeBron won Olympic MVP and his late-game heroics saved the team several times throughout the summer. Curry wasn’t far behind him with averages of 14.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.
In a typical show of dominance, the USA went undefeated this summer but who knows how long that will continue without their two leading superstars in 2028. By then, both basketball legends will likely be retired from the NBA and all professional play.
Until then, both LeBron and Curry intend to compete as hard as they can to win one more championship and enhance their legacy even further. For James, it will no doubt prove challenging to win with a mediocre roster but he showed he can still deliver at a high level and it might be enough to keep the Lakers relevant.
At 36, Curry is only a few years behind the King but his urgency is no less present. After a disastrous 2024 campaign, Steph is on a mission to lead his team to better days, and after a summer hanging out with the master of longevity, he may be poised to have his best season in years.
Sadly, we will likely never see the basketball legends wear the same jersey again but what we witnessed this summer will not be easily forgotten. Their pairing was just how we imagined and after getting a taste of life as teammates, it’s an experience that will likely stick with LeBron and Steph for many years to come.
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