Steph Curry had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to team up with LeBron James at the recently ended 2024 Paris Olympics. After successfully helping Team USA win its fifth consecutive and 17th overall Olympic gold medal, the Golden State Warrior hopes for another chance to play together with his longtime rival.
Curry and the Warriors faced James when he was still with the Cleveland Cavaliers in four consecutive NBA Finals from 2015 to 2018, sparking a rivalry between the two superstars. It was a breath of fresh air for fans to see the two teaming up in the Summer Olympics.
Curry and James were the leading scorers for Team USA, averaging a combined 29.0 points per game in their undefeated run to win the gold. The victory marked Steph Curry’s successful Olympic debut, winning his first ever gold medal in the once-in-four-years tournament, while it was James’ third.
In an exclusive interview with People Magazine’s Natasha Dye on Tuesday, Steph Curry talked about his experience playing with James in basketball games that had bigger implications.
“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,” Curry said. “I think there’s a deepened respect and friendship there.”
The four-time NBA champion expressed a desire to play with LeBron James in high-stakes basketball in the near future.
“Hopefully, there will be more experiences in the future, even if we’re teammates or not,” Steph Curry said. “Still have to compete against each other until it’s all over.”
Steph Curry says Olympic win pushed him and LeBron James to extend their careers
Steph Curry and LeBron James are nearing the twilight of their respective careers. The upcoming NBA season will be Curry’s 16th and James’ 22nd, and yet they’re showing no signs of slowing down.
Putting their accomplishments in the Olympics aside, Curry is coming off his 10th All-Star and All-NBA selections, while James is a record-setting 20-time All-Star and 20-time All-NBA player.
When LeBron James heads into the next season, he will tie the record for the most seasons played in league history set by Vince Carter. According to Curry, the 39-year-old Lakers forward is still able to defy Father Time due to his fitness regimen.
“It’s everything that most people don’t get to see. It’s the time on the recovery table, it’s the time in the weight room, it’s day in, day out,” Curry said. “That little bit of investment in preparing your body and your mind to perform. There’s nothing really glamorous about it. It’s extremely hard work.”
Steph Curry also suggested that his and LeBron James’ shared Olympic victory inspired them to continue on with their basketball careers. “I think we motivated each other even more to however much longer we have left playing,” he said.
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