Skip to main content

NBA insider reveals that tension between LeBron, Curry over GOAT debate ‘was real’


Stephen Curry and LeBron James might have seemed like the best of friends back in July when they conquered a gold medal with Team USA during these past 2024 Paris Olympics, but this wasn't always the case. Moreover, a certain NBA insider recently talked about the time that both players' camps were involved in a heated debate over who was the GOAT. 

Sam Amick of The Athletic reminded us about this time in NBA history. "We were at all those Finals where I don't care what LeBron says now," he recalled. "It's not a matter of them having animosity toward one another, but they were rivals.

"Their camps didn't always love the way that the other player was talked about. LeBron's people did not love it when people started calling Steph the best player in the world. There was a tension that was real."

Nowadays, there is no doubt that they are both future Hall of Famer that helped define this basketball generation. However, even though both superstars share four NBA championships, only LeBron finds himself today in the "greatest of all time" discussions, involving Michael Jordan.

Today, as friends, James has opened up about their relationship. "LeBron versus Steph, they should never smile against each other on the court," the King told USA Today. "They should hate each other. We get it. We understand that a lot of y'all maybe grew up in a (Larry) Bird-Magic (Johnson) era and they shouldn't like each other.

"But I'm also old enough to know that Isiah (Thomas) and Magic hugged each and kissed each other on the floor too because it was just mutual respect. You know what I'm saying?"

LeBron also mentioned how rivals used to deal with each other in the past. "I'm also old enough to know that they say Michael (Jordan) never talked to any of his opponents, but I'm also smart enough to know that him and Charles (Barkley) had a lot of conversations during the '93 Finals and also played golf once against each other," the Lakers star expressed.

The Golden State icon recently said he was looking forward to moments with LeBron, whether they are 'teammates or not'

After winning gold over the summer, Curry spoke with Natasha Dye of People, reflecting on the significance of playing alongside James rather than against him. "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," expressed the Warriors icon. This experience, he noted, was different from any All-Star game, as it involved high stakes and a shared goal.

Curry further expressed his desire for more opportunities to share the court with James, whether as teammates or rivals. "Hopefully, there will be more experiences in the future, even if we're teammates or not," he added. "We still have to compete against each other until it's all over."

For many NBA fans, the idea of Curry and James teaming up on an NBA roster is tantalizing, though it remains unlikely. Despite this, the idea has fueled plenty of speculation, especially as both players approach the latter stages of their careers.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NBA Monday Morning Shootaround: LeBron James, The Hunger Games, and More - Bleacher Report

Welcome to the "Monday Morning Shootaround," Bleacher Report's recap of the weekend that was in the NBA. Along with getting you caught up on the weekend’s playoff action, we’ll give you a sneak preview of what could potentially be the greatest basketball book of all time, show you the best 70-year-old playground superstar ever, and tell you about a young star that just might choose religion over the fame and fortune of the NBA. The Opening Tip * ABC cameras caught LeBron James reading The Hunger Games before the Miami Heat played the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. Shortly thereafter, the Miami Heat small forward proceeded to go into full Katniss Everdeen mode to the tune of 40 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists as the Heat pulled out a hard-fought 101-93 victory. After a slow start, Heat guard Dwyane Wade finished with 30 points, nine rebounds and six assists of his own. But Sunday afternoon was all about James and his gaudy numbers, virtually all of which we...
Post a Comment
Read more

Breaking Down the Differences Between LeBron James and Kevin Durant - Bleacher Report

LeBron James and Kevin Durant are being coined as "the future of the NBA 's next generation." That is certainly true, but they aren't exactly on the same level. LeBron and Durant are two different players, who bring varying skills to different facets of the game. Instead of just comparing them in a "who's the best" fashion, let's take a minute and break down which player excels in each and every facet of the game of basketball. Ahead is a breakdown of the differences that exist between LeBron and Durant.  Scoring Ronald Martinez/Getty Images LeBron 2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 27.1 points, 53.1 FG%, 36.3 3P%, 77.1 FT% Durant 2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 28.0 points, 49.6 FG%, 38.7 3P%, 86.0 FT% Scoring is what Kevin Durant does. It's not only his specialty, it's also what makes him such a dangerous and elite player. With that being said, LeBron isn't exactly a slouch on the offensive side of the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Luka Dončić joins LeBron James, Magic Johnson and Jerry West as only Lakers to post 30 points and 15 assists in a game

LeBron James joined a club of one on Tuesday , while Luka Dončić joined a club of four. With 30 points and a Lakers career-high 15 assists, Luka Dončić became only the fourth player in Lakers history to post those totals in a single game in a 136-115 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. The other three: James, Magic Johnson and Jerry West. We'll call that a solid group. That performance included a stretch of three straight 3-pointers to set the tone in the first quarter. It was once again the LeBron and Dončić (LeBrončić?) show, as Dončić's co-star posted 34 points on 10-of-18 shooting, eight rebounds and six assists. Center Jaxson Hayes also had one of the best games of his Lakers career, scoring 19 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting plus 10 rebounds. Dončić was two points away from tying his Lakers career high in points as well, and likely would have gotten it had L.A. not taken its foot off the gas in the fourth quarter. After a back-and-forth first half in which the P...
Post a Comment
Read more