The rivalry between Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and Golden State Warriors icon Stephen Curry has defined nearly a decade of NBA history. This intense competition will see another chapter unfold as the Lakers and Warriors face off on Christmas Day.
Much of this rivalry was cemented during James’ tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers, with the two stars meeting in four consecutive NBA Finals from 2015 to 2018. However, their competitive clashes have continued since LeBron joined the Lakers, most notably during a fierce second-round playoff series in 2023, where the Lakers eliminated the Warriors in six games.
Over time, the tone of the rivalry has shifted. Speaking to ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Curry reflected on the evolution of their relationship, emphasizing the growing respect between them compared to earlier years:
> “It’s a fun battle because of the longevity of how long we’ve been doing this. There’s more appreciation and respect than probably back in the day. There was a lot of pettiness and resentment—the rivalry was real. But it evolves. We still want to go at each other, but the respect is there. Now, there’s a couple more gray (hairs), a couple more kids.”
This mutual respect likely deepened during the summer when the two were teammates on Team USA, showcasing remarkable chemistry while leading the team to a Gold Medal at the Olympics. The experience sparked speculation about a potential NBA partnership between the two legends. However, Curry downplayed the likelihood of such a scenario, while leaving the door slightly ajar:
> “Probably not. But I think the ‘what ifs’ and all that type of stuff, we kind of just leave that for whatever platform people wanna talk about it on.”
LeBron James Cherishing Matchups With Stephen Curry
LeBron James echoed Curry’s sentiment, expressing his appreciation for every opportunity to compete against one of the game’s all-time greats. Acknowledging their storied rivalry, LeBron admitted that he doesn’t take these matchups for granted, especially as their careers wind down.
> “Always. Anytime you get an opportunity to be on the court and compete versus one of the greatest to ever play this game, you do not take it for granted,” James said. “You don’t know how many more opportunities you are going to get to go against each other, so it’s always fun.”
While the idea of James and Curry teaming up is intriguing, the likelihood of LeBron leaving the Lakers to close out his career is slim. Both players are cemented as two of the greatest in NBA history, and their rivalry has captivated basketball fans for years. Now, the focus is on savoring the few remaining battles between these two legends.
