The rivalry between Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and Golden State Warriors legend Stephen Curry has been intense and long-standing, dating back nearly a decade. Recently, they faced off once again on Christmas Day, adding another chapter to their storied competition.
For years, the two titans clashed on the NBA stage, most memorably during four consecutive finals between 2015 and 2018 when James played for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Although their on-court meetings have shifted since LeBron joined the Lakers, the mutual respect between them seems to have grown. Speaking to ESPN, Curry remarked, “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.”
This respect solidified during their time as teammates on Team USA, where they united to clinch the gold medal at the Olympics this past summer. This success led fans to wonder if they would ever share the same NBA court as allies. Yet, Curry poured cold water on those hopes during his recent interviews, stating, “Probably not. But I think the ‘what ifs’... we kind of just leave for whatever platform people wanna talk about it on.”
Despite his dismissal of immediate possibilities, excitement among fans continued to rise, especially after heartwarming moments captured during their Christmas Day encounter. While warming up, LeBron playfully attempted to block one of Curry’s shots, leading to laughter and camaraderie between the two stars as they embraced. Social media was flooded with comments urging the two legends to team up before their careers conclude. One fan stated, “Let them play together. Is all I ask, last ride,” summing up the sentiments of many eagerly anticipating the idea of Curry and LeBron uniting.
Interest from the Warriors to pursue such a collaboration reportedly grew last season, with insiders noting trade discussions between franchise owners Joe Lacob and Jeanie Buss. Even Draymond Green allegedly campaigned for the addition of LeBron to the Warriors. But the pursuit never materialized due to concerns from LeBron's agent, Rich Paul, who feared potential backlash over him switching teams for the fourth time. According to Marc Stein, veteran insider, “Sources say Paul implored both teams to scrap the concept... largely because he wanted to insulate James from potential backlash over switching teams for the fourth time.”
Now, with both players past their prime, the clock is ticking for fans who wish to see them play alongside each other rather than against one another. While Curry recently signed a significant contract extension worth $62.5 million projected to keep him with the Warriors through 2027, LeBron remains tied to the Lakers by his own $101.3 million extension. This leaves the possibility of teaming up largely dependent on LeBron demanding a trade out of Los Angeles.
Fans' desires for this union were palpable, particularly through social media posts advocating for such moves. One particularly fervent supporter stated, “Bro @warriors please. Make the trade. @Lakers we got Kuminga, Podz, Trayce, Wiggins, Moody, and some picks. What you want?”
Despite their respective contracts, the Warriors are aggressively searching for another star to sit alongside Curry. Their interest recently extended toward players like Lauri Markkanen and Cam Johnson. Reports indicate they are willing to part with young assets to make impactful additions to their roster. Many fans and analysts believe this could open the door for LeBron's acquisition if presented with the right trade package.
So, as fans hold onto hope, the reality remains with LeBron and Steph, along with their franchises, to determine the feasibility of their anticipated pairing. Watching them on the NBA court again as teammates would be dream come true for many, but the current contractual realities present significant hurdles to overcome. Nevertheless, Dub Nation is prepared to do whatever it takes to witness this once unimaginable pairing becoming reality.
With the continued evolution of their relationship and their careers still active, the basketball world can only wait and see what the future holds for Stephen Curry and LeBron James.
