Stephen Curry expressed his enjoyment in playing alongside what he considers one of the most talented groups he’s ever been a part of on Team USA. When asked by Fadeaway World about sharing the court with LeBron James, Curry praised all his teammates.
“It’s a lot of fun. Every player on our team is here for a reason, committed to winning and bringing their best to the game. We have a high basketball IQ, making smart plays and leveraging each other’s strengths. We understand the challenge of winning six games in the Olympics, but it’s easier with this group. We each have different strengths and weaknesses, yet we’re all very experienced and know what it takes to compete at a high level. It’s been enjoyable to bring that all together.”
Curry is representing Team USA at the Olympics for the first time in his career, marking a new experience for him with such an elite group of players. While LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Anthony Davis were part of the highly successful 2012 Olympic team, and Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, and Bam Adebayo participated in the 2020 Olympics, Curry is new to this level of international competition.
As a first-time Olympian alongside younger players like Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton, Curry is aiming to achieve the only major accolade missing from his career: an Olympic Gold medal. With the exceptional talent surrounding him, he is optimistic about their chances not only to secure the Gold in Paris 2024 but also to thoroughly enjoy the experience.
Stephen Curry Admits There Was Tension Between Him and LeBron James for Years
Steph Curry and LeBron James were fierce rivals for nearly a decade, following their four consecutive Finals matchups from 2015 to 2018. Their historic clashes included James leading a stunning 3-1 comeback to defeat Curry’s Warriors in the 2016 Finals, before Curry and Kevin Durant’s Warriors triumphed over LeBron’s teams in 2017 and 2018.
Curry admitted that during those years, there was a certain level of resentment between them, as each was a major obstacle to the other’s goals.
“It was a healthy resentment towards someone who’s standing in your way. But through it all, there’s always been the highest respect for who he is as a person and player, and for the challenge of trying to beat him and solve that problem every year.”
Their rivalry has since evolved into mutual respect. Since LeBron’s move to the Western Conference in 2018, and with both players no longer facing each other in the Finals or playoffs annually, they have developed a more cordial relationship.
Curry holds a 3-2 edge over LeBron James in their all-time Playoff series matchups. Curry’s victories include the 2015, 2017, and 2018 NBA Championships, which came at LeBron’s expense in the Finals. LeBron, on the other hand, secured the 2016 Finals with one of the most iconic comebacks in NBA history. Additionally, he became the first player to lead a team to defeat the Warriors in a Western Conference Playoff series in over a decade in 2023.
