“Our Game Stood Out”: Stephen Curry Backs LeBron James’ Bold Claim on Their Rivalry Defining NBA’s Greatness

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“LeBron and Steph” is what LeBron James said when asked the one good thing that is still going on in the league today. For over a decade now, the two veterans have been present as the prominent faces of the NBA. This was thanks to not only their individual prowess, but also the Larry Bird-Magic Johnson type rivalry the duo ignited. After all, long-time fans may still remember the intensity of when the duo’s respective teams competed in the NBA Finals. 4 years in a row! Even now, as he and Curry approach the final years of their NBA careers, the All-Time Scorer does not underestimate the hype that their professional rivalry holds. It is a message that Stephen Curry himself endorses.

In the aftermath of the recent Warriors-Lakers Christmas Day game, Stephen Curry heard about LeBron’s recent remarks. In response, the Three-Point Leader stated, “That’s a good answer. That’s why we’re playing today. Who knows what comes in the future but basketball, i’ve been watching it since I woke up this morning. All games. I’m probably going to watch this thing at halftime, the Phoenix Nuggets game and I know our game stood out. You feel privileged to be in those types of situations, for sure.”

Ever since LeBron James signed on with the Los Angeles Lakers back in 2018, every matchup between that franchise, and the Golden State Warriors, has been the one that NBA enthusiasts just cannot miss out on. The same proved true when the two teams recently met, for the Christmas Game, at the Chase Center. Stephen Curry once again led the offensive effort for the Warriors. He scored 38 points, 1 rebound, and 6 assists. 17 of those points came in the 4 quarter itself, as a neck-to-neck battle continued rampaging on.

Meanwhile, LeBron James didn’t choose to be left behind. He led the scoring effort for the Lakers with 31 points, 4 rebounds, and 10 assists. By the time the clock had just 13 seconds remaining, Curry had made two additional 3-point shots. It helped to tie the game at 113-113. Unfortunately for Dub Nation, Austin Reaves made a layup as the clock went down to just 1 second remaining. The Warriors couldn’t recover, and the jubilation reigned with LeBron James and co. Such close games, filled with exciting clutch moments, are what have continued to keep the Lakers-Warriors rivalry an interesting one.

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LeBron James has not shied away from highlighting how memorable playing against Stephen Curry has been for him. During ESPN’s Christmas Special segment, which hosted Curry, LeBron, and Kevin Durant together, for a conversation, the now-Lakers star went back in time.

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He highlighted the intense Cleveland Cavaliers–Golden State Warriors rivalry, which was at its peak between 2014 and 2018. Remembering those, he stated, “Those four straight years, Cleveland versus Golden State. It was literally like East Coast vs. West Coast. It was like a rap beef. Golden State on the West Coast and the Cavs on the East Coast. It was like a rap beef”. Those previous games, and the most recent ones, helped create memories not only for the players but for their respective coaches too.

Steve Kerr and JJ Redick highlight the impact of LeBron James and Stephen Curry on the league: “Main flag bearers for the league”

Praise doesn’t come easy when you spent 4-5 years playing alongside the likes of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. However, having coached the Golden State Warriors for over a decade now, Steve Kerr has seen firsthand how Stephen Curry brought in the franchise’s ‘Golden Era’. He saw the fights that Curry and Co had to put up against LeBron James’ led Cleveland Cavaliers. Therefore, when asked what it was like to coach both Curry and LeBron during the 2024 Paris Olympics, we can believe that Kerr was telling the truth.

“It was the thrill of a lifetime… Two of the all-time greats” said Kerr. “Two, I would say, the main flag bearers for the league in this generation. Pretty awesome to watch them, and to coach them.”

JJ Redick played in the NBA from 2006 till 2021. Therefore, he had both Stephen Curry and LeBron James, as rivals, for the major part of his playing career. Now, he gets to coach one of them and figure out strategies on how to get the better of the other one. For Redick, the legacy created by the duo is one for the history books. After all, nothing else may have caused him to recently state “I think the torch bearer-sorta terminology is very accurate in a sense that they’ve, the same that Magic (Johnson) and Larry (Bird) in the ’80s, and MJ (Michael Jordan) in the ’90s, Kobe (Bryant) for a long time. In some ways, they’ve carried the league, and the popularity, the growth, all that stuff, they’ve had a big part in that, and certainly those consecutive Finals against each other really helped in that.”

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It will be a sad day when LeBron James and Stephen Curry are no longer a part of this league. Therefore, before that day comes, NBA enthusiasts should cherish the time they have still got with the two stars.