LeBron James And Stephen Curry Agree There Was Tension Between Them Years Ago

LeBron James and Stephen Curry discuss the “healthy resentment” and mutual respect that fueled their intense NBA Finals rivalry.

LeBron James and Stephen Curry recently opened up about the tension that once existed between them in an interview with The Athletic’s Joe Vardon. Both superstars acknowledged that while there was a certain friction during their intense NBA Finals battles, it was ultimately a “healthy resentment” driven by competitive spirit.

Stephen Curry: “It was like a healthy resentment of somebody that’s standing in your way. But through it all, like there’s obviously the utmost respect for who he is as a person and a player and like how good he is and the challenge of trying to beat him and trying to solve that problem every year.”

LeBron James: “The game of basketball don’t last forever. You don’t want to waste the opportunity to be able to have a relationship with someone. There’s obviously the utmost respect for who he is as a person and a player.”

“A lot of y’all maybe grew up in the Bird-Magic era and we shouldn’t like each other, but I’m also aware enough to know that Isiah Thomas and Magic hugged and kissed each other on the floor too because it was just mutual respect.”

“They say Michael never talked to any of his opponents, but I’m also smart enough to know that him and Charles had a lot of conversations during the ’93 finals and also played golf against each other.”

James agreed, noting that the perception of a deep-seated rivalry was largely a media creation. He emphasized that the idea of “hating each other” was a false narrative and expressed the importance of building relationships beyond basketball.

James and Curry reflected on how their interactions are often viewed through the lens of past NBA rivalries, like Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson or Michael Jordan’s intense disdain for his opponents. However, James pointed out that even those legendary rivalries had moments of mutual respect and camaraderie.

James and Curry’s shared experience with Team USA has given them a rare opportunity to be teammates and to appreciate each other’s approach to the game. They’ve enjoyed watching each other in practice and learning more about who they are off the court.

Their rivalry spanned four consecutive NBA Finals from 2015 to 2018. Curry and the Warriors won the first championship in six games, while James led the Cavaliers to an incredible comeback from a 3-1 deficit in 2016. The Warriors, bolstered by the addition of Kevin Durant, won the next two titles convincingly in 2017 and 2018.

After James moved to the Lakers and won another championship in 2020, Curry and the Warriors captured another title in 2022. Their most recent playoff encounter came in the 2023 Western Conference semifinals, where James and the Lakers triumphed in six games.

Through these years of fierce competition, James and Curry have emerged with a deep respect for each other, recognizing the unique bond formed through their shared history of basketball excellence.