Rivalry aside, Stephen Curry and LeBron James have suited as NBA All-Star Game teammates for the Western Conference on occasions. Though typically, these games are more like high-energy scrimmages than nail-biters. However, this time, the stakes are high as the two NBA superstar rivals are teammates for the Team USA basketball team at the Paris 2024 Olympics. It’s no longer about entertaining the fans but proving who truly reigns supreme on the global basketball stage — a stage that Curry is ready to dominate alongside James.
“I’m a good screener and can cause some confusion for a guy like [LeBron] having the ball,” the point guard told The Athletic. “We do it a little bit in Golden State where you have somebody else having the ball and me setting it, and I have a lot of different actions you can run, but if you get (LeBron) going downhill, good luck to anybody trying to stop him and having me come off into space.”
One goal for gold
When Curry and James finally teamed up for Team USA during their Olympic warm-up exhibition against Canada in July, it was a surreal feeling for all NBA fans — two of the NBA’s greatest players ever playing side-by-side. In a moment so distinguished, the guard couldn’t help but recount the times he and LeBron were at odds in the past. But their “resentment” from years back has helped channel a fun new relationship on and off the court.
The duo combined for an iconic alley-oop, showcasing the magic they can create together on the court. There were many rotations being a test match as Coach Steve Kerr was still figuring out the best lineup. But all indications pointed to Curry and James being regular starters in Paris as the team is built around the duo.
After going five of five in their pre-Olympic test games, Team USA cruised through group play with a perfect record. Expectations are sky-high for Team USA to sweep through the 2024 Paris Olympics without a single loss. So far, things are on track for the LeBron-led side. They crushed Brazil in the quarterfinals to set up a semifinal against the Nikola Jokic-led Serbia, a familiar face from their group stage.
Devin Booker led the team with 18 points against the Brazilians while Kevin Durant set an all-time Team USA scoring record for both men and women.