It was a win-win for all parties aligned to Team USA. The fans got what they wanted, a Steph Curry and LeBron James link-up. And the legendary duo got what they wanted- the gold medal. But amid the celebrations after winning the Paris Olympics final, 98-87, that too sensationally beating the host nation, France, there was a buried sense of dissatisfaction after the vets participated in the evergreen ‘night-night’ celebration. The reason? This was the last time Bron and Steph donned the national team jersey on the Olympic stage.

“I came into this thinking it would be my one and only time to play in the Olympics and experience this stage,” the Splash Brother said after the Serbia game. “So that was part of my sense of relief and joy (Thursday night) — I didn’t want to be on the team that didn’t make it to the (title) game and didn’t get a gold.” As the writing was on the walls for Curry, King James’ case was different. But on further questioning, the rabbit came out of the hat as he too decided Paris was the final station in his Olympic ride.

According to Marc J. Spears, LeBron James has confirmed that he won’t be a part of the Olympics when the event comes to LA in 2028. “I can’t see myself playing in LA,” LeBron said following the historic win. The 39-year-old has been the focal point of Team USA in this campaign, leading the team in rebounds per game and assists per game on their way to the gold medal.

The 3-time Olympic gold medalist recorded a double-double consisting of 14 points and 10 assists. This came after his triple-double heroics in the semifinal against Serbia when he dropped a 16-12-10 stat line. Overall, in the tournament, the Lakers icon averaged 14.1 points per game, 6.8 RPG, and 8.5 APG.

Stephen Curry, on the other hand, came clutch in the last two games after hitting a shooting slump for the majority of the tournament. His dagger 3 with 33 seconds left on the clock put the game far beyond France, even out of the reach of 7’4″ Victor Wembanyama! “You just marvel at his talent,” the Lakers superstar later said when he was asked about Curry’s performance. “Obviously, I’ve seen it before, you know, on the opposite side. But having him on your side, you just try to get stops and figure out other ways on the other end, but keep finding him, keep getting him the ball.”

His Godlike accuracy from beyond the arc was again on full display, with Steph Curry sinking 8 attempts from the deep en route to his 24 points. Both LeBron and Curry finished their Olympic journey on a high with gold medals after embarking on the road to greatness from the same hospital in Akron, Ohio.

“Same floor, same nurse!” LeBron James and Steph Curry share a bond beyond the court

The ultimate tandem action of LeBron James and Steph Curry came to fruition when they announced their intentions last year to represent the country together. Fast-forward to August 11, 2024, and they have delivered the expected. But their telepathic connection on the court goes far beyond the realm of the hardboard and hoops.

In the Heat Check audiobook, Steph and his father, Dell Curry, revealed a lesser-known fact about his connection to Akron’s own. “The dynamic of you and LeBron being in the same hospital never registered until someone said that,” Dell recalled in the chapter ‘The other kid from Akron’. During Dell’s stint with the Cavaliers, Curry’s mother, Sonya, gave birth to the future legend of the game. According to Sonya, she was rushed to the hospital by Dell’s teammate, Brad Daugherty’s girlfriend, after a Bruce Springsteen show.

LeBron was also born in the same hospital, the Summa Akron City Hospital, in 1984. Bron made his name in Akron after being raised in the same city, while Curry grew up in North Carolina thanks to Dell’s move to the Hornets. And that’s why LeBron James is more synonymous with Akron instead of Curry.

“Oh, maybe the same floor. The story continues to stretch. It was possibly the same floor, same nurse, I don’t know,” Curry sneakily said about his birthplace twin. Almost four decades later, the two are now bidding farewell to the grandest stage of basketball together.

Maybe the game of basketball is scripted after all, not by humans! Thoughts?

Before leaving, do watch the Dual Threat Show hosted by BG12 where Bulldogs’ Asia Avinger details her experience with Kobe Bryant, her WNBA ROTY picks, and more in the video below.