LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are heading to Golden State to take on Stephen Curry and the Warriors this Christmas. While their rivalry isn’t as intense as it was a few years ago, it still carries a ton of weight. If you followed basketball in the mid-to-late 2010s, you know exactly what I’m talking about—those Finals matchups were legendary.

Between 2015 and 2018, James’ Cavaliers and Curry’s Warriors went head-to-head in the NBA Finals four straight times. It felt like the basketball version of a Hollywood blockbuster series. Over their careers, Steph and LeBron have faced off 52 times, including playoffs. That’s a lot of history, folks.

During an NBA Today interview on Tuesday, Malika Andrews asked Stephen Curry if players like LeBron James inspire him. His response? Pure gold. “Offseason workouts… his face is in your head, thinking about who you’re going to have to beat,” Curry admitted.

This is a testament to the legacy of their electrifying rivalry and Bron’s legacy. Fans had to get in on this and they did. Their reactions remind us of the peak NBA during the 2010s.

Fans cherish the rivalry between Steph Curry and LeBron James

One of the fans commented, “I thought they said LeBron not feared???? *laughing emoji*”. If an all-time great like Curry admits LeBron motivates him to train harder, doesn’t that speak volumes about the respect—and, dare we say, fear—LeBron commands? While social media might downplay LeBron’s impact, players like Curry recognize the unique challenge he brings to the table.

This dynamic only deepens the allure of their rivalry, showing that even the best in the game are pushed to new heights by facing one another.

“And you were in Lebrons head every year as well.” wrote another netizen. From the moment Curry and LeBron began facing off in the NBA Finals, there was a clear back-and-forth dynamic. LeBron, who had dominated the league with his all-around game, found himself challenged by the sharpshooting and relentless play of Curry’s Warriors.

In a sense, Curry’s success—and the Warriors’ dominance—created a new kind of challenge for LeBron, one that made him adjust his style, his mindset, and even his approach to postseason basketball.

Another fan rightly pointed out, “It was the west vs LeBron almost half his career”. During mid to late 2010s, the 4x MVP and the Cavaliers, despite their impressive roster, were consistently the team to beat from the East. For a player like LeBron, who had already conquered the East year after year, the Western Conference represented the toughest competition.

Between 2015 and 2018, LeBron James faced the Warriors in four consecutive NBA Finals. Over those four years, LeBron posted some staggering numbers: he averaged 28.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 7.7 assists in the Finals against Golden State.

One LeBron fan probably wrote, “I mean this is facts. He was the final boss, went back for nearly a decade”. From 2011 to 2018, LeBron made it to the NBA Finals in eight consecutive seasons, a feat that’s almost unheard of in the modern NBA. During that stretch, he was the cornerstone of every team he played for—the Miami Heat and later the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Whether it was facing the Spurs in 2013 and 2014 or going head-to-head with the Warriors in four straight Finals from 2015 to 2018, LeBron was always the player every other team had to game plan for, the ultimate goal for every championship contender.

Another fans commented, “That’s what you call a locked in mindset”. For Curry, thinking about LeBron and mentally preparing to battle him on the court means pushing himself to be better, more focused, and more prepared for anything the season may throw his way.

It’s why Curry’s rivalry with LeBron isn’t just about who wins the Finals—it’s about pushing each other to be the best versions of themselves. They feed off each other’s greatness, and Curry’s mindset of visualizing LeBron’s face is just another example of how these two players continue to drive the league forward.