“Oprah Moment”: Stephen Curry & Kevin Durant Team-up Has Brought ‘Joy’ Back to LeBron James’ Career Ahead of Year 22

With the Paris Olympics only a week away, fans are eagerly waiting for the star-studded Team USA to take center stage. More so because, for the first time in a competitive environment, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant will be sharing the court as teammates. While all three legends are in the later stages of their careers, with LeBron being the oldest at 39 and heading into his 22 NBA season, their focused pursuit of gold could rekindle their joy for the game, especially for King James.

Unlike the grueling NBA season that lasts almost the entire year and has every team playing a minimum of 82 games plus the playoffs, the Olympics only lasts a few weeks with far fewer games. This setting could be a boon for an aging superstar like LeBron James because playing in limited games, especially with teammates as talented as Steph and KD, could help him unleash his maximum potential every night. Discussing this on The Rich Eisen Show, media veteran Vincent Goodwill said, “There’s a defined finish line… You’re gonna be in this environment where iron shapes iron, you’ve never played on the team with Stephen Curry before, he’s been in the Olympics with Kevin Durant before. He wants to be on this team with Anthony Edwards and some of the new blood. I think it’s kind of reinvigorating for a guy like that where it almost brings the joy back.”

Moreover, LeBron, Steph, and KD will likely be far more grateful for being surrounded by so many star players because of their recent struggles with their respective NBA teams. Goodwill added, “LeBron, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, those teams they’re on are miserable. You’re not Championship teams in Phoenix, in Golden State and the Lakers. So, this is not just a vacation, this is almost like an Oprah moment. You’re renewing your spirit.”

LeBron James acknowledges the surreality of teaming up with Steph and KD

As Goodwill pointed out, LeBron, KD, and Steph failed to advance past the first round of the playoffs this past season. This opportunity to win gold for their nation together, which may also be their last Olympic trip considering their age, couldn’t have come at a better time. Even LBJ knows how big this moment is in his career, saying, “It’s surreal. Anytime I see a clip, (when) I go on social media and see a clip of us walking into the building, like yesterday, I think we all walked into the building (together) and I was like, ‘Damn, that s**t’s crazy.’”

More importantly, LeBron is clearly having the time of his life on the court with Steph and KD. During recent showcase games against Canada, Australia, and Serbia—all of which Team USA won—LeBron looked like a kid in the park living his dream. From catching lobs from Steph Curry to setting KD up for open shots, LeBron’s joy on the court belies his 22-year career. Even KD acknowledged how contagious James’ energy is for all his teammates, saying in a recent interview, “It’s just the enthusiasm and the energy he has for the game, it’s just contagious. The more you’re around him as a teammate, you can see why he’s considered the best player to ever play.” Hopefully, the trio can use this energy and joy to lead Team USA to another gold in the Olympics.

What do you think about LeBron, Steph, and KD teaming up for the Olympics? Do you believe this could be the spark that leads Team USA to gold, and how do you think this experience will impact their NBA careers? Share your thoughts in the comments below!