Team USA totally brought the heat during the 2024 Paris Olympics, snagging that gold like we all knew they would. With that star-studded roster, the hype was real! But it wasn’t all smooth sailing; they hit some bumps in the semifinals and finals. That’s when Stephen Curry really stepped up. After a slow start, he flipped the switch in those last two games, just raining down threes and reminding everyone why he’s a straight-up legend. His performance had folks buzzing—should he have taken MVP over LeBron?

In LeBron James‘ recent chat on the GoJo and Golic podcast, he was asked about Curry’s rookie Olympic journey, and his response was all about respect for his old rival and Olympic teammate. “I knew the onslaught was gonna happen, you know, I knew the barrage and the avalanche was coming at some point, and we saw that in the semifinals versus Serbia and obviously in the finals against the host team in France,” James said. And man, did Curry deliver! In those last two games, he went off, averaging 60 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, with a jaw-dropping 17-of-26 from three-point range.

Steph did what Steph does, hitting those big-time shots and putting everybody to sleep. It was an unbelievable moment, and I was happy to be alongside him,” LeBron said. That hits even harder after Curry’s recent confession in his USA Today interview, where he talked about the friendships formed through their journey. “I played with some of them; I’ve been teammates. Others, I played against for years and liked them, didn’t like them all the way through. But we created friendships and bonds through this experience that I will forever be grateful for,” Curry said.

Their journey, especially those fierce battles when LeBron was chasing that ring in Cleveland, really hits you in the feels. It’s a powerful reminder of how competition can turn into mad respect and lasting camaraderie. Also, during the 2024 Paris Olympics, we got to see these two legends enjoying a solid friendship, joking around after getting off the bus, having fun, and training together before snagging gold for Team USA. It’s super heartwarming to witness that vibe, but it also hits hard knowing we might not see this duo together when the next Olympics comes around. So, let’s soak in every moment they’re still on the court; all we can do is appreciate their greatness while we can.

How Their Rivalry Paved the Way for Their Friendship

For 15 years, Curry and LeBron have been fierce competitors, elevating their franchises and winning the hearts of fans. Despite the intensity of their matchups, a deep mutual respect has always defined their rivalry. Back in the day, LeBron even invited Curry to his crib, fostering that mentor-mentee vibe, but as Curry skyrocketed to NBA stardom, their dynamic shifted.

Their relationship evolved into straight-up competition, especially with the Warriors and Cavaliers clashing in the Finals for four consecutive years, cranking up the tension and creating some distance. While they could never be true friends, mutual respect has always existed between them.

Things took another turn when Curry and LeBron joined forces on the same Team USA roster to snag that Gold Medal. Their bond blossomed beautifully, with both players leading in points per game during the 2024 Olympics. But now reality is hitting hard; they’ll soon be back on opposing teams when the NBA season kicks off in October. What are your thoughts on them?