In his first Olympics, Stephen Curry left an indelible imprint. After a cold tournament, his burst in the two most vital games ensured Team USA retained its glory atop the basketball ladder. However, those aren’t the memories he holds with him. The medal means a lot – so much so that he always carries it on his person! But what goes beyond are the bonds he created with the 12 alphas that found a way to co-exist. Spoiler alert: he didn’t necessarily like all of them through their years of NBA competition.

While speaking to USA Today, the Chef was asked what he was most grateful for during his time in Paris and the experience of representing the USA at the Olympics. “What I’ll remember the most is that collection of 12 guys in the locker room.” As expected, the contingent in Paris consisted of A-listers that rivaled the 1992 Dream Team – LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Curry, Jrue Holiday, and Anthony Davis: veterans who are some of the biggest personalities in the NBA. Then, there was the younger generation, which included the likes of Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker, and Jayson Tatum.

As Steph Curry revisited his unforgettable tale in Paris, he remembered the times when he didn’t particularly like some of his Olympic teammates. “Especially in today’s age, it’s really hard for 12 different stories to come together and have a level of sacrifice and commitment to the group to get something done like that.” It took time for Team USA to find its footing and the right balance on court. Remember that exhibition game against South Sudan in the build-up to the Games?

During the interview with USA Today, Steph mentioned how the team had the weight of the country’s expectations on its shoulders throughout the competition, considering the NBA powerhouses it features. So, when they edged out South Sudan in the O2 Arena by just one point, the team wasn’t pleased. As LeBron James revealed, “Coach wasn’t happy with our performance the first time we played South Sudan. So, he kind of got at us, and we went at each other during practice.”

The practices got intense before the Olympics officially kicked off, and the team fine-tuned and ironed out every crease they could. In the end, it paid off. It was a challenge, but it was one that Steph Curry is extremely proud of. “We knew it was going to be a challenge. [But I made] memories for a lifetime with those guys. 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.”

With Kevin Durant, before their three dynasty-building years in the Bay, he and Curry battled to face the King in the Finals. His shared NBA experience with KD, though, helped smoothen their prior animosity. Well, it wasn’t animosity, per se. But according to a 2022 report by ESPN’s Royce Young, KD was ‘jealous’ of the Chef before he joined the Warriors.

“In Stephen Curry, [Durant] saw an accommodating, inclusive star, someone to build a relationship with on equal footing,” Young wrote. “But there was always an undercurrent of jealousy with Curry for Durant. Curry was the golden boy, immune to criticism, free to shoot from 40 feet, and adored by the media.” Even after he joined Steph in the Bay, there was tension between the two stars, per Young, especially after Durant was named the Finals MVP in 2017 and 2018 when many felt it should’ve been Curry.

Young disclosed, “There was no animosity or bad blood, but an unspoken tension lingered. Durant was the outsider in Curry’s domain, the mercenary hired to stack trophies. At least with [Russell] Westbrook, Durant had a bond. An up-and-down one, but one they built together.” Despite being a formidable partnership on the floor, could this ‘unspoken tension’ have played a role in KD leaving the Warriors in 2019? Since that exit, though, Curry and Durant have been nothing but supportive of each other. 

As for the other players in Team USA’s Olympic team, most have had nothing but nice things to say about Stephen Curry, his game, and his personality. The same goes for the Chef’s comments about them. So it’s quite unclear who he “didn’t like” as competitors in the NBA. With LeBron James, though, the two-time MVP’s relation can only be described as complicated.

They were in a relentless battle to be called the best in the game. Recently, The Athletic’s Sam Amick revealed “tension” between the two camps at one point. And judging by the various times they clashed in the Finals and the intensity of it all, it isn’t unfathomable to believe it. But at the end of the tunnel, they are two of the most recognized basketball icons of this era. And their story is wholesome.

Stephen Curry and LeBron James had to hate each other

Before Curry even made it to the NBA, James was his avid fan. His shooting prowess alarmed the basketball world when at Davidson. The Akron Hammer would be a regular member in the stands, watching in awe as Curry shot under incredible distress. In a way, that acknowledgment aided Stephen Curry to embrace his gifts and change the game forever.

However, when he did, he inadvertently stood against LeBron James at the pinnacle. Every season, debates flared about who is the ‘best.’ Curry has spoken about it previously. At that time, he called his feelings toward James a “healthy resentment.” Frankly, without it, Curry might have stuck to being a fan. The 36-year-old could have never been able to conquer the King as he did in 2015 with the degree of admiration he had for him.

At the same time, for James, Curry posed as a wall that denied him the opportunity to fulfill his promise to Cleveland. For the sport of basketball and their legacies, the rivalry was essential. It berthed the most lob-sided era in either conference. For four straight NBA Finals, they faced each other.

But a byproduct of such high-pressure contests is the recognition of the other’s passion. They are both bonded by their love for the game of basketball. And when one sees them now, they celebrate their battles rather than hold grudges because of it. They pushed each other to the brink and enabled each other to achieve unchartered heights.

They were born in the same hospital, they mastered the same sport, and now, nearly decades later, their battles continue to rule the sport. The Paris Olympics provided a special opportunity for them to compete together for the first time. Likewise, their emotions and passion went into high gear.

It’s hard for LeBron James or Stephen Curry to carry hate after the history they share.