Do LeBron James' rings pale in comparison to Steph Curry's championship triumphs?
LeBron James and Steph Curry are two of the greatest players of their generation. James and Curry have won four championships each. This means that the two superstars have won eight of the last 12 titles in the NBA since 2010, which shows their dominance.
James won his four championships in 2011, 2012, 2016 and 2020, while Curry triumphed in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022. The two faced each other in the NBA Finals four consecutive times from 2015 to 2018.
Let's take a look at how they won their championships.
LeBron James' rings
LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010 to join the Miami Heat. In his first season in Miami, James led them to the NBA Finals but lost to the Dallas Mavericks in six games. "The King" returned with a vengeance the following season to win his first championship in 2012.
The Heat defeated the OKC Thunder, led by the young Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. James won his second ring in 2013 when the Heat triumphed over the San Antonio Spurs in seven grueling games. However, they failed to win three straight championships, falling to the same Spurs team in 2014.
James left the Heat and returned home to Cleveland. He led the Cavaliers to four straight NBA Finals appearances. The Cavaliers lost in 2015, 2017 and 2018, but won one in 2016.
The Cavaliers came back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors to win the 2016 NBA championship. That might be the sweetest of all LeBron James' rings. It's considered one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.
"The King" won his fourth ring in 2020 in the NBA bubble with the LA Lakers. Some fans might put an asterisk on this championship, but it's still a championship.
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Steph Curry's rings
Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors are a dynasty. They made it to five straight NBA Finals from 2015 to 2019, winning three championships. After two disappointing seasons in 2020 and 2021, Curry led the Warriors to their fourth championship in eight years last season.
Curry won his first ring in 2015 by defeating LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Warriors then choked a 3-1 lead in 2016, losing to the Cavaliers in seven games. Kevin Durant joined in 2017 and helped Golden State win back-to-back titles.
Durant left in 2019 and many wondered if Curry could win one without his superstar teammate. After a couple of tough seasons, the two-time MVP proved everyone wrong by winning his fourth championship. He also won his first NBA Finals MVP trophy last season.
Do LeBron James' rings pale in comparison to Steph Curry's? It's hard to say because there are a lot of factors. Some might consider James' rings as superior, while others might side with Curry. James might have the sweetest ring from 2016, but Curry won three of his four rings against "The King."
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