"Hopefully, there will be more experiences in the future" - Steph Curry gets candid about partnering with LeBron James after winning gold at Olympics
Golden State Warriors superstar point guard Steph Curry joined forces with his longtime rival LeBron James at the 2024 Paris Olympics. After leading Team USA to its fifth consecutive gold medal, Curry is hopeful the duo will receive another opportunity to team up.
Curry's Warriors famously matched up against James' then-Cleveland Cavaliers in four consecutive NBA Finals from 2015 to 2018, creating an iconic rivalry. Thus, fans were excited to see the two superstars link up on Team USA this summer.
Curry and James finished first and second on the U.S. in scoring, averaging a combined 29.0 points per game as their squad went 6-0 to secure the gold. The gold medal victory marked James' third, with Curry taking home his first gold medal in his Olympic debut.
During a Tuesday exclusive with People, Curry touched on how surreal it was to play alongside James in meaningful basketball games.
"All the battles we've had on the court and the back and forth, the fact that we actually got to be teammates, not just in any game like an All-Star Game or whatever, but in high-stakes basketball with a lot on the line," Curry said. "I think there's a deepened respect and friendship there."
Afterward, the four-time NBA champion expressed a desire for him and James to one day be involved in high-stakes contests again.
"Hopefully, there will be more experiences in the future, even if we're teammates or not," Curry said. "Still have to compete against each other until it's all over."
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Steph Curry says Olympic gold medal victory motivated him and LeBron James to further prolong their careers
Steph Curry and LeBron James are each in the latter stages of their careers, entering their 16th and 22nd NBA seasons, respectively. Nevertheless, both have maintained elite levels of play.
Apart from their standout Olympic performances, Curry is coming off his 10th All-Star and 10th All-NBA selections. Meanwhile, James continues to make history, earning his record-setting 20th All-Star nod and record-extending 20th All-NBA nod this past season.
James' 22nd campaign will also tie him for the most in league history. According to Curry, the four-time MVP's fitness regimen is second to none, allowing him to continue to defy Father Time.
"It's everything that most people don't get to see. It's the time on the recovery table, it's the time in the weight room, it's day in, day out," Curry said. "That little bit of investment in preparing your body and your mind to perform. There's nothing really glamorous about it. It's extremely hard work."
However, Curry added that he and James winning an Olympic gold medal together may have inspired them to prolong their careers even further.
"I think we motivated each other even more to however much longer we have left playing," Curry said.
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