Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry crossed paths in Las Vegas as the U.S. national team held training camp ahead of the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
As a reminder, the 2024 Olympic Games are scheduled to take place in Paris, France, from July 26 to August 11. Before the Olympics begin, the United States national team will play an exhibition game against Canada on July 10. During the 2022-23 NBA season, LeBron James played in 72 games for the Lakers. He averaged 25,6 points, 7,3 rebounds and 8,3 assists per game.
Meanwhile, Stephen Curry played 75 games for the Warriors during the 2023-24 campaign, averaging 26,4 points, 4,5 rebounds, 5,1 assists and 2,9 turnovers per game. The matchup between the two future Hall of Famers at the national team's training camp was highly anticipated, as both players have established themselves as two of the greatest players of their generation.
“Any time you get a chance to share the court with a guy like LeBron, it’s a special opportunity,” Curry said. “We’ve competed at the highest level for so many years, but being on the same team, working toward a common goal, it’s a whole different dynamic.” James echoed Curry’s sentiments, expressing his excitement about learning from the two-time MVP’s experience and leadership.
“Steph is just a pleasure to be around, man. His energy, his competitiveness, his basketball IQ — it’s off the charts,” James said. “I’ve played against him for so long, and now to have him as a teammate, it’s honestly a privilege. I’m trying to soak up as much of him as I can during this camp.”
The two superstars have faced off in the NBA Finals on numerous occasions, with James holding a 3-2 advantage over Curry in championship series matchups. However, now they have the chance to put their on-court rivalry aside and work together toward a common goal: bringing home the gold medal for Team USA.
“At the end of the day, we’re both here for the same reason — to represent our country and bring home that gold medal,” Curry said. “All the individual accolades and rivalries, they take a back seat when you put on that USA jersey. We’re here to compete, to learn from each other and to do whatever it takes to win.”
James echoed Curry's sentiments, expressing confidence in the team's ability to succeed under its two veteran leaders.
“With Steph and I leading the way, and the rest of this talented group, I like our chances of coming out on top in Paris,” James said. “We have unfinished business to attend to and we’re both hungry to add another gold medal to our tally.”
