Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry has recently focused on positivity, particularly when discussing his rivalry with LeBron James. Following their shared experience on Team USA At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Curry spoke about the strong camaraderie they developed during the competition.
Curry has had a stellar NBA career, but one feat had eluded him until this summer. During a special moment at the Paris Olympics, when he hit a “night” Against France, Curry won his first Olympic gold medal.
For most of the Olympics, Steph struggled with her shooting. Even though Team USA kept winning, her shots weren’t landing the way they normally would, which weighed on her mind.
During his appearance on The Late Show, Colbert teased Curry about how he managed to turn things around, asking him, “What did you do to turn things around? Did you look in the mirror one night and say, hey man, you’re Steph Curry. And you’re like, oh, right, I forgot, I’m Steph Curry.”
Curry laughed and accepted the joke, before emphasizing the important role positive self-talk plays in overcoming difficult times.
LeBron James’ confidence boost helped Stephen Curry overcome his poor shooting streak
The Warriors sharpshooter recalled a moment after playing Puerto Rico in the group stage: “I was doing an interview with one of the guys from the Bay Area,” he said.
“As he’s talking to me, he asks me the same question: ‘What’s wrong with your shot? Are you worried about it?’ And the positive self-talk came out, I was like, ‘No, we’re going to win. I know it’s going to happen. I know a gust of wind is going to come.’ As soon as I said that, LeBron walked right behind me and he said, ‘Holy crap, that’s right,’ in his baritone voice,” Curry hilariously shared.
James and Curry have faced off against each other on numerous occasions, but seeing them team up was a dream come true for many fans. Even Steph admitted that he was momentarily caught off guard and had to make some adjustments.
“First of all, it caught me off guard because I still had to get used to liking this guy because of all our battles,” the Warriors star said. on his exchange with LeBron James.
He stressed that LeBron’s support had significantly boosted confidence at the right time. Despite this, he made it clear that their NBA rivalry remains as strong as ever.
Curry went from averaging 7.2 points in the first four games to 60 points in the last two games, including the semifinals against Serbia and the gold medal game against France. His performance was crucial in securing Team USA’s fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
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The rivalry between Stephen Curry and LeBron James
James was named the tournament MVP thanks to his consistent and all-around performances for Team USA throughout the competition. Knowing Curry’s personality, James encouraged him and had faith that the Warriors star would eventually overcome his slump.
Curry and LeBron have engaged in fierce competition over the years. The four-year rivalry between the Golden State Warriors and LeBron’s Cavaliers in the NBA Finals brought competitive tension between the two. While they weren’t able to become close friends, they shared a mutual respect.
The dynamic changed significantly when the rivals joined forces on the same U.S. team to win the gold medal. Their newfound connection paid off, with both LeBron James and Stephen Curry Team USA’s top player in points per game at the 2024 Olympics.
As the NBA season begins in October, LeBron and Curry will return to their own teams and rekindle their competitive rivalry.
