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Dave McMenamin, ESPN staff writer
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – After years of facing each other in the NBA Finals, Lebron James And Stephen Curry United this summer for a common goal – winning a gold medal at the Paris Olympics for Team USA. The question is, will they ever be teammates again?
“I have no idea,” James said Monday.
The league’s all-time leading scorer was asked about the all-time leader in 3-pointers made next. Los Angeles Lakers‘ And Golden State Warriors‘ Two preseason games this week – Tuesday at Las Vegas and Friday at San Francisco.
Although James didn’t doubt the idea, the chances of them being paired together on an NBA court other than the All-Star Game are slim. In February, 39-year-old James He said he hopes to finish his career with the LakersSince then, both he and the organization have shown their commitment to each other, with LA drafting James’ son, bronnie jamesAnd LeBron signed a two-year, $104 million contract extension.
Meanwhile, the 36-year-old Curry signed a one-year contract extension in August for $62.6 million, which will keep him in Golden State through the 2026-27 season — which would be his 18th in the league, all with the same franchise.
“I’ve always said I want to be a warrior my whole life,” Curry told Endscape in July. “At this stage of my career, I think it’s possible.”
Sources told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne that the Warriors inquired about a trade for James leading up to the trade deadline last season, although Lakers governor Jenny Buss told Golden State to contact James’ longtime agent, Rich Klutch Sports. Instructed to speak with Paul, after which nothing happened. So in all likelihood, James and Curry — who played 22 Finals games against each other over a four-year span from 2015 to 2018 — just went on an 11-0 run as teammates with Team USA this summer. Can.
“It was everything and more,” James said. “I was so excited to finally be able to team up with them in a win-or-die environment. That’s what it was like to be a part of the Olympics. It was everything I dreamed of and wanted to be on that team with Steph.” Part of great memories that I will definitely remember for the rest of my life.”
Memories of James’ triple-double and second-half defense continue Nikola Jokic Curry’s flurry of 3s against Serbia in the semifinals and to eliminate France in the title game is a fresh comparison to his encounters with them. cleveland cavaliers And the Warriors — or even between L.A. and Golden State in the postseason in later years.
“I understand what Steph has done for the game,” James said. “I understand what he’s done for his organization, what he’s done for the community, people around the world. His approach to the game and how he is as a person. How he’s a family man. How he is a husband, a father, a son, all that.
“So when you have that kind of respect for someone and then you’re around them every day and you see how they work and how they treat their art, it’s a great thing. You just have to respect that and not take it for granted.”
While James was happy to discuss Curry, he was less eager to answer the question about how training camp is going for Bronny — especially despite only 2 points and 5 turnovers in 35 minutes so far in the preseason. He has attracted all the attention.
“You’d have to ask him,” LeBron James said after practice Monday. “He’s a big man. Ask him how he’s handling it. And then we go from there. But he’s a big man. He’s a professional. He can handle all this pressure on his own. But we Know why – why good or bad – the focus is here.”