LeBron James and Step Curry are two names synonymous with modern basketball greatness. I say modern, but their legacy is not restricted to any period. Such has been their domination and impact on the league that they will leave behind an all-timer legacy whenever they decide to call time on their careers. An indelible stamp on a sport that has spanned decades.
But their storied friendship and rivalry began long ago. Long before the two superstars faced each other in the NBA Finals 4 years in a row, a record. LeBron James leading the Cleveland Cavaliers and Stephen Curry orchestrating historic regular seasons with the Golden State Warriors.
Long before LeBron won 4 NBA MVP awards in 5 years, from 2009 to 2013. And Steph became the first to win a unanimous NBA MVP award in 2016, his second MVP award.
It began at Summa Akron City Hospital in Akron, Ohio, where James was born to native Cleveland parents. And exactly 3 years and 3 months later, in the same hospital, on the same hospital floor, the Curry family welcomed their first child. Steph has since then gone on to joke that scouts should be monitoring babies being born at the hospital.
LeBron James and Stephen Curry’s NBA journeys
LeBron enjoyed a fairytale start to his career, being picked number 1 in the draft by his hometown team. He led them back to the playoffs dropping stellar season after stellar season winning back-to-back MVP awards.
He then moved on to the Miami Heat to team up with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in pursuit of his first championship. He won his first 2 championships there, winning 2 NBA Finals MVPs in the process. All the while finding time to show some love to a budding sophomore from Charlotte.
Wasn’t some kid to me! I knew he was SPECIAL that’s why I went to see it up close and personal! https://t.co/x5NPFuC5KN
— LeBron James (@KingJames) December 18, 2019
After being picked #7 overall in the 2009 draft, Steph bided his time developing his game in San Francisco. And with the arrival of Steve Kerr, Curry formed a fearsome trio with Draymond Green and his Splash Brother, Klay Thompson, that dominated the Western Conference for half a decade. In the 2014-15 season, he made his first NBA Finals going up against the returning LeBron’s Cavaliers.
In a to and fro that spanned 4 years, the Golden State Warriors with their superteam won 3 championships. And the Cavaliers took home, the most spectacular comeback Finals win in 2016.
LeBron has since then left his Ohio home once again to move to LA for the iconic Lakers franchise. And Steph has endured a Kevin Durant exit, a Klay Thompson injury that has forced the Warriors to undergo a rebuild.
And on Sunday at All-Star weekend, the 2 biggest NBA stars of the past decade will team up for only the second time ever to represent Team LeBron. And it is all taking place in Cleveland, only a 40-minute drive from where it all started in Akron for the 2 future Hall of Famers.