LeBron James and Stephen Curry reflected on their intense NBA Finals rivalry ahead of the 2025 All-Star Weekend. The two superstars, who battled in four straight Finals from 2015 to 2018, admitted that their competitive fire fueled a genuine dislike for each other during those years.
James acknowledged that their mutual disdain stemmed from the relentless pursuit of championships. “I mean, s—, when you’re in a dogfight and there’s one guy that’s trying to stop you from reaching your goals, you’re going to dislike that person,” James told Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. “He disliked me, I disliked him because we were both fighting for what the f— we wanted, and that’s the Larry O’Brien Trophy.”
Curry echoed a similar sentiment, revealing that years of Finals battles created a “healthy resentment and appropriate fear.” Despite once idolizing James as a young player, Curry admitted that competition turned admiration into animosity. “All you think about is just winning,” Curry said. “So, yeah, it was petty. It was competitive. Trash talking. All the above.”
While the rivalry was fierce, both players emphasized that there was always respect behind the competitive tension. “I didn’t like the player. The person’s always great. You just hate when he has a jersey on wearing No. 23,” Curry said.
James, now 40, is averaging 24.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 9 assists per game for the Lakers. Los Angeles holds a 32-20 record, sitting fifth in the Western Conference.
Curry, 36, is putting up 23.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game for the Warriors. Golden State is currently 10th in the West with a 28-27 record.
While their battles for championships may be in the past, their mutual respect remains. As their careers near the final stretch, their rivalry stands as one of the most defining in NBA history.
