Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry may have been bitter rivals for years, but their recent partnership on Team USA at the Paris 2024 Olympics has resulted in an unforgettable friendship-and plenty of trash talk.
On a recent episode of their Mind the Game podcast, James could not resist hilariously roasting his teammate over a wild moment from their Olympic gold medal game victory against France.
LeBron James brushes off a fan while Carmelo Anthony laughs at the moment
The specific moment James joked about was a clutch, contested three-point shot Curry took late in the game, which James dubbed “that crazy s**t.”
The Lakers forward teased his former rival about the daring attempt: “Oh you talking about when you were quadrupled teamed. I can’t believe you froze us out like that. Just shot that crazy s**t,” James said, recalling the audacious play.
An important moment for Curry and Team USA
That sequence of high-stakes shooting by Curry became the defining factor in securing the gold medal for Team USA.
With France battling back and cutting the lead to just three points in the final minutes, Curry erupted for a stunning barrage of four consecutive three-pointers in a span of just 2:47.
The last of these shots, the one James specifically referenced, saw Curry launch from deep with multiple French defenders collapsing on him.
As the ball dropped through the net, Curry immediately signaled his signature “night-night” celebration, cementing the victory.
The roast didn’t stop there. James also mocked the two-time MVP’s reaction immediately following the dagger shot.
“He didn’t see the rim on the last one. He thought they called a timeout,” he added.
“He ran down the whole right side went around the teammates on the bench. I’m like, yo, yo, we got a guard still, bro,” James recalled, laughing at Curry’s momentary “freeze-out” of his teammates as he became completely locked into the clutch moment.
Good memories despite franchise rivalry
The shared experience was a career highlight for both players, who had famously battled in four straight NBA Finals from 2015 to 2018.
Reflecting on finally sharing a court with one of the greatest rivals of his generation, James was genuinely complimentary.
“Bro, it’s one of the best experience like it was everything. People ask me all the time like ‘Finally got an opportunity to play with Steph, what was it like’ I was like ‘everything and more’,” he stated.
Curry completed his trophy case with the Olympic gold, having finished the game with 24 points, all scored from beyond the arc on an impressive eight-for-12 shooting performance from three-point range.
