LeBron James competed against Stephen Currybattled him and the Golden State Warriors for NBA titles over a defining chapter in the league’s history.
Until this summer, they had never really played together. after winning gold during the Paris Olympics — an experience that saw Team USA tested in the kind of ways competitors like James and Curry crave — prospects evolved.
“It was everything and more. I was very excited to finally be able to team up with him in a win-or-die atmosphere,” James said of the experience. “That was, being part of the Olympics. It was everything I dreamed of and aspired to want to be a part of that team, along with Steph. Great memories. Something I’ll remember from my basketball career for the rest of my life, for sure.”
It’s a safe bet that the memories won’t affect the competition when the Lakers and the Warriors face off again, which will happen for the first time Tuesday during a preseason game in Las Vegas. But the success and pictures of James and Curry partying together had people wondering if there was any way the two could be collaborators again.
“I have no idea,” James said. “I have no idea.”
The probability of a Curry-James working relationship has to be considered incredibly low, given the complications a business would present if the two even tried to force the issue, which no one has ever indicated has happened.
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However, the time in Paris with Curry did more than just reinforce the things James learned in the decade-plus competition with the Warriors star.
“I think just when you’re around somebody every day, you can be around them and you see how hard they work, you see how much they’re committed to the game, then that’s the appreciation and the respect right away,” James said. “So, I understand what Steph did for this game. I understand what he’s done for this organization, what he’s done for the community, people all over the world. Just by his approach to the game and how he is as a man. How he is like a family member. How he is as a husband, a dad, a son, all those things.
“So when you have that kind of respect for someone and then you’re around them every day and you see the way they operate and the way they approach their craft, it’s a pretty cool thing. You can only respect that and not take it for granted.”
LeBron James wants Bronny to speak for himself
The pressure and attention on Lakers rookie Bronny James through three games is different than it is on anyone else picked late in the second round, and for obvious reasons.
Through three games, it would be a lie to say anything other than LeBron James’ son has struggled. He made just one of 11 shots from the field and has five turnovers to a single assist. The Lakers were outscored by 40 points in 35.6 minutes of Bronny James, tied for the second worst plus/minus in the NBA this preseason.
When asked how his son handled the struggles and adjustments, LeBron James did not respond.
“You have to ask him. That’s an adult. Ask him how he deals with it,” he said. “And then we go from there. But he is an adult. He is a professional. He can handle all this pressure himself. But we know why – good or bad why – the attention is here.”
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Lakers coach JJ Redick said he didn’t think Bronny James played nervously in the preseason games.
“For us, the thing we talked about with him is, like a lot of young players, you just have to be more consistent with your energy and effort every day,” Redick said. “Not to say it was bad, but like today had a great day of practice. We see flashes of that a lot. … I spoke to him about the standard of who he is as a player, he will later build that standard and it will be apparently every game.”
Reaves ankle improving
Austin Reaves’ sore right ankle continues to improve, with the Lakers starting guard saying he could return to the court for some preseason action Tuesday if he continues to improve.
Reaves, who has been going through practice with a brace on his ankle, said he started dealing with soreness after playing against the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 6 in Palm Desert. He did not play in the victory of the Lakers in Milwaukee.
For Reaves, who didn’t miss a game last season despite spending the previous summer with Team USA, it was a welcome day off.
“Where I came from, my basketball coach was our strength coach and things like that. We didn’t really have all the resources that everybody has now. So even coming into the league my rookie year, I thought if you were in the training room, that meant you were hurt,” he said.
“So trying to grow from that and get into good habits of being in the training room every day, just working on your body and making sure you’re in a good place to keep playing and being there for your team. That is the main thing. And like you said, any time you can sit back, kick your feet up and relax, you should do it. Because it’s a long year.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
