LeBron James & Stephen Curry are undoubtedly the two best players in modern-day basketball. Fans have been waiting to see them play alongside each other for a team in a season. It has been the first time for the Golden State Warriors talisman to play in the Olympic Games. On the other hand, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar has been a legend and veteran of these Summer Games. LBJ made his Olympics debut in Athens in 2004. He won gold medals in the famous 2008 ‘Redeem Team’ as well as in 2012.
But this year might be special because he teams up with his long-time foe of the basketball court, Stephen Curry. For both Curry and James, the Paris Olympics might be the last time they appear in this competition. Looking at their age as Steph’s 36 and LeBron’s 39, they might have teamed up pretty late in each other’s career. But fans wonder when they can see a James-Curry team up in the NBA. Lately, though, the Paris Olympics have been proving that the James-Curry team-up might not be a great idea.
Why LeBron James & Stephen Curry Teaming Up Seems To Be Risky?
In the 2024 Paris Olympics, Team USA has already won two games playing as many. LeBron James has been enjoying a great start to the campaign. The all-time leading scorer has been averaging 16.5 points, 7 assists and 7 rebounds. Moreover, James posted a 21.0 Efficiency. On the other hand, the three-point King has averaged 7 points per game, 2.0 rebounds per game and 3.5 assists with a 5.5 Efficiency. Fans expected a lot more from the two faces of the NBA with Steph’s off-ball prowess and LBJ’s playmaking ability. But Steph’s no-shows so far have raised questions regarding the pairing of the two ex-rivals. They might not be good fits after all on the floor together. Generally, LeBron James is the primary ball handler and floor general. On the other hand, Stephen Curry is the most lethal player when he is without the ball in his hands owing to his gravity.
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Hence, he can’t keep playing the role for an entire game. That has been impacting his rhythm with the ball especially during shooting. Moreover, Curry looked better when he is leading off a unit like what happened in the game against South Sudan. As the leader of the unit, he has more control over the game. Then, the three-point King needs a more defensive-minded rotation around him. He plays best when he acts as a decoy not when he is in defense. Being in the defense is not his strong suit. Stephen Curry needs more perimeter defensive players around him with better speed. That’s why next to LBJ, Steph is finding it a challenge.
Can 2024 Team USA Replicate The 1992 Dream Team?
It is not new that Team USA in the Olympics has come up with an All-Star team. Moreover, the greatest team ever assembled in basketball was the 1992 USA Team for the Barcelona Olympics. Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and so on made the team an absolute fan favorite even to this day.
Now, in 2024, LeBron James teamed up with Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant along with all the other best NBA players of the modern times. They have only one mission and that’s “Winning Gold.” If they successfully accomplish it then they can seriously challenge the legacy of the 1992 Dream Team.
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