Steph Curry acknowledges appeal of playing with LeBron James

Steph Curry acknowledges appeal of playing with LeBron James

Speaking Thursday, at the American Century Championship in Stateline, Nevada, Stephen Curry addressed the Golden State Warriors' active pursuit of unrestricted free agent LeBron James. Curry characterized a potential partnership between the two longtime rivals as a unique story in NBA history and sports history, noting that such a pairing would have been a pipe-dream question only two or three years ago.

Curry, who is entering his 18th season, highlighted the allure of teaming up with James as he enters his 24th. The two stars previously joined forces under coach Steve Kerr to win a gold medal for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics, a run that included victories over France in the gold-medal game and Serbia in the semifinals.

"I was super excited to be able to finally team up with him in a win-or-die type atmosphere,"

LeBron James, via Yahoo Sports

James described that Olympic experience in October 2024 as one of the defining memories of his career, stating it was everything that I dreamed of and aspired to want.

Curry’s pitch to James focuses on the Warriors' championship culture and a desire to play good basketball and be around people who know how to play the game. He pointed to the organization's proven track record of winning championships and suggested that the Bay Area's quality of golf could be an added draw. When asked about the probability of signing James, Curry stated, I don’t have a percentage, adding that if James decides he wants to play in a specific location, teams will move mountains to make it happen.

Despite the public pitch, internal optimism within the Warriors organization remains low. Sources indicate that the Cleveland Cavaliers are a suitor that would be difficult to beat. To keep the possibility alive, Golden State has maintained financial flexibility and roster room. Draymond Green, a longtime teammate of Curry, opted out of his player option to provide this temporary flexibility. Green was recently spotted golfing with James in Puerto Rico, and league sources confirmed that Curry and James have communicated via text message within the last week.

The Warriors are currently managing a roster that saw them go 37-45 last season. The team has re-signed Al Horford, Kristaps Porziņģis, and De’Anthony Melton on two-year deals. On Thursday, the team added backup center Charles Bassey on a one-year contract to fill the 11th roster spot after losing Quinten Post to Memphis. It is anticipated that Green will occupy the 12th spot, and there is mutual interest in returning Gary Payton II.

However, the roster faces significant injury challenges heading into the 2026-27 season. Moses Moody is recovering from surgery to repair a ruptured left patellar tendon performed on March 27, with rehabilitation expected to last into the winter or late fall. Jimmy Butler is also expected to miss the start of the season following ACL surgery; Butler is targeting a return between November and early February.

Curry expressed confidence in the leadership of Joe Lacob, Steve Kerr, and Mike Dunleavy Jr., stating they are doing their best to make the right decisions. While the league waits for James to declare his next home, Curry believes the team must hold the fort down until the injured players return.

The Warriors' pursuit of James follows his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers and his inclusion on a list of 10 teams with a realistic shot at signing him, as noted on a podcast by his agent, Rich Paul. The final decision now rests with James.