In year 20, LeBron James is still delaying Father Time and defying the odds with greatness on the hardwood.
With the Lakers seeking to take a 2–0 lead in the best-of-seven series against the Warriors, the four-time NBA champion will have has hands full facing a Warriors’ team seeking to avenge its Game 1 loss. But before the two superstars were battling head-to-head in iconic NBA postseason performances, James was a huge fan of Curry’s during his days at Davidson.
Ahead of Thursday’s game, an old clip of James praising Curry’s stellar performance for Davidson against Wisconsin in the 2008 Sweet 16 of the men’s NCAA tournament went viral. An undersized Curry dropped 33 points as the Wildcats cruised to a 73–56 victory against the Badgers.
James was impressed and predicted that Curry would be a great player in the NBA.
“I think so,” James said in the clip when asked if he thought Curry would be good in the league. “He know how to play the game of basketball. … Being the son of a former NBA player (Dell Curry), he was taught well how to play the game of basketball. He has a talent, he is good. I was impressed.”
"Yeah, Stephen Curry?"
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 4, 2023
"Think he'll be good in the league?"
"I think so."
A generation defining matchup. LeBron knew.
📺 LAL at GSW | Game 2 | 9pm/et on ESPN pic.twitter.com/GDIgP8hNKQ
James’s prediction was not too far off about Curry, who now has four championships, nine All-Star appearances, one NBA Finals MVP and two MVP awards to his name. Curry is currently averaging 32.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists in eight games through this year’s postseason.
But as for battle between the two superstars, James hopes that he will be the one continuing through the playoffs after this series against the Warriors as he seeks to hoist a potential fifth Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy in June.
