Steph Curry and James Harden's careers have intersected at numerous points over the years.
The two stars were both selected in the 2009 NBA draft and faced off a few times early in their careers. Once Curry ascended to superstar status with the Warriors and Harden with the Rockets, they engaged in multiple epic playoff duels (which Curry always won). Now in the twilights of their respective careers the pair of all-time great scorers continue to do battle in a competitive Western Conference.
The latest matchup that pitted Curry and Harden against one another came on Tuesday night, with the 3-1 Warriors taking on the 2-1 Clippers. Curry's side once again emerged victorious, this time thanks to incredibly stingy defense that kept Los Angeles to 78 points and Harden to 20 points and a single assist.
During his postgame interview Curry was asked to reflect on his competitive relationship with Harden after more than 15 years of playing against each other. He shared a special message he had for Harden before Tuesday's game that sums up his feelings on it all.
"There's nostalgia, for sure, but there's still a mutual respect and admiration for the fact that we're still out there doing it," Curry said. "I think right before jump ball, I didn't get to talk to him one-on-one but I pointed at him, like you know I'ma do in the jump ball circle, and I kind of mouthed, like, 'We're still doing this.' There are certain guys around the league who fit that category. Especially me and him, Jrue [Holiday], DeMar [DeRozan] in my draft class. Pretty special."
Steph Curry reveals a "special" moment he had with fellow veteran star James Harden just before tonight's game 🤝 pic.twitter.com/7SVRkUl5TR
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 29, 2025
It is indeed a pretty special thing. It's hard to play in the NBA for as long as Curry, Harden, and the remaining members of the '09 draft class have. You need to be both lucky and very good to stick around for that long.
A cool moment of introspection from the Warriors' superstar.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Steph Curry Reveals Special Message He Had for James Harden Before Warriors-Clippers.
