Steph Curry and LeBron James are two of the greatest players of all time, and have been the faces of the NBA for the majority of their respective careers. The two were a part of one of the greatest rivalries in league history when they faced off in four consecutive finals. As entertaining as it has been to watch the future first ballot Hall of Famers play against each other, how much better would it be to see them join forces?

Fans were finally given an opportunity to see what that could look like when “The Avengers” came together to compete in the 2024 Olympics. Getting to see all-time greats like Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant wear the same jersey and compete for the same cause was a pleasure for all with an appreciation for the game. All three men took their turn throughout the tournament, taking over games and displaying their excellence for the entire world to see.

The Olympics showed that Curry, James, and Durant could still be a devastating superstar trio despite their advancing ages. Had KD not declined a trade to the Golden State Warriors at the 2024 deadline, the argument would be made that three should unite in the Bay Area. Sadly, Durant seems dead set on wasting his remaining seasons toiling away on franchise after franchise without anything to show for it.

Steph Curry And LeBron James Make One Last Push

LeBron has proven throughout his career that he is an opportunist when it comes to who he plays for. The Lakers seem to be leaning more towards handing the keys over to younger players like Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Why not leave on his own accord, rather than being phased out gradually? James can stay in California, join Curry and Draymond Green (whom he knows very well), and play for a coach who has won four championships and has experience coaching numerous stars at once. In addition to being enormously entertaining for fans to watch, the Warriors would immediately be firmly back in contention for another title run.

Over the last few seasons, LeBron and Steph have not shown any signs of slowing down in their individual performances. Even with their incredible play, their teams have felt overmatched in the postseason. While both the Lakers and Warriors were hampered by injuries during the regular season and playoffs, neither team had enough firepower to make any real noise. Golden State realized this and has been very open about wanting to add another veteran star this offseason. With coach Steve Kerr’s recent contract extension, it’s clear the organization is committed to giving Steph a fighting chance for one last ring.

While on the surface, the idea of Curry and James teaming up may seem far-fetched, it’s actually not that crazy. LeBron is a free agent, and at this stage in his career, money is not even a concept. If he truly wanted to join the Warriors, he could take a more than sizable pay cut and not destroy the team’s ability to afford valuable role players. If gaining his services required his son, Bronny James, being acquired by Golden State as well, surely that accommodation would be made. Is that pretty blatant nepotism? Of course it is, but when it comes to a legend like LeBron, exceptions must be made.

If these most recent playoffs proved anything, it is that the league is more wide open than perhaps most thought. The Thunder and Spurs were thought to be head and shoulders above the rest, but at the end of the season, the upstart Knicks were holding the trophy. Every team has flaws, and there are no juggernauts going into the next campaign. A Steph and LeBron-led squad would certainly be one that nobody would want to face in a seven-game series, and could not be ignored as legitimate contenders.

The reality is that no matter how much fans don’t want to hear it, Curry and James’ time as NBA players is running out. They are legends of the game, and should be playing meaningful basketball during their remaining years. Kobe Bryant won an amazing five titles, but having to see him be a part of mediocre and bad teams with no championship hopes to finish his career felt disrespectful to his legacy. It would be a shame to see Steph and LeBron follow in similar fashions. Their teams, as currently constructed, are not good enough, and they need each other.

From the NBA’s perspective, it would be hard to create a better storyline for a season if they tried. Of course, in the regular season, they wouldn’t be setting any consecutive games played records, but the ratings when they are both on the floor would be massive. Just keep Curry and James healthy, get them into the playoffs, and let the magic unfold. The idea of the old guard Warriors battling against the new guard of OKC and the Spurs in the West is drama that can’t be written.

There is no guarantee that LeBron will join Steph in San Francisco, and even less so that they would win a championship together. What can be guaranteed is that watching the two on the same team for at least one full season would be a privilege for all who love the game of basketball. If, in the end, it results in them both winning their fifth rings, it would be fair to say that it was one of the most poetic endings to a rivalry in NBA history.