How would Stephen Curry describe his relationship with LeBron James?

Curry summed it up in one word during an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Robin Lundberg.

He called it “complex.” 

Curry and James have long had an interesting relationship, at times being close friends and at other times seeing one another as rivals. 

“It’s complex,” Curry said. “Because you go from playing in the tournament and him coming to watch, to me coming in as a young rookie in the league and him giving me advice on how to get through some of the early struggles that I was gonna go through as a player, to the four Finals appearances in a row, playing against each other, to even last year playing in the playoffs again. 

“He’s a great dude, great friend, great competitor, and it’s amazing to go back and look at where it all started.”

Stephen Curry hugs LeBron James after the Western Conference Semifinal Playoff game on May 12, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Getty Images

The two NBA megastars have had plenty of overlap over their years in the NBA, despite Curry being four years younger than James. 

The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers met four times in the NBA Finals between 2015 and 2018 and it harbored a true rivalry between the two as Golden State took the title home in three of those four series.

The Cavaliers won the championship in 2016 and a Halloween party James hosted later that year reportedly featured some not-so-subtle digs at Curry and company. 

Stephen Curry shoots against LeBron James during the third quarter in game five of the 2023 NBA playoffs conference semifinals.

USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Stephen Curry and LeBron James have reportedly had a back-and-forth relationship.

USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

However, with James now in the west there doesn’t seem to be the same fire between the two and it would appear that the two have returned to the friendly relationship they shared during Curry’s early years in the league. 

Curry wrote in GQ back in 2009 about how James was a mentor of sorts for him and how he would hang out at James’ home.

Now the two have often spoken with admiration and respect for one another, and even played together during the 2021 NBA All-Star Game.