Stephen Curry is not ready to say goodbye to playing basketball. And that alone might be enough reason for LeBron James to stick around, at least just a little bit longer.
In a recent interview with Complex Sports, Curry silenced any talk of retirement. "I'm not nowhere close to that," he said with quiet confidence. The legendary point guard then followed up with saying '100 percent' when asked if he has a few more years left.
James-Curry rivalry might have taken another massive step forward
That seems like a simple answer, however it comes with major implications. Those implications are not only just for the Golden State Warriors, but for James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
With Curry publicly committing to the next chapter of his career, the championship race between two of the game’s defining icons could very much be back on.
Right now, it is a dead even tie at four titles apiece. If Curry is aiming for a fifth, LeBron can’t afford to let that happen without a response.
Their legacies are already intertwined, whether they like it or not. It is the face of the league versus revolutionizer of the game. Adding another ring for Curry could tilt the balance in unexpected ways.
The devastating truth LeBron must face about his legacy
For LeBron, legacy is a complicated subject. Statistically, he is unmatched. The all-time scoring leader. Twenty plus All-NBA selections. Most All-Star appearances.
He has won at every stage, transformed every team he has played on, and outlasted nearly every peer. But championships still define greatness in many circles, and six remains the magic number set by Michael Jordan.
Curry, meanwhile, has more to gain. A fifth ring would push him out of the “just top-10” conversation and into a much more elusive club. Not only that it would also erase the tired narratives about Finals MVPs and being carried by others.
The writing’s on the wall: LeBron might not be done after all
While LeBron has nothing left to prove, and with his retirement looming, he may still have something left to chase. The one player still close enough to his achievements to shift the conversation. The one player who could suddenly pull ahead in the only category that still matters in these debates
Steph is not just continuing his career, he could be extending the timeline for LeBron’s, whether intentionally or not. Because if James walks away now, he leaves the door wide open for Curry to step through and surpass his ring total.
Another Warriors run is not far-fetched. Curry’s game still bends the laws of defense. His body, once fragile, has held up. His motivation? Strong as ever. There is a reason why he pushed hard to get a guy like Jimmy Butler during last season’s trade deadline.
