HomeSportsLeBron James enjoys time as Steph Curry's teammate; don't know if it...

LeBron James enjoys time as Steph Curry’s teammate; don’t know if it will happen again

LeBron James (6) celebrated with Stephen Curry (4) and Kevin Durant after the US men’s basketball team defeated Serbia in the semifinals of the Paris Olympics. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

LeBron James had competed against Stephen Curry, battling him and the Golden State Warriors for NBA titles during a defining chapter in the league’s history.

Until this summer, they had never really played together. After winning gold at the Paris Olympics – an experience that tested Team USA in the way competitors like James and Curry crave – prospects evolved.

“It was everything and more. I was super excited to finally be able to work with him in a win-or-die atmosphere,” James said of the experience. “That’s it, being part of the Olympic Games. Being part of that team with Steph was everything I dreamed of and strived for. Great memories. Something I will remember from my basketball career for the rest of my life.”

It’s a safe bet that the memories won’t affect the competition when the Lakers and Warriors face off again, which will happen for the first time on Tuesday in a preseason game in Las Vegas. But the success and images of James and Curry celebrating together left people wondering if there’s a way the two could be colleagues again.

“I have no idea,” James said. “I have no idea.”

The likelihood of a working relationship between Curry and James has to be considered incredibly low considering the complications a trade would entail if the two were to even try to force the issue, which no one has ever indicated is something that happened.

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However, the time in Paris with Curry did more than just reinforce the things James has learned in his decade-plus of competing with the Warriors star.

“I think when you’re around someone on a day-to-day basis, you can be with them and you see how hard they work, you see how much they commit to the game, then that’s the appreciation and the respect right away,” James said. “So I understand what Steph has done for this game. I understand what he’s done for this organization, what he’s done for the community, people all over the world. Just his approach to the game and how he is as a man. What he is like as a family man. What he is like as a husband, father, son, all that stuff.

“So when you have that kind of respect for someone and you’re around him every day and you see how he works and how he goes about his craft, that’s pretty cool. You can just respect that and not take it for granted.”

LeBron James wants Bronny to speak for himself

The pressure and attention on Lakers rookie Bronny James over three games is different than on anyone else selected late in the second round, and for obvious reasons.

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Through three games, it would be a lie to say anything other than that LeBron James’ son has struggled. He made just one of 11 shots from the field and has five turnovers on one assist. The Lakers have been outscored by 40 points in Bronny James’ 35.6 minutes, putting them at the second-worst plus/minus in the NBA this season.

When asked how his son dealt with the problems and adjustments, LeBron James did not answer.

‘You have to ask him. That’s a grown man. Ask him how he handles it,” he said. “And then we go from there. But he’s a grown man. He’s a professional. He can handle all this pressure himself. But we know why – good or bad why – the attention is here.”

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Lakers coach JJ Redick said he didn’t think Bronny James played nervously in preseason games.

“What we discussed with him is that, like a lot of young players, you have to be more consistent with your energy and effort every day,” Redick said. “I don’t want to say it was bad, but I had a great day of practice today. We often see flashes of this. … I talked to him about the standard of who he is as a player, he will eventually build that standard and that will be evident every game.

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Reaves ankle is improving

Austin Reaves’ sore right ankle continues to improve, with the Lakers’ starting guard saying he could return to the court for some preseason action on Tuesday if he continues to improve.

Reaves, who has been training with a brace on his ankle, said he started feeling sore after playing against the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 6 in Palm Desert. He did not play in the Lakers’ victory in Milwaukee.

For Reaves, who didn’t miss a game last season despite spending the previous summer with Team USA, it was a welcome day off.

“Where I came from, my basketball coach was our strength coach and much more. We didn’t really have all the resources that everyone has now. So even when I came into the league my rookie year, I thought if you were in the training room that meant you were going to get hurt,” he said.

“So try to grow out of that and build good habits of being in the training room every day, just working on your body and making sure you’re in a good place to keep playing and be there for your team . That’s the most important thing. And like you said, whenever you can sit down, put your feet up and relax, you should do that. Because it’s a long year.”

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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.

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