Friends or rivals? Steph Curry and LeBron James have battled fiercely on the court over the years, but beneath the competition lies a unique bond.

Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry recently shed light on his dynamic with LeBron James, calling it “complicated.” While years of high-stakes rivalry and an age gap have shaped their interactions, Curry hinted at a deeper connection that transcends their epic showdowns.

“When I was in school, LeBron came to watch me play. Later when I entered the NBA, I also received advice from him on how to overcome some of the initial difficulties ,” Steph Curry explained.

“But then we played each other four times in a row in the Finals. Even last year Golden State played the Lakers again. He’s a great guy, a great friend, a great competitor. It’s really complicated to say what we are to each other.”

Stephen Curry and LeBron James were born in the same hospital in Ohio.

James and Curry are hometown friends. They were even born in the same hospital in Akron, Ohio. The duo are less than four years apart in age, and their career paths have crossed countless times in the more than three decades since.

As Curry mentioned, the two had a senior-junior relationship at first. As a rookie, Curry even went to James’ house and watched Family Guy.

The two grew apart as the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers faced off in the finals.

But as the Golden State Warriors’ No. 30 became MVP and one of the biggest stars in the world, their relationship became a little more strained.

Curry and James have faced each other in four consecutive Finals series. The Warriors have won three, but Cleveland made a mark with a comeback from a 1-3 deficit. Many sources confirm that the rivalry between the two Akron sons is real.

But when James moved to the Lakers, the relationship between the two eased. They became friendly with each other, even being teammates at the 2021 All-Star game.

Stephen Curry and LeBron James have been friendlier since 2019

In the media, James and Curry tend to praise each other, noting their mutual respect. LeBron even stood up for his hometown junior when former President Donald Trump criticized him on Twitter.

LeBron James and Steph Curry have created a memorable decade of basketball together, and their rivalry has brought about one of the most memorable eras in the NBA. But when it all comes down to it, the duo will always have mutual respect and admiration for what the other has accomplished.