In the early phases of his career, LeBron James regularly organized training camps, a common practice among top NBA athletes, where he extended invitations to some of the most promising college players nationwide. Prior to the 2009 NBA Draft, Chris Paul collaborated with LeBron in hosting one such camp, imparting their insights to elite college prospects, including future stars like Stephen Curry and James Harden. Little did LeBron anticipate that he would later become a rival to Curry in the NBA, eventually acknowledging and endorsing Curry’s greatness eight years down the road.

Fast forward to 2017, and Stephen Curry had amassed an impressive resume – securing two MVP awards and two NBA Championships. In recognition of his accomplishments, the Golden State Warriors rewarded their standout Point Guard with a historic five-year, $201,000,000 maximum extension. Despite already signing the then-richest contract in NBA history, LeBron James advocated for an even higher figure, asserting that Curry should be earning $400,000,000 considering his profound impact on the franchise.

In 2009, LeBron James and Chris Paul, both established as two of the league’s best players, mentored emerging talents at their camp. Recognized as the premier small forward and point guard, LeBron and CP3 shared their knowledge with a group of up-and-coming players preparing for the next level.

The camp featured promising talents like Stephen Curry and James Harden, who would go on to establish themselves as two of the greatest guards in their generation. Beyond gaining valuable insights, these young players had the unique opportunity to share the court with the superstars.

In the subsequent NBA Draft, James Harden was chosen as the third overall pick, while Stephen Curry was selected seventh overall. In a twist of fate, LeBron James witnessed Curry, an attendee of his 2009 camp, leading the Golden State Warriors to the NBA Finals against his Cleveland Cavaliers a few years later. Today, the LeBron James-Stephen Curry clash stands as one of the most iconic rivalries in modern basketball.

LeBron James, an avid spectator of college basketball, was particularly impressed by Stephen Curry’s performance during the 2008 NCAA tournament. Curry’s stellar showing for the Davidson Wildcats, guiding them to victories over Gonzaga and Georgetown, left an indelible mark on LeBron. The admiration peaked when Curry scored 33 points, propelling the Wildcats to the Elite Eight stage against Wisconsin at Ford Field.

Despite their rivalry on the NBA court today, the mutual respect between LeBron and Curry is evident. In a testament to this respect, Stephen Curry still preserves an autographed LeBron James jersey at his father’s house in North Carolina.