On a Nov. 4 episode of Steve Nash and LeBron James’ podcast, “Mind the Game,” Nash and James chatted with Golden State Warriors guard and four-time NBA Champion, Steph Curry. 

Curry is the most recent guest on a podcast that typically just gives way to Nash and James breaking down game scenarios and sharing stories from their NBA careers. In the past, though, and like they did recently with Curry, they have had guests like Luka Dončić and Kevin Durant make appearances. 

During the conversation, James noted that what makes Curry so “dangerous” on the court is what he is able to do without the ball in his hands. 

“As a competitor, and as a dear friend now, having guys not truly understand what that means, when you’re competing against a guy like [Curry], it grinds you in the head,” James said. “Because it’s a natural reaction, the most dangerous guy gives the ball up, the first thing you do is, ‘I did a great job.’ [Curry] is most dangerous when he gives the ball up.” 

James went on to say that when Curry gets rid of the ball, it then leads to open lanes for other Warriors players like Draymond Green and Gary Payton II, or in the past, Andre Iguodala. 

“It’s funny to say the ball has energy,” James added. “Also player movement has energy as well. And certain guys, like you go back, like you were saying, Reggie [Miller] having energy, [Curry] having energy. Guys are just moving and flowing, and it’s a beautiful thing. It’s not beautiful when you’re playing against him. It hurts. But as a competitor and someone who kind of thinks the game as well, it’s like, wow you can appreciate that.”

James and Curry have engaged in countless duels on the court throughout their careers. The most notable ones came during a four-year stretch when James’ Cleveland Cavaliers and Curry’s Warriors met in the NBA Finals, facing off in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. 

Over the years, the two have grown close off the court, and have even shared the court as teammates, whether during NBA All-Star Weekend, or, perhaps the most memorable, during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris when the tandem helped lift Team USA in the gold medal game over Victor Wembanyama and Team France. 

Because James was injured, the two did not get to face off against one another in their teams’ season opener last month, but with the four-time MVP and Lakers star progressing toward a return to the court, another chapter in their storied matchup history will be written soon enough. 

The Lakers, who sit at 7-2, play the Atlanta Hawks on Nov. 8, while the Warriors, who sit at 5-4, play the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 7.

The two teams will next face one another on Feb. 7 in a matchup in Los Angeles.