Golden State Warriors two-time MVP Stephen Curry has now made sense of his unusual altercation in the dying moments of overtime in Game 1 of last season's NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
With just less than a minute left, Curry and LeBron James got into it after the latter made a huge chasedown block on the former's layup attempt. Some trash-talking ensued, and it escalated to a point where it looked like the two were almost going to exchange blows.
But according to Curry on The Bill Simmons Podcast, they both had things under control. It was nothing more than a heat-of-the-moment kind of exchange (via Drew Shiller of NBC Sports Bay Area).
“It was never going to spill over to that,” Curry said. “But it was an interesting moment … I was hot because I was trying to finish out a possession, I think it was less than a minute left, I didn't see him coming over from the weak side so I tried to do a little soft scoop layup and he pinned it. Then he stared me down and he said something to me.”
Curry did not appreciate LeBron's antics, which led to the war of words.
“…And I was like, ‘That's what we're really on right now?” added Curry. “We're about to win and you're worried about mean-blocking my shot and talking trash?' And then the whole Tristan and Draymond thing happened and I went back up to him and I was like, ‘Yo, what's up? Is this really what we're about right now?'”
James did offer a rather reasonable explanation once things cooled down a bit.
“…And he was like, ‘I gotta do that to make sure my teammates know I'm a mentor' and it's a part of his leadership and that type of deal. And I was like, ‘I don't want to be the sacrificial lamb for your leadership.' (laughter). Come on man, that's messed up.”
Despite the heated argument, Curry admits that the respect between them was never out of the picture.
“There's definitely a mutual respect. I would say though when you see guys working out with each other in the summers and you see guys playing pickup and all that — when you step foot on the court during the season, it's a totally different environment. Guys can be buddies and friends and whatnot and have whatever type of relationship they want to have in the summer and off the court, but the rivalry and competition and egos and all that stuff that lives in an NBA game and when you're trying to hold that trophy … it's really there and it's not going anywhere.”
The saga between two of the greatest players of their generation is far from over. This time around, they will be in the same conference for the first time in their careers. We should be in for a treat.
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