NBA stars LeBron James and Steph Curry missed the Los Angeles Lakers-Golden State Warriors preseason finale on Friday, but the two made sure to show their respect for each other after the game.
The Lakers opted to let James rest for their final two games of the preseason, including the showdown with the Dubs. As for Curry, the Warriors decided to sideline him after he injured his right index finger during practice on Thursday.
Golden State ended up destroying Los Angeles by 58 points, with Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski scoring 17 and 16 points, respectively, en route to the 132-74 victory.
Quincy Olivari (22 points) and Bronny James (17) were the only players to score in double digits for the Lakers, who were also without Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves and the rest of their usual starters.
Following the contest, James and Curry were seen shaking hands and hugging each other. As fans would know, the two grew closer after playing together in the 2024 Olympics, with Warriors and Team USA head coach Steve Kerr calling their relationship a "bromance."
Of course fans loved the interaction between the two, especially since both players have cemented their legacies as two of the NBA's greatest players.
"Respect," a fan wrote. Another commenter shared, "Great hug. Love it."
"Greats of the game," a poster added.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) during media day at the UCLA Health Training Center.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Of course with the 2024-25 season about to start, the two will have to face and beat each other again countless times. Regardless, though, there is no denying that LeBron James and Steph have formed a bond that transcends rivalry.
