On July 11, Beijing time, according to ESPN, LeBron James and Stephen Curry's first collaboration on the international stage began with a phone call in the fall.
According to Curry's recollection, the two longtime NBA rivals at the time talked about the possibility of joining forces at Paris 2024 to create what could be the most talented team in basketball history.
"He was the first person I reached out to," Curry said of his interaction with James, "'Is that going to be something I want to do?'" From then on, I thought, 'Let's get started.'" ”
While Curry, James and Durant have achieved a lot in their careers, all three of them have yet to play for the United States at the same time. Curry worked with Durant at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, and James and Durant won gold together at the 2012 London Olympics.
This summer, the three superstars will compete together for the first time in an international competition, but it won't necessarily be their 'last dance'.
When asked if this was the last time he teamed up with Curry and James on the United States team, Durant told ESPN with a smile: "No, these guys are still playing at an elite level. I think LeBron has four or five more years to play, and in 2028 he can still be here in Los Angeles. Stephen is still playing great. I'm doing a good job too. I don't want this to be a farewell trip, and I don't want it to be just a matter of the three of us. I just want to win five consecutive Olympic championships for the United States men's basketball team. ”
Durant, a member of the last three-time Olympic winning team, is on track to become the first player to win four Olympic basketball gold medals. James is approaching his 40th birthday and can add a third gold medal to his already impressive international resume. And then there's Curry, who, after 15 seasons in the NBA, is gearing up for his Olympic debut.
Curry said: "yes, that's really cool. I've played for United States on the World Cup stage, but I don't know what to expect in the face of such challenges and experiences. So I was a little nervous in my first training. I'm sure I'll feel that way in the first warm-up game because I know it's a big deal. Curry said the United States men's basketball lineup was surreal and he enjoyed every minute.
In the first days of United States training camp, a sense of awe pervaded. Past Olympic squads have had no shortage of talented players, but there's a reason why this team has been compared to the legendary 1992 "Dream Team".
Center forward Bam Adebayo said: "Do you see this team? When you assemble a team like this and put it on a par with the Dream Team, you understand how great this team can be if we play it the right way. ”
"We've got LeBron, KD and Stephen," Edwards said, "so I don't think anybody can beat all three of them on the court." I think it's okay to put the two of us in it and win. ”
Curry, James, and Durant have spent most of the last 20 years battling each other for NBA supremacy. Over the next six weeks, they will play side by side as they try to enjoy the trio's first and possibly only Olympic Games together on the international stage.
"I can't speak for those two guys, but for me it's going to be an ecstatic excitement, a humbling amazement, and I, Stephen, KD have been the talk of the NBA for the last 15, 17, 18 years," James told ESPN. We don't know how many more opportunities we'll have to play together. So it's super special to be able to have a moment like this at this stage of our career. "