Greatness recognizes greatness! This is a popular phrase that goes around on the internet when two legends meet. Well, it’s on point then. The NBA fans are finally alive as the preseason action takes control and superstars finally lace up. In tonight’s spectacle, the Golden State Warriors took on the LA Clippers in an exhibition game in Hawaii. While both teams have gone through serious off-season drama, the expectations surrounding this game skyrocketed. Stephen Curry and James Harden didn’t hesitate to double down.
Ahead of the tip-off, Steph and The Beard linked up in the middle of the court and hugged, igniting a wholesome throwback. But before that, the duo had a friendly banter. Harden was pretty early to pregame shoot-outs, warming up from the arc, and Curry walked out of the tunnel, leaving the crowd in a frenzy. The Clippers guard immediately turned around and screamed, “Curryyy!!” leaving the superstar with a big smile.
16 years ago, the two guards entered the league in the same draft class and continued to keep themselves above the rest. While Harden is yet to win a ring, the former MVP has carried a legendary status within NBA circles too. Importantly, the Dubs superstar genuinely gave it a nod. Stephen Curry shared the picture of them linking up on his Instagram stories and wrote, “16 years on em!! @jharden13”.
This isn’t the first time when Stephen Curry addressed his brotherhood with James Harden. Speaking after a regular season matchup against the Clippers last season, Steph said, “It’s always special… Me and James the same draft… Had a lot of battles back and forth over the years.” Let’s take a look at the Curry-Harden buildup in the league that has brewed over the last 16 years.
Stephen Curry and James Harden’s hoops journey over the years
The duo entered the league in the 2009 draft when the OKC picked James Harden as 3rd overall and the Dubs selected Stephen Curry as the 7th pick. And, from then on, the duo went on to become dominant guards in the league. While the Splash Brother built a dynasty along with the Warriors, the Beard hopped around teams to find a better fit. Nevertheless, as an individual player, he always kept the spectators on their feet.
Speaking of him, Stephen Curry has said, “Ultimate respect… We don’t spend much time together off the court, but there’s always that smile when I see a guy like that because I know, we both know, how much it takes to perform at the level that we’ve been at for so long and none of us wanna see it kinda go away.” Notably, the duo have had exciting battles on the court, especially during James Harden’s stint with the Houston Rockets.
In the regular season match-ups, Harden is a step ahead of Steph, as he has a 21-16 record! However, in playoffs, Curry rules where it matters the most. The Dubs superstar has a 14-6 playoff record, which includes the thrilling 2018 Western Conference Finals series.
Back in 2019, James Harden became only the 2nd hooper in NBA history (behind Michael Jordan‘s 1989-90 season) to record 2,700 points, 500 assists, and 500 rebounds in a season, but still finished second behind Giannis Antetokounmpo in the MVP voting.
The bottom line is that it’s never short of exciting whenever the duo lock horns. As Stephen Curry looks to probably win his final NBA ring with the Bay Area side before heartbreakingly calling it a day, James Harden looks to reignite Kawhi Leonard and Co.’s title ambitions in Denver this season, while chasing his maiden ring. What’s your prediction?