Is LeBron vs. Steph the last true NBA rivalry?

July 6, 2025

The Last Real Rivalry in the NBA? Why LeBron vs Steph May Be the Final Classic Matchup of a Bygone Era

When I watched that recent head-to-head stat line — LeBron averaging nearly 34 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, with an almost 70 TS% — something hit me deep. Between LeBron James and Stephen Curry, encased in vivid memory and portraited in cold numbers, lies a rivalry rooted not just in statistics but in the changing soul of the NBA. In an era of instant trades and fleeting dynasties, could this be the last of its kind? Is LeBron vs. Steph the final classic?

I remember the first time I sensed it. It wasn’t crunch time of the Finals or the lauded dunk. It was the unspoken electricity. One arrived with power, the other with precision. One was every bit the old-school titan; the other, the child of the three-point revolution. Yet both ruled. Countless ancestors of basketball had rivalries etched in lore, but this… this felt different. Raw, respectful, yet charged with a hunger both shared.

They’ve faced off 56 times in total, 28 of those in the playoffs. Steph holds a slight advantage, 30–26 overall, 17–11 in the postseason. But dig deeper — into the recent games, the latest seasons — and there’s a shift. In their last eight matchups, LeBron has arguably outperformed Steph: 33.8 PPG, 10 rebounds, nearly 7 assists, 69 TS%, against Steph’s 32.1/6.3/4.3 with 60.6 TS%. Those numbers speak volumes. But as much as numbers matter, the legacy matters more.

It was four straight Finals from 2015 to 2018, golden years where these two locked horns on the biggest stage. Memories flood me: LeBron’s defiant block in 2016 followed by Curry’s deep threes, Draymond and Kyrie doing their thing, the tears, the celebrations.

Remember Game 7, 2016? Cavs’ chant shaking Oracle Arena. LeBron — human yet mythical — grabbing nearly 10 rebounds, nearly 9 assists, 29.7 PPG, outplaying the defending champs. It was an evening where gravity paused. The underdog dethroned the king. But Curry had already carved his legend — redefining shooting forever.

I once asked myself: what made it intense? Their first encounter happened when Steph was a rookie, LeBron a decade into dominance. Some say LeBron had no true rival, but Curry clashed with him mentally. Bill Simmons once quoted LeBron saying, “If I did what Curry did in those Finals, I’d be mocked.” Curry snapped back: “I’ve got just as many rings.” That sly friction… that’s rivalry.

The headlines called out “Rivals Week” in January 2025 — LeBron vs Steph again, grinding through their 54th encounter, splitting the regular season 12–12. And it still intrigued. Fans love a narrative. Some analysts argue the rivalry has mellowed, “lost some sizzle,” but I wonder — what sizzle if not a slow burn?

To me, rivalry isn’t just competition, it’s introspection. LeBron and Steph have shared triumphs and trials. In 2024, they suited up together for Team USA in the Paris Olympics. No longer rivals in that moment, they worked side by side. That camaraderie is ironic but real. Rivals gone teammates — a reflection of age, mutual respect, shifting seasons.

But I can’t escape the parallel: as LeBron nears 41, Steph enters late 30s, legacy assured, they represent enduring excellence. Others shoot around them, chasing fleeting futures. Giannis can draft and switch, KD can float teams, Zion can mock longevity. But LeBron vs Curry is legacy personified — years, peaks, history. It’s no wonder basketball fans latch on.

Yet here’s the question: with player movement rampant — players switching teams every season, chasing rings — do rivalries last? The Lakers vs Celtics clash lasted decades. Bird vs Magic. Jordan vs every team he faced. But those were rooted in era and geography. LeBron and Steph have faced off across multiple teams, multiple contexts. And still… it matters. It sticks.

I scroll through Reddit threads: “LeBron only had Jordan’s shadow,” “Steph doesn’t rival LeBron.” Some dismiss it. But sports aren’t spreadsheets. They’re emotion. They’re a shared narrative. Ask LeBron, ask Steph. Ask them how they felt in Game 6 of 2016, forced to miss free throws when it would’ve tied the series. They know.

Even today, with both playing fewer minutes, both aging, their head-to-head sparks interest — their playmaking, gravity, influence. Curry: averaging 31.5/7.2/4.7 in the last 10 meetings. LeBron: surpassing Steph in the last eight. LeBron’s TS% sits way above league average, a testament to elite efficiency. To me, it’s still nearly perfect competition.

So… is this the last real rivalry? Maybe. Maybe not. There’s emerging rivalries — Luka vs Anthony Edwards, Giannis vs Jokic. But split across years, inconsistent contexts, they feel transient. LeBron and Steph are icons, enduring, like monoliths. Rivals from the 2000s and 2010s, now veterans in 2025. They carry history when they shake hands. They’re nostalgic and current in one breath.

And maybe that’s key: their rivalry carries emotional weight. Fans remember the blocks, threes, comebacks. They remember the titles, the tears, the celebrations. They remember Steph’s NCAA run. LeBron being head and shoulders above rookies. They remember the 2016 Finals, Steph chasing LeBron’s throne.

I’ve learned something personal from their story. To me, it’s more than basketball. It’s about managing legacy alongside change. It’s about competing, losing, learning, then evolving. And building a friendship along the way.

Ask both in interviews, and you see respect. LeBron teased Steph: “Boy, you couldn’t let me have that one?” Steph replied: “I gotta do it for my teammates.” They smile at each other now, still competitive, still fiery. And yet… comfortable with what they’ve built, as rivals and men.

In today’s NBA, with players like KD exploring other contenders, Giannis chasing a ring, there are flames. But none roar with the history, the journey, the depth that LeBron vs Steph share.

So yes. If this is the last true NBA rivalry of this scale, what a gift it’s been. From Cleveland to Oakland, from Cavs vs Dubs to Paris unity, it spans continents and emotions.

One last stat before I let you go: 56 games, 17 playoff wins for Steph, 11 for LeBron in those playoffs. Twenty-seven regular season derby wins each side. Each game another chapter. Each matchup another conversation starter. And in sports, conversation is legacy.

This rivalry might fade — but its mark? Eternal. And for those basketball fans who remember, that’s enough.