Curry backs LeBron, says Trump’s tweet based in racism
Warriors’ star supports rival LeBron in practice for Web.com Tour event
HAYWARD >> Though Warriors guard Stephen Curry may list LeBron James as his fiercest oncourt rival, it doesn’t mean the sharpshooter won’t support the star forward in issues off it.
Last week, Curry was among the droves of NBA players to support James after President Donald Trump insulted the Lakers guard’s intelligence on Twitter on Friday evening.
Curry, who’s not immune to the president’s ire, doubled down on his support for James while criticizing Trump during a practice round of golf at TPC Stonebrae in Hayward on Tuesday.
“Frustration,” said Curry, who will participate in Web.com Tour’s Ellie Mae Classic on Thursday. “That rhetoric is all based in some long-standing racism in terms of black men with a voice in power. Unfortunately, that’s being revealed more and more as the days go on.”
Curry’s most recent support for the Lakers’ star is just the latest chapter of a support between the two stars.
Prior to meeting in the Finals for the in 2015, James’ has had an influence on Curry’s career. In 2008, James watched Curry, then a sophomore at Davidson, pour in 33 points, helping the Wildcats beat Wisconsin 73-56 in the 2008 Midwest Regional. Nine months later, James, then a member of the Cavaliers, watched the junior guard pour in 40 points in a win over NC State hours before Cleveland was set to play the Bobcats in Charlotte that evening.
It was James who provided Curry guidance during his camp just prior to his NBA debut in 2009. It was James who opened his home to the young Warriors’ during their meetings in Cleveland, watching episodes of Family Guy in James’ Akron home. It was James’ who provided the biggest
co-sign of Curry’s breakout 2012-13 season during All-Star weekend when James gushed about Curry’s dribbling exhibition on his Heat teammate Mario Chalmers.
And it was James, who defended Curry before last season, calling President Trump a “bum,” saying, “Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!”
Curry has even taken after James, too. Six days after James opened his “I Promise” school in Akron, a public school aimed at educating underserved youth, Curry, along with his wife Ayesha,
opened the Stephen and Ayesha Curry Family Foundation Education Lab at Bushrod Recreation Center in Oakland, a few rooms away from the gym he refurbished in January.
“It’s all about staying focused on the work that everybody is doing, Curry added. “Speaking for people who can’t speak for themselves and not getting caught up in people trying to divide us.”
The two’s relationship hasn’t been without battles, however. Curry’s Warriors beat James in three out of the last four NBA Finals matchups. But it was James who beat the Warriors in 2016,
despite being down 3-1 in the series. Last season, Curry averaged 27.5 points and 6.8 assists as the Warriors’ swept the Cavs in the Finals’ series.
Now, as James moves to the Western Conference as a member of the Lakers, Curry is intrigued with the next chapter of their rivalry.
“He was a champion before I was, you want to try to chase what he’s doing. Now We’ve won three [championships], and it’s pretty dope. But in terms of him pushing the envelope, in terms of his career, it’s always a standard that’s highly respected.”