Curry Shares the Behind-the-Scenes Story of Olympic Comeback: James Gave Him Confidence, Along with Positive Self-Talk

On September 10, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry expressed that he has gained a new appreciation for LeBron James, with his experience at the Olympics deepening their friendship and mutual respect.

Curry’s new perspective on James stems from their shared experience competing in the Paris Olympics this year.

This year, the U.S. men’s basketball team faced no easy task at the Olympics, encountering some tough challenges in the knockout stages. However, thanks to the timely heroics of James and Curry, the team avoided a disappointing outcome. However, Curry’s true awakening came during the knockout stages, as he struggled with his three-point shooting in the earlier games. So what magic helped Curry regain his form?

Recently, on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Curry thanked James for helping him regain confidence and overcome his slump:

“When I was down, first I gave myself positive self-talk, and I tried my best in other aspects, setting screens, playing aggressively, and doing good defense. But I knew that at some point, I needed to make some shots because that’s my job. I remember after our group stage match against Puerto Rico, when I was being interviewed by a reporter, he asked the same question, ‘What’s wrong with your shooting? Are you worried?’ At the time, I responded, ‘We’re winning, I know it will come. I know an explosion is coming.’ As I said this, LeBron walked behind me and in his deep voice said, ‘You’re right.’ I was a bit surprised at the time, because we’ve been rivals for so many years, and I had to start getting used to liking this guy. His words did give me confidence, and ultimately helped me regain my touch in the crucial moments.”

James is well-known for motivating his teammates, and this is the latest example.