Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has once again extended a playful invitation to his longtime NBA rival, LeBron James, to embrace golf. On Wednesday, Curry shared a lighthearted moment by mimicking James’ recent viral golf swing, blending humor with welcome as the two continue their friendly rivalry beyond the basketball court. This interaction highlights Curry’s enthusiasm for golf and his desire to see James grow in the sport.
The Background of Curry’s Golf Passion and James’s Golfing Debut
Stephen Curry’s love for golf dates back to his childhood, having started playing at age 10 and honing his skills through years of practice. His dedication has led to notable achievements such as winning the 2023 American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, a prestigious celebrity golf tournament. Meanwhile, LeBron James recently began exploring golf, making only his second appearance on the course as he takes tentative swings at the sport, which sparked widespread attention and amusement among fans.
LeBron James Shares Early Golf Experiences and Challenges
LeBron took to Instagram to share a video capturing his second day trying golf, dressed casually in a striped polo. His unconventional swing quickly became a viral topic online, attracting both humorous commentary and encouragement. Describing the experience, James wrote,
Day 2 of officially trying this out! Boy o Boy it’s a mind f*ck to say the least! But I think I enjoy that part of it a lot! Haha! Got a long a*s way to go at this sport and I’ll still be some [sh*t] but hey it’s a great time out there!
—LeBron James
This post conveyed both his challenges and enjoyment, signaling his openness to continue practicing golf as a new offseason activity.
Curry’s Playful Imitation and Warm Invitation to LeBron
Curry responded to James’s viral post with a friendly and humorous message:
“Welcome. We’ve been waiting for you,”
signaling his eagerness to see James embrace golf. Taking it further during a golf outing, Curry entertained observers by flawlessly recreating LeBron’s unique golf swing follow-through. He expressed his excitement about James joining the golf community, stating,
Unbelievable impersonation of my guy Bron’s follow-through in the golf swing, but we all want to welcome LeBron James to the world of golf because the game needs you, big fella,
—Stephen Curry
Potential for On-Course Collaboration Between Two NBA Legends
While it remains unclear if James will commit to golfing alongside Curry given their differing expertise levels, both athletes have continuously shown mutual admiration throughout their NBA rivalry since 2009. Curry has mentioned his aspirations to pursue golf professionally after retiring from basketball, whereas James appears to be enjoying golf primarily as a recreational outlet in the offseason. Regardless, Curry’s lighthearted yet sincere encouragement opens the possibility for the two superstars to share time on the golf course in the future, further extending their friendly competition beyond basketball.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why does Stephen Curry wear 4?
A. FIBA, which governs Olympic basketball, once limited player numbers to 4-15 to help referees. Although FIBA dropped this rule in 2014, Team USA continues the tradition in international competitions, like the Paris Olympics. This explains why Curry, known for wearing the number, follows this practice.