After they finish their individual playing careers, Steph Curry and LeBron James will always have rivalry in the annals of NBA history. For the time being, though, they are teammates on the American me𝚗’s Olympic basketball team competing in Paris in 2024, and they have already bonded over their shared desire to humiliate Dillon Brooks on the court.
As the two teams get ready to travel to France in a few weeks, the three NBA players participated in a practice match for the Olympics on Wednesday between the United States and Canada. For the previous two seasons, Team Canada player Brooks has been somewhat of an Association villain due to his high-profile altercations with both James and Curry’s Warriors teammates. In the past, the two Americans have experienced their fair share of on-court retribution. The 28-year-old has been the target of taunts from James and Curry, as well as the Lakers and Warriors, who have eliminated a team on which Brooks was a member from the playoffs.
But obviously, that was insufficient. When Brooks attempted to take his frustration from the regular season to a global level, James and Curry effectively countered with their strong sense of patriotism. The Lakers star threw up a strong, if not entirely legal, screen against Brooks early in the third quarter to set up Curry for a three-pointer. It was reminiscent of Trent Williams’ high school football days.James and Curry went on a fast break later in the quarter with just Brooks standing in their way. After exchanging passes, Curry and James made an alley-oop pass that left Brooks grabbing the air.
In addition, each Team USA member had a few standout moments against Brooks. Curry blowed by Brooks on the drive after his and-one layup, which culminated in a humorous posture. With a backdoor cut that resulted in a decisive slam dunk, James left Brooks in his dust.
Ultimately, though, this didn’t really stop Brooks from being the most obnoxious player alive. As Brooks was leaving the arena, he cut in front of Suns star Devin Booker, the USA guard, as he spoke to the reporters following the team’s 86-72 victory.