Steph Curry-LeBron James Christmas Game being “so good” is part of the NBA problem, feels Bill Simmons
Following incredible Christmas Day matchup, Bill Simmons revealed why LeBron James and Stephen Curry's rivalry is bad for the NBA.
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Bill Simmons reveals why LeBron James-Stephen Curry rivalry is bad for future of the NBA
The Christmas Day matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors was a marquee event for the NBA. It drew an impressive 8.3 million viewers across platforms. It was a showdown between two of the league’s most decorated players, LeBron James and Stephen Curry. However, not everyone is on the same page about their success.
While the fans certainly reveled in the high-stakes battle, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons argued that the league’s over-reliance on the rivalry between James and Curry is indicative of the league’s ongoing problems with viewership. During his podcast, Simmons dissected how the LeBron James and Stephen Curry narrative has been both a boon and a crutch for the NBA.
There’s been so much, ‘What’s wrong with the NBA?’ stuff. The Steph-LeBron thing was so good that it was actually the solution and the problem. Like even yesterday, it’s in that 8 o’clock, it’s in that best spot, it’s after footballs over, and that’s the signature game, and its basically two .500 teams, and its guys that’ve been in the league since 2003 and 2009 respectively.
Bill Simmons via The Ringer
Simmons pointed that James vs. Curry battles also overshadow rising stars and stifle the development of new rivalries that could sustain the league in the future. Bill Simmons also spoke about the lack of endorsement and advertising for the other premiere young stars in the league on Christmas.
"The fact that the Steph-LeBron game was so good … is actually kind of part of the problem."@BillSimmons explains how the Lakers-Warriors Christmas Day matchup is both the current solution—and problem—for the NBA. pic.twitter.com/GhM6F4TXcy
— The Ringer (@ringer) December 27, 2024
Young stars like Victor Wembanyama and Luka Doncic were relegated to the early games during the NFL’s Christmas Day broadcast. On the other hand, LeBron James and Stephen Curry earned the primetime 8 PM E.T. slot on ABC.
To make matters worse, young stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Donovan Mitchell weren’t even on display as both the OKC Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers failed to earn a Christmas Day game despite being the top teams in their conferences.
ESPN insider reveals why LeBron James-Stephen Curry isn’t the greatest NBA rivalry
The debate about the LeBron James and Stephen Curry rivalry took center stage on ESPN’s First Take following their Christmas matchup. While writer David Dennis Jr. called it the greatest rivalry in sports, veteran analyst Bobby Marks countered the notion. Marks stated it lacks the intensity and animosity that historically defined great basketball rivalries.
When I hear the word rivalry, I hear the word dislike. I see two players that genuinely like each other, off the court and on the court. I’m going back to the 80s with Celtics-Lakers or Knicks-Bulls with Ewing and Jordan. Those rivalries had a real edge to them.
Bobby Marks via ESPN First Take
Marks’ point pointed to a key distinction: while James and Curry are fierce competitors on the court, their developing off-court friendship might play a role in diminishing the heated tension often associated with legendary rivalries. Past matchups like Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird or Michael Jordan vs. Patrick Ewing thrived on a level of mutual disdain that made every game feel like a war.
Despite criticisms, James and Curry have delivered unforgettable moments. Their four consecutive NBA Finals meetings from 2015 to 2018, where Curry’s Warriors triumphed in three, remains historical. On Christmas, they added another chapter to their story, delivering the NBA’s most-watched regular season game in half a decade.
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Armaan Gupta
(292 Articles Published)