While Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry may be on one of the NBA’s most popular player, he may not be as well liked by some of his peers, mainly some of the NBA’s very best on the court.
According to Marcus Thompson II, author of The Miraculous Rise of Steph Curry, players such as the Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James, Oklahoma City Thunder Russell Westbrook and Los Angeles Clippers Chris Paul are among the players that dislike Curry.
The news came out during Thompson’s appearance on The Big Lead. Thompson told host Jason McIntyre that James and Curry were initially close but that changed when Curry “challenged LeBron’s status,”.
“[Curry] leapfrogged a whole lot of people,” Thompson noted (h/t Bleacher Report). “There’s a whole lot of people who never got the adoration Steph gets. … They don’t like that. Players who were probably Hall of Famers [were saying] ‘Nobody ever anointed me like this.'”
In regards to Paul, Thompson explained that Paul and the Clippers disliked the Warriors for taking over the Western Conference when they were “next in line to win a championship.”
“That’s another relationship where [Curry] was like, ‘Oh, I look up to you,’ and suddenly there is this disdain versus Steph. There’s a lot of those.”
Westbrook’s disdain seems more simple and direct with Thompson saying that Westbrook “simply doesn’t like Curry.”
After reading this one can’t help to come to a few immediate conclusions.
#1. How petty and immature some of this really is. So, James is irked because Curry took some of his spotlight?
And as far as Paul goes, if you and your team are so ticked off about the Warriors taking over the Western Conference, then why don’t you beat them? In fact, why don’t you avoid yet another disappointingly early exit from the playoffs and actually reach the Finals?
As far as the “next in line” narrative goes, maybe earn a championship. It’s one thing to win championships on paper and another when the ball is in play on the court.
Seems rather ridiculous doesn’t it?
Now, I’m not saying that players should like one another, especially with how competitive sports can be. In fact I love hearing this stuff, I love knowing that there is some friction between opposing players. It adds interest and intrigue.
But I also cannot help but find myself astounded by how much of this report is steeped in ego and immaturity. Or maybe I’m not?
At the end of the day, Curry may ruffle feathers, but he’s hoisted an MVP trophy and an NBA Championship.
Let the haters hate.