Steph Curry vs LeBron James: Comparing two of NBA's greatest players and their impact on the game

Steph Curry vs LeBron James: Comparing two of NBA's greatest players and their impact on the game

Grace Waruguru
updated at May 5, 2023 at 4:00 AM

Who is the basketball G.O.A.T? The Steph Curry vs. LeBron James debate has kept netizens busy as they glimpse into the careers and achievements of these players. We have interesting facts and statistics comparing them, so keep reading to discover more.

Steph Curry vs LeBron James
Stephen Curry (L) drives to the basket, defended by LeBron James in the first half during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018, in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo: Gregory Shamus
Source: Getty Images

What qualifies a basketball player to be the greatest? While there are several factors to consider, including shooting skills and awards, their impact on the overall game also plays a part. Let us get into the Stephen Curry vs. LeBron James comparison.

Steph Curry vs. LeBron James career

Steph Curry launched his professional career in 2009 after exceptional performances while studying at Davidson (North Carolina) College.  The athlete got his skills from his dad, Dell Curry. In his first year, he averaged 21'5 points per game, leading all first-year players in the country.

Curry joined the Golden State Warriors and averaged 17.5 points per game in his premier season. He plays the point guard position. In the 2012/2013 season, he ranked highest in three-pointers made. Since joining the NBA, Steph has only played for the Warriors.

On the other hand, LeBron James started playing professionally in 2003, six years earlier than Curry. He started off with the Cleveland Cavaliers until 2009 before moving to Miami Heat from 2010 to 2014. Between 2014 and 2018, the athlete went back to Cleveland Cavaliers until 2018, when he joined the Los Angeles Lakers, his current team.

Steph Curry vs Lebron James record
LeBron James (L) with Stephen Curry (R) during their game at Chase Center on October 18, 2022, in San Francisco, California. Photo: Ezra Shaw
Source: Getty Images

LeBron's prowess dates back to high school when he was named the high school player of the year at Akron’s St. Vincent–St. Mary High School. He led his teams to victories numerous times, including 27 consecutive wins by Miami Heat in the 2012/2013 season.

Steph Curry vs. LeBron James record

Steph Curry and LeBron James Akron have set incredible records throughout their careers. Curry has been associated with revolutionizing the three-pointer and can score from any area of the court. He has the highest three-point percentage (42.8%), one of the highest ever attained.

Additionally, he has nine All-Star games. Curry is a two-time MVP Player, and in 2016, he became the only unanimous MVP selection in league history.

LeBron is the top scorer in NBA history. Curry boasts 19 All-Star games and has four MVP awards, and was named the Time Athlete of the Year in 2020. He plays as a small forward and power forward.

Steph Curry vs LeBron James championships

Steph Curry vs LeBron James finals
LeBron James (L) and Stephen Curry (R) after the game on March 5, 2023, at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Adam Pantozzi
Source: Getty Images

The two players have four NBA championships. Steph bagged the titles in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. James bagged his titles NBA titles in 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2020.

Steph Curry vs. Lebron James finals

You might wonder, ''What is Steph Curry vs. LeBron James' finals record? Chef Curry, as he is popularly known, has a record of 4-2 in the NBA Finals. Three wins were against the Cleveland Cavaliers and one against the Boston Celtics.

King James boasts a record of 4-6 out of 10 NBA finals. Two were with Miami Heat (2012 and 2013), one with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2016), and the last one when the Los Angeles Lakers beat Miami Heat (2020). Interestingly, the players have different heights, with Steph Curry being a shorter player with a height of 6 feet, 2 inches. LeBron is 6 feet, 9 inches.

Steph Curry vs. LeBron James points all time

Steph Curry vs LeBron James championships
Stephen Curry (R) with LeBron James (L) during Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on May 31, 2018, in Oakland, California. Photo: Ezra Shaw
Source: Getty Images

How many points does Steph Curry have compared to LeBron James? Steph has attained an impressive 21,712 in his NBA career. His counterpart, James, has accrued a whopping 38,652 points, making him the all-time leading points scorer. However, the significant difference could be because they started playing professionally six years apart.

Steph Curry vs. LeBron James achievements

The two basketball legends boast significant career achievements. Some of Curry's notable ones include:

  • All-time three-point king of the NBA.
  • As a rookie, he broke Michael Jordan's 1984 record when he attained 30-10 games in one season.
  • Steph Curry became the first player in NBA history with at least 250 threes and 500 assists in a single season and the second-ever to hit at least 200 threes on 45 percent or better from long range. The only other player who had attained this feat is Glen Rice in 1995/1996.

LeBron James has also made several strides, including:

  • He broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record of the highest points scorer, earning it faster than him by 160 games.
  • LeBron won the Rookie of The Year title in 2004.
  • LeBron's son, Bronny James Jr, has followed in his father's footsteps and is expected to join the NBA in 2024 as a first-round draft prospect.
  • James is the number 4 All-Time Assists leader, with 10,360, after John Stockton (15,806), Jason Kidd (12,091), and Chris Paul (11,330).

Steph Curry vs. LeBron James; who is better?

Steph Curry vs LeBron James finals record
Stephen Curry (L) and LeBron James (R) pause during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena on December 25, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo: Jason Miller
Source: Getty Images

A deeper look into Steph Curry vs. LeBron James' stats shows two legendary sports personalities who have left a mark in the game thanks to their incredible skill and consistency. It might be challenging to pick the better one because each has earned his place in basketball history.

The ratings for Steph Curry vs. LeBron James' 1v1 record will continue to be scrutinized by their fans globally. Additionally, the two cannot be rated using the same benchmark due to the difference in their years on the pitch.

Who has more rings, Curry or Lebron?

Lebron has four rings, which he won while playing for the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers. On the other hand, Curry has three rings, which he won while playing with the Golden State Warriors. It is clear that Lebron has the edge in terms of championship rings, but both players have had remarkable careers.

The probe into Steph Curry Vs. Lebron James' career journey continues to arouse excitement across the basketball industry. While the two continue serving their teams and beating more records, fans will undoubtedly see more milestones from the two legends.

READ ALSO: Key positions in basketball and their roles

Sports Brief published the five basketball positions, explaining the role each one plays. In the past, players only held one position. However, today's athletes learn two or three roles, while some exceptional ones can play in any one of them.

The point guard is the primary ball handler, also known as the ''Floor General.'' Their role is to organize the team's play. These individuals must have excellent ball-handling skills and a high basketball IQ. Other positions are small forward, shooting guard, power forward, and centre. Check out the above article for comprehensive elaborations of these roles.

Authors
Grace Waruguru photo
Grace Waruguru
Grace has over 4 years of experience in article writing and digital media content creation for various local and global brands. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Public Relations) from Daystar University, Kenya.
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