Steph Curry has now made another push for LeBron James just as the Warriors appear to be losing ground in the sweepstakes.
During a Wednesday appearance on “Good Morning America,” Curry delivered his most direct recruiting pitch yet, selling James on championship pedigree, team chemistry, sunshine, golf and the opportunity to close his career alongside a former rival.
“The Bay, we know how to win, beautiful weather, great golf. I know he’s into that,” Curry said. “We just know how to play basketball, and I think that he would enjoy just the idea of what it means to finish your career the right way.”
The timing was difficult to ignore.
ESPN insider Shams Charania left Golden State off his list of teams in the James sweepstakes, identifying the Cavaliers, Heat and 76ers as the current focus of the 41-year-old’s decision. Fellow insider Marc Spears doubled down on that, saying James is now solely looking to the Eastern Conference, calling the Warriors a dark horse in the race.
Only days earlier, Charania had listed Golden State among James’ leading suitors. Curry’s national television pitch now feels more like a last-ditch attempt to drag the Warriors back toward the front of the line.
Curry has plenty of material to work with. He and James developed immediate chemistry while leading Team USA to gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics under Steve Kerr. Their four consecutive NBA Finals battles also created an unusual bond between two stars who spent years trying to end each other’s seasons.
Draymond Green has handled the private lobbying. He recently used a golf trip with James to deliver what he described as a “crazy” pitch that he hoped would make his longtime friend reconsider any decision already forming.
Golden State has also surrounded its stars with familiar pieces, re-signing Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis while adding Frank Vogel, who coached James to the 2020 championship with the Lakers.
Still, the Warriors may be running out of time. General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said Tuesday that the roster was close to being finalized, suggesting the franchise either expects an answer soon or is preparing to finish its offseason looking beyond James.
Curry has now made, what could be, his closing argument.
Whether James views Golden State as the right way to finish — or merely another flattering option —remains entirely up to him.
