LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Jayson Tatum’s iconic pre-game rituals were on full display for fans to see ahead of Team USA’s game against Serbia. All three players were seen doing their rituals – LeBron’s chalk toss, Curry’s sprint to the post, and Tatum’s ear tugs – at the exact same time.
All of these player rituals happening at once… 🤯 #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/uGdbga0IcW
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2024
These pre-game rituals have become signature moments that fans look forward to ahead of any tip-off in the NBA. LeBron’s chalk toss itself has generated some of the best pictures in NBA history. And Curry’s sprint to the post has helped fans of the Warriors get hyped before their games.
As for Tatum, he actually explained the emotional significance of his pre-game ritual, noting that it’s his way of paying tribute to his family members who helped him build the successful career that he enjoys today.
Fans in Abu Dhabi got a treat seeing all these iconic rituals take place in real time. But the fun didn’t stop there, as Team USA secured a dominant 105-79 victory over Serbia in their friendly game ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Stephen Curry showed out, putting up 24 points and 3 rebounds, whereas James contributed a respectable 11 points and 2 assists.
Tatum however, had a poor performance by his standards, putting up just 4 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 turnovers to end the game. Tatum will hope to figure out his scoring problems, as he hopes to retain his starting spot over Kevin Durant, who is currently out with an injury.
LeBron James And Stephen Curry Form Dynamic Partnership
LeBron James and Stephen Curry have explored a whole new level of chemistry by playing together for the first time in their careers. Both James and Curry have been bound by a rivalry that defined the NBA during the 2010s, as they battled for four consecutive NBA championships between 2015 and 2018.
The two look like they’re having a great time playing alongside each other, and Stephen Curry confirmed as such during a recent interview. Seeing the two players have fun with each other, talking about random things like Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’, is a far cry from the tenuous relationship they shared during their rivalry.
Curry and LeBron even admitted that the two had tension with each other during the peak of their rivalry. This is to be expected, considering the high-level competitive athletes the two are, and how focused both players are on winning at all costs. Even Kevin Durant, Curry’s former teammate on the Warriors, noted that both players’ dynamic with each other has changed drastically.
James and Curry will be looking to make their first experience playing competitive basketball with each other a fruitful one, as they look to lead Team USA to their fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal. It would be LeBron’s third gold medal, and fourth medal overall at the Olympics, and would be Curry’s first at the Olympics, as he never represented Team USA at the prestigious games