Defending Stephen Curry and Himself, LeBron James Once Shut Down Dennis Rodman’s Criticism: “It Sucks Because..”

Published 10/26/2022, 6:30 PM EDT

LeBron James and Stephen Curry are two of the greatest basketball players of this generation. History has proven that when two legends play in the same era, their relationship is complicated. Similarly, LeBron and Curry’s rivalry on the court is a visual treat for spectators. The duo has clashed in several Finals and has hence competed for the NBA title. However, despite having a competitive nature, they both have a great deal of respect for one another. Once, LeBron defended himself and Curry against Dennis Rodman’s criticism.

Dennis Rodman is one of the most successful yet controversial athletes in NBA history. Rodman made countless headlines during his career for his strange stunts on and off the court. He is regarded as one of the greatest defenders in NBA history. But have you ever wondered how a prime Rodman might have performed against LeBron James and Stephen Curry?

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Back in 2013, Dennis Rodman went after LeBron and said, “If LeBron was playing in the late ’80s and early ’90s, he would be just an average player.” And back in 2016, when Steph won back-to-back MVPs and became the first-ever unanimous winner, Rodman targeted Steph and said, “If Steph played in our era, then we’d be more physical with him and we’d go at him.”

LeBron James spoke out in response to Dennis Rodman’s criticism

Curry believes he’s good at ignoring people. As a result, the Golden State Warriors legend did not respond to any of the criticism. However, King James took responsibility and replied to the Chicago Bulls legend’s criticisms. The Los Angeles Lakers legend spoke up for himself and Curry, saying, “And it sucks because we’re just trying to carry the torch for the next group to come behind us.”

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This is understandable given that each generation has its own set of challenges and principles. And it is the athletes’ responsibility to carry the torch from the previous generation to the new generation. LeBron and Steph have ruled the game with their distinct playstyles. Steph Curry is currently the highest-paid player in the NBA, while LeBron James is one of the richest professional athletes.

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Both legends have four championship rings. It will be interesting to see who wins their fifth ring first.

Who do you think of LeBron’s response to Rodman’s comments? Do tell us your thoughts in the comment section.

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Ritesh Jha is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor's in Technology in Computer Science from Rungta College. Ritesh worked as an intern content writer for a digital marketing agency called KCAS Branding before joining EssentiallySports.

Defending Stephen Curry and Himself, LeBron James Once Shut Down Dennis Rodman’s Criticism: “It Sucks Because..”

LeBron James spoke out in response to Dennis Rodman’s criticism

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