There’s a lot at stake in the series between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers.
It’s not just about winning another NBA championship or getting a step closer to the NBA Finals; it’s about legacy.
LeBron James and Stephen Curry have gone back and forth in the playoffs way too many times already, with the latter often getting the last laugh.
“If Steph Curry beats LeBron in this series, and dare I say, wins his fifth NBA championship, we might have to remove LeBron James off of Mount Rushmore and put Steph Curry on it.”
😳 @stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/9w3aPLGy84
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 3, 2023
That’s why Stephen A. Smith believes that a Warriors win in this series and a fifth ring could lead people to take James off the NBA’s Mt. Rushmore and put Curry in his place.
Smith points out that his Mt. Rushmore consists of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell.
And even though he believes LeBron is the better player, the fact that Steph has beaten him three times in the NBA Finals should make people at least have this conversation.
He also dismissed the narrative of Curry “needing Kevin Durant” to beat LeBron because James also “needed” Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Moreover, he believes the Warriors would’ve been 4-0 against James in the NBA Finals if it wasn’t for Draymond Green’s suspension and that Curry having one more ring than him in fewer years in the league should also be taken into consideration.
That’s why there’s way too much at stake this time.
This could be the end of the line for both of these players in terms of championship-contention.
But it might also be a legacy-defining series for when people look back on their careers and how their head-to-head record went.
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