​Stephen Curry is back in action at the 2026 American Century Championships, competing at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. After finishing fifth last year, the two-time NBA MVP hopes to echo his 2023 performance, when he captured the title. Curry finds himself on the greens amid a field that includes familiar names like Ray Allen and Charles Barkley, yet he remains at the center of speculation about a potential pairing with LeBron James.
While preparing for his next shot, Curry offered a brief response when asked about the lingering rumors. A possible Curry-James collaboration had the basketball world buzzing late last month. After Draymond Green opted out of his $27.7 million player option to preserve salary-cap flexibility, chatter swirled that James might consider joining the Bay Area. The initial excitement cooled when James’ agent, Rich Paul, outlined the star’s options on his Game Over podcast last week. Paul named the Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, and the Warriors as possible destinations.
On Wednesday, NBA insider Brian Windhorst, speaking with Yahoo Sports Daily, suggested that Miami and Cleveland appeared “in their own category” compared to other teams exploring James’ services. With the rising noise about James’ potential destination, Curry gave a concise response when asked about the possibility of teaming with the four-time NBA champion. “I don’t mind it,” Curry said. The conversation had clearly been on his mind, and he offered a more detailed perspective earlier in the week during an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle’s Ron Kroichick. “We’ve obviously talked. He deserves all the patience and space to figure out what he wants to do as his career winds down,” Curry said. “We all understand and appreciate that. I would love to play with him, and hopefully that will be a reality soon.”
Earlier, Curry and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer teamed up to win gold for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Golden State is eager to persuade James to spend what could be his final NBA season in the Bay Area, pursuing another championship alongside his longtime rival. The Warriors have made several moves, but ESPN’s Warriors insider Anthony Slater reports that the team intends to keep roster space open for James until he makes his decision. Slater adds that there remains a cautious optimism within the organization that James might ultimately choose them as his next team.
The Warriors’ interest in bringing James to San Francisco runs parallel to Curry’s own desire to team up with him. As James weighs his options, the choice now rests in his hands, with the Bay Area presenting a compelling vision of potential glory and a chance to chase another title alongside a familiar rival turned potential partner. This story continues to unfold as James considers where he can have the greatest impact in what could be his final act in the NBA, while Curry positions himself to be part of that narrative.