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11-Year NBA Veteran Makes Strong LeBron James, Steph Curry Statement

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry are still the faces of the NBA

Joey Linn

Aug 10, 2024; Paris, France; United States forward LeBron James (6) and United States guard Stephen Curry (4) in the men's basketball gold medal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena.
Aug 10, 2024; Paris, France; United States forward LeBron James (6) and United States guard Stephen Curry (4) in the men's basketball gold medal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. / Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
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One of the biggest NBA discussions in recent years has been about who the next face of the league will be. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry have held that title for several years, and while both players are nearing the final stages of their respective Hall of Fame careers, they remain in many ways the two biggest faces of basketball.

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, and other young stars have been in this discussion for the future face of basketball, but Curry and James remain the NBA’s biggest stars.

During a recent episode of his Gil’s Arena podcast, 11-year NBA veteran and former Memphis Grizzlies guard Gilbert Arenas said James and Curry are still the two faces of basketball.

There has been a real attempt by some in the media to replace Curry and James in this category, but no player has ran away with the title.

There was perhaps no better illustration of this than what Curry and James did at the 2024 Paris Olympics, leading Team USA to a gold medal. 

Curry and James were Team USA’s top-two leading scorers in Paris, with James winning the MVP award for his all-around performance, while Curry led the team in scoring each of the final two games.

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Joey Linn

JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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