Do you remember what happened with about 35 seconds left in OT during Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals?
In case you forgot:
The Warriors led by 11 points and with the shot clock winding down, Steph Curry attempted a driving layup and LeBron James blocked it.
LeBron proceeded to talk some trash to Curry and even used a little forearm to nudge him away when Curry said something in return.
On the most recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, Curry shed some light on the exchange.
Simmons: "He blocked you and he talked sh*t to you. I thought you guys were gonna fight."
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Curry: "It was never going to spill over to that. But it was an interesting moment ... I was hot because I was trying to finish out a possession, I think it was less than a minute left, I didn't see him coming over from the weak side so I tried to do a little soft scoop layup and he pinned it. Then he stared me down and he said something to me.
"And I was like, 'That's what we're really on right now? We're about to win and you're worried about mean-blocking my shot and talking trash?' And then the whole Tristan and Draymond thing happened and I went back up to him and I was like, 'Yo, what's up? Is this really what we're about right now?'
"And he was like, 'I gotta do that to make sure my teammates know I'm a mentor' and it's a part of his leadership and that type of deal. And I was like, 'I don't want to be the sacrificial lamb for your leadership.' (laughter). Come on man, that's messed up."
Simmons: "I want more of it. I don't want you guys to like each other. This is my biggest problem with this decade. I like that I'm not positive you and LeBron like each other (Curry starts laughing). Watching from afar, it doesn't seem like you like each other. I'm sure there's a mutual respect."
Curry: "There's definitely a mutual respect. I would say though when you see guys working out with each other in the summers and you see guys playing pickup and all that -- when you step foot on the court during the season, it's a totally different environment.
"Guys can be buddies and friends and whatnot and have whatever type of relationship they want to have in the summer and off the court, but the rivalry and competition and egos and all that stuff that lives in an NBA game and when you're trying to hold that trophy ... it's really there and it's not going anywhere."
Simmons: "I don't want you guys to get along. I want adverserial relationships."
Curry: "They're there. They're there. I promise you."
Good. That is awesome.
A couple other takeaways from the podcast:
-Bill Simmons: "It felt like the last two years, every time Kevin Love got switched on to you, you had a flashback to Game 7 '16 and you wanted to score on him. Is that fair?
-Steph Curry: "Yes. That is very fair. I spent a whole year hearing about that one possession."— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) August 16, 2018
Steph Curry: "The stuff that I've turned down, and that includes our former President that has invited me to play golf but I cannot get to the East Coast in the next week to play with him. So Barack, if you're listening, I appreciate the invite." Wild. I have the same problem!— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) August 17, 2018
Drew Shiller is the co-host of Warriors Outsiders. Follow him on Twitter @DrewShiller
