This is OBVIOUSLY Steph's era- not Lebron's.

[Roddy B for 3]

Define "era" since '04 it's 'Bron since '09 I still give the nod to 'Bron.

Curry only won in '15 because Kyrie and Love were hurt, Curry wasn't overly impressive in that series and LBJ was obviously the best player. It was a shocker that GSW won. I think they had won two playoff series in the 40 years leading up to that title.

In '16 GSW proved they were no fluke, but LBJ proved that he would've probably won if Kyrie and Love hadn't been hurt the previous year.

'17 & '18 GSW got a almost free KD. Obviously that team was beyond stacked.

'19 LeBron went to a new team and missed the playoffs, and Klay + KD got hurt and Curry lost in the finals.

'20 LBJ gets another chip. GSW tanks.

'21 neither makes the second round

'22 LeBron at 37 drops a 30/7/7 season and Curry wins his second chip as clear bpa and first FMVP

'Bron 4 MVPs
Steph 2 MVPs (1 unanimous)

'Bron 4 chips (all as clear bpa)
Steph 4 chips (two as clear bpa)

'Bron has all the longetivity records except three point shooting.

I think of '04 as the beginning of a new era in NBA history that will end when LeBron retires.

I view it as the Russell era
The Kareem is bpa in a flat league era
Magic v. Bird era
Jordan starts winning era
Who is next Jordan mini era
LeBron era

Steph might literally come and go during LeBrons era.

All this said, I think Steph will be rembered by me as clearly the 2nd best of the era.

I also think Giannis is the best player overall from the past 4 years fwiw.

5 years ago LBJ was coming off his 6th straight finals appearance, 7th overall.

LBJ was 1-1 vs classic GSW (no KD) and was clear bpa in both series.
LBJ was 1-2 vs actual GSW (but free KD was a cheat code so hard to hold that against LBJ)

I'll take '09-'22 LBJ over '09-'22 Curry, but it's close.
Since '04 LeBron has added more value to winning than anyone. I would argue since '09 LBJ has provided more value to winning than anyone.

Since about '18 I would argue Giannis is bpa

If we look at it as teams instead of players, the past 10 years is clearly the era of GSW.

[nikster]

Well no, free agency began decades before Lebron was in the league, he didn't empower anything. Other legends just chose not to do what he and KD have done. It's much harder sticking with a team through it's up and downs.

LeBron signed with 2 different lottery teams, Cavs and Lakers.

What superstar has done that?

The Cavs who had Kyrie and traded away the #1 pick for Love.

And the Lakers who had cap space for PG or Kawhi. Lebron just couldn't get them to LA. They miss the playoffs and then the whole team is traded for AD.

Compare that with guys like Curry, Kobe, TD, Magic, MJ sticking with their teams and creating a winning culture as opposed to going from team to team. If Kobe goes to Boston in 2009, does two titles enhance his legacy? What about Curry to the Bucks? Or MJ to the Pistons?

The big problem for Lebron is he has a press conference literally confirming he was building a team good enough for not 1, not 1, not3.....rings. And they ended up with two. I've said many times Lebron should have stayed in Cleveland, that team was built nicely for his style of play. After 2010 the Laker run was done and they could have owned the 10s. Imagine Lebron's legacy then. But we know that didn't happen.

Most of the players you listed were gifted elite teams very early in their careers.

As for Lebron should have stayed in Cleveland, I have no idea how you can say that. 3 of his top 6 role players were over 33 years old. Delonte west was out of the league in 2 years. Mo williams was his best player and significantly dropped off after Lebron left. The team had no young players worth developing and had no assets to reasonably improve the roster.

[zimpy27]

Giannis has been the best player for a few seasons now, shouldn't the title be "this is OBVIOUSLY Steph's era- not Giannis's"?

[The4thHorseman]

Well no, free agency began decades before Lebron was in the league, he didn't empower anything. Other legends just chose not to do what he and KD have done. It's much harder sticking with a team through it's up and downs.

LeBron signed with 2 different lottery teams, Cavs and Lakers.

What superstar has done that?

The Cavs who had Kyrie and traded away the #1 pick for Love.

And the Lakers who had cap space for PG or Kawhi. Lebron just couldn't get them to LA. They miss the playoffs and then the whole team is traded for AD.

Compare that with guys like Curry, Kobe, TD, Magic, MJ sticking with their teams and creating a winning culture as opposed to going from team to team. If Kobe goes to Boston in 2009, does two titles enhance his legacy? What about Curry to the Bucks? Or MJ to the Pistons?

The big problem for Lebron is he has a press conference literally confirming he was building a team good enough for not 1, not 1, not3.....rings. And they ended up with two. I've said many times Lebron should have stayed in Cleveland, that team was built nicely for his style of play. After 2010 the Laker run was done and they could have owned the 10s. Imagine Lebron's legacy then. But we know that didn't happen.

The same Kyrie who lead Cleveland to the least games won from 2011-14? Love told Minny he wasn't going to sign an extension and traded him (after LeBron signed) What better offer did they get from other teams?

LA had cap space, but doesn't mean they weren't a lottery team prior. They miss the playoffs due to injuries and which 14 players did they trade for AD? Blood clots Ingram and Ball whose trade value at the time was still good?

Kobe told the Nets not to draft him 8th overall (like they wanted to) cause he wouldn't sign with them. He'd have no reason to sign with Boston in 09 Magic signed a 25yr rookie extension in 1984, he wasn't going anywhere. MJ took the money by signing an 8yr extension and wasn't a free agent till 1996.

You're really calling a pep rally for Miami fans a press conference?

No, the Cavs would not have owned the 10's had he stayed. Can you name any very good to great UFA's that Cleveland has signed in the last 35yrs? It's not a destination and atmosphere that they seek out.

[og15]

It is possible to congratulate a player without lowering another player, especially when this player has nothing to do with this year

It's impossible to 'lower' Lebron. He's Lebron. But it's possible to talk objectively about an era. Curry has beat the guy 3x. His 4th time winning is alongside a guy that Lebron didn't think was worthy playing with.

Curry literally turning trash into treasure with Lebron's scraps. Just things to think about.

Wiggins was a rookie and hadn't even played an NBA game when the Cavs traded him. GS won with Wiggins in his 8th season....

Why is this supposed to be a logical comparison? Also Wiggins and Bron play the same position, so there's that factor too.

[Raps in 4]

Curry is my favourite player of this generation, but no. This was not Curry's era. Lebron was the better player and had the better career. Lebron is a clear-cut top-2 player all-time. Curry is top-10, with a case for top-5.

[rapstarter]

LeBron, on the other hand, had to make his own way, so the level of difficulty of what LeBron did - creating new teams in 3 cities and winning with all of them - is far beyond anything Curry has yet accomplished.

2016 and Kevin Durant has essentially eliminated Curry from challenging LeBron’s status as the superior player between the two.

You could use the same logic against LeBron and 2011, Wade, Bosh, Kyrie, Love and AD. And how is jumping ship 3 times a more difficult task? He could literally pick his own teammates.

[An Unbiased Fan]

I think of '04 as the beginning of a new era in NBA history that will end when LeBron retires.

I view it as the Russell era
The Kareem is bpa in a flat league era
Magic v. Bird era
Jordan starts winning era
Who is next Jordan mini era
LeBron era

Steph might literally come and go during LeBrons era.

All this said, I think Steph will be rembered by me as clearly the 2nd best of the era.

I also think Giannis is the best player overall from the past 4 years fwiw.

5 years ago LBJ was coming off his 6th straight finals appearance, 7th overall.

Lebron was a blip in 04. His era didn't start til 2012 after the Lakers run was done and Dirk's 2011. And Curry's era overlapped and overtook his in 2015. This will clearly be remembered as Curry's era by the young fans. They all try to emulate Curry the way 00s fans would yell "Kobe" and emulate him, and 90s fans would stick their tongues out like MJ, and 80s fans would throw fancy passes like Magic. Lebron is the biggest star of this era, but Curry's success and influence has overtaken him since 2015

[Homer38]

NBA eras

48-54 Mikan era
58-69 Russell era
71-81 KAJ era
82-90 Magic era
91- 98 MJ era
00-10 Kobe era
12-14 Lebron era
15-22 Curry era

No

The 2000 to 2002 was the era of peak Shaq
After that it was Tim Duncan in 2003 to 2007 with 3 rings
Kobe in 2008 to 2010
LeBron in 2012 to 2020

[Homer38]

LeBron, on the other hand, had to make his own way, so the level of difficulty of what LeBron did - creating new teams in 3 cities and winning with all of them - is far beyond anything Curry has yet accomplished.

2016 and Kevin Durant has essentially eliminated Curry from challenging LeBron’s status as the superior player between the two.

You could use the same logic against LeBron and 2011, Wade, Bosh, Kyrie, Love and AD. And how is jumping ship 3 times a more difficult task? He could literally pick his own teammates.

What Bosh,Kyrie,Love and AD have won without LBJ...3 playoffs series win combined?

[NyKnicks1714]

Hyperbole and hot takes on Realgm after a championship? Well I never!

[Dupp]

Steph is great. Why’s everything have to be about lebron?

[Harry Garris]

Why can't it be both of their era's?

The 1980's were not Magic's era or Bird's era. It was the combination of the two of them. That was what was so great about that time of basketball history was having 2 league defining superstars and their rivalry with each other. I think that's what we're seeing now - although to a lesser extent on the rivalry side of things.

[Homer38]

Hyperbole and hot takes on Realgm after a championship? Well I never!

Hard to believe but it was even worst in 2019 with Kawhi.....

[Roddy B for 3]

I think of '04 as the beginning of a new era in NBA history that will end when LeBron retires.

I view it as the Russell era
The Kareem is bpa in a flat league era
Magic v. Bird era
Jordan starts winning era
Who is next Jordan mini era
LeBron era

Steph might literally come and go during LeBrons era.

All this said, I think Steph will be rembered by me as clearly the 2nd best of the era.

I also think Giannis is the best player overall from the past 4 years fwiw.

5 years ago LBJ was coming off his 6th straight finals appearance, 7th overall.

Lebron was a blip in 04. His era didn't start til 2012 after the Lakers run was done and Dirk's 2011. And Curry's era overlapped and overtook his in 2015. This will clearly be remembered as Curry's era by the young fans. They all try to emulate Curry the way 00s fans would yell "Kobe" and emulate him, and 90s fans would stick their tongues out like MJ, and 80s fans would throw fancy passes like Magic. Lebron is the biggest star of this era, but Curry's success and influence has overtaken him since 2015

My literal first two words were "define era".

LeBron was a "blip" in '04 LOL
LeBron had the expectations of MJ from high school. His first game was on national TV against a contender Kings squad.

I was 12 when LBJ entered the league and I remember walking around my backyard thinking "I'm going to be OLD when this guy retires". I distinctively remember that. I bought NBA live 2004 (my first ever brand new bsketball game) because I wanted to play with LBJ (and Dallas Maverick legend Michael Finley was on the back of the game)

LeBron was not a blip in '04.

If we're saying who are people going to "be nostalgic" for defines an era then yeah maybe Steph. But if we're saying who the best player was from '15 (obviously arbitrary cutoff, arbitrary cutoff is obvious) until '22 it gets more interesting.

TLDR: Imo who people end up being nostalgic for doesn't define an era & LBJ was most certainly not a "blip" in 2004

LBJ is probably the 1st or 2nd biggest star in NBA history. So to say his age 30-37 years will be remembeeed as the Steph Curry era is kind of weird to me.

Although I will readily admit from a team standpoint GSW are what this era is about. One of the greatest runs in NBA history. With imo only the 60's Celtics, 90's Bulls and 80's Lakers as clearly better runs.

[DCasey91]

Lebron won 4 chips, 4 Finals MVP’s, took literal trash to the finals in 2018 and went to the finals like a bazillion times from 2010-2020.

The man is a solo walking championship wherever he goes. The man won with bloody Delly as his PG!

If KD joined Lebron the NBA would be a joke of a sport and unwatchable (it was for the most part between 2017-2018).

Seriously.

[Roddy B for 3]

Lebron won 4 chips, 4 Finals MVP’s, took literal trash to the finals in 2018 and went to the finals like a bazillion times from 2010-2020.

The man is a solo walking championship wherever he goes. The man won with bloody Delly as his PG!

If KD joined Lebron the NBA would be a joke of a sport and unwatchable (it was for the most part between 2017-2018).

Seriously.

Yup. LBJ's career as one NBA team run, would be a top 5 run ever. And it is still going. Idk if he'll add another chip, but he did average 30/7/7 this past season.

[An Unbiased Fan]

I think of '04 as the beginning of a new era in NBA history that will end when LeBron retires.

I view it as the Russell era
The Kareem is bpa in a flat league era
Magic v. Bird era
Jordan starts winning era
Who is next Jordan mini era
LeBron era

Steph might literally come and go during LeBrons era.

All this said, I think Steph will be rembered by me as clearly the 2nd best of the era.

I also think Giannis is the best player overall from the past 4 years fwiw.

5 years ago LBJ was coming off his 6th straight finals appearance, 7th overall.

Lebron was a blip in 04. His era didn't start til 2012 after the Lakers run was done and Dirk's 2011. And Curry's era overlapped and overtook his in 2015. This will clearly be remembered as Curry's era by the young fans. They all try to emulate Curry the way 00s fans would yell "Kobe" and emulate him, and 90s fans would stick their tongues out like MJ, and 80s fans would throw fancy passes like Magic. Lebron is the biggest star of this era, but Curry's success and influence has overtaken him since 2015

My literal first two words were "define era".

LeBron was a "blip" in '04 LOL
LeBron had the expectations of MJ from high school. His first game was on national TV against a contender Kings squad.

I was 12 when LBJ entered the league and I remember walking around my backyard thinking "I'm going to be OLD when this guy retires". I distinctively remember that. I bought NBA live 2004 (my first ever brand new bsketball game) because I wanted to play with LBJ (and Dallas Maverick legend Michael Finley was on the back of the game)

LeBron was not a blip in '04.

If we're saying who are people going to "be nostalgic" for defines an era then yeah maybe Steph. But if we're saying who the best player was from '15 (obviously arbitrary cutoff, arbitrary cutoff is obvious) until '22 it gets more interesting.

TLDR: Imo who people end up being nostalgic for doesn't define an era & LBJ was most certainly not a "blip" in 2004

LBJ is probably the 1st or 2nd biggest star in NBA history. So to say his age 30-37 years will be remembeeed as the Steph Curry era is kind of weird to me.

Although I will readily admit from a team standpoint GSW are what this era is about. One of the greatest runs in NBA history. With imo only the 60's Celtics, 90's Bulls and 80's Lakers as clearly better runs.

Lebron wasn't shaping the NBA in 2004. There were different guys doing that. Biggest memory of his from that year is that Team USA that lost int he Olympics. The faces of the NBA back then were Kobe & Shaq. Lebron's era began with the Heatles and ended with the Warriors rise.

As for biggest star in NBA history, not even close. MJ, Kobe, Shaq, and even AI are bigger internationally, and in American Magic, Bird, Wilt, Kareem join the club.

[dcstanley]

Here's the thing, in 2011 Lebron teamed with three other stars to try and do what Curry has done. One guy has bounced from team to team trying to chase rings, and the other has done it with one core. If Curry joins the upper tier of champions, then this is definitely his era.

Legends with 5 rings

Russell
MJ
Kareem
Kobe
Duncan
Magic
^
NBA history can be mapped out with these guys

I guess those three years of a former MVP, multiple finals MVP and consensus top 20 player of all time playing with the Warriors has slipped everyone's mind.

[DCasey91]

Steph Curry beat Lebron's team in the 2015 Finals.

Steph Curry and Lebron now have the same amount of titles at 4....and Curry is 3-1 against Lebron in the Finals.

The 2015*, 2016 and 2022* were not super teams by any stretch of the imagination.

This years championship is more impressive than any title that Lebron has accomplished based on the supporting cast.

*Denotes NBA Champion

C'mon....It was more that Curry vs LBJ in his finals...I mean just in 2016,Curry was awful,LeBron was legendary on offense and defense and the finals were still close.....

2016 was 6 years ago. Since that Finals loss Curry has won 3 more NBA Titles.
He now has 2 NBA titles without Kevin Durant. point being that Lebron fans need to get over 2016.

The Warriors have won titles with Harrison Barnes, Kevin Durant and Andrew Wiggins at the power forward spot.
Barnes and Wiggins are considered somewhat average....but when they play with Curry they end up being NBA Champions.

Lebron has won with Shumpert, JR Smith and Delly. Also in 15’ Warriors still needed 6 with Irving missing and Mozgov along. Love was very suspect in 18 too btw.

Lebron has carried some true style bums to the finals/championships.

Curry in his prime has basically played on stacked or the most stacked team ever basically. It’s truely a disservice to say Lebron has played on stacked teams when Curry has had the exact same thing minus winning with bums lol.