Steph Curry on rivalry with LeBron James: 'Respect is always there'

Steph Curry and LeBron James have been responsible for some of the greatest NBA Finals matchups of all time, facing off for a championship four straight times during LeBron's second stint in Cleveland. After Monday night's game between the Warriors and Lakers, Curry reflected on his relationship with LeBron and how their rivalry has only caused them to gain more respect for each other.

"Respect is always there," Curry told ClutchPoints. "You have a situation where it’s not just me and him (LeBron James). It’s obviously its team’s going at each other and you're competing year after year after year, and you get to see up close and personal greatness, and I think he will say the same thing."

Curry acknowledged that facing off in the high-stakes situations that he and LeBron have had has led to "a lot of pettiness and competitiveness" but insisted "that's the fun of it all" and that "the respect level is always there."

But in the last couple of years, the rivalry between the two has shifted a bit, with LeBron missing the playoffs in his first year with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Warriors missing the playoffs last season thanks to injuries and the departure of Kevin Durant. Now, with LeBron and the Lakers looking to defend their title, Curry says the Warriors are simply hoping to get back to contending for championships.