Fans Are Still Wondering About LeBron James Snubbing Steph Curry On All-Star Sunday

All-Star Weekend is usually filled with eye-popping athletic feats from the best players in the NBA. Every once in a while, though, there are blink-and-you-miss-it moments that are just as impactful as rim-rattling dunks.

On Sunday, eagle-eyed viewers caught a strange little detail right as Team USA Stripes headed to the bench during a break in the action. As LeBron James approached his seat, he slapped fives with members of the coaching staff and his teammate Kawhi Leonard. Steph Curry, an injured teammate of LeBron’s, tried to dap up the King but got zero acknowledgement.

As if that weren’t enough, James appeared to give Curry the side eye as well.

So, what’s going on right here? There are two possible explanations.

Here’s the more fascinating scenario: James and Curry still have unsettled differences from the years that they clashed in the NBA Finals. When LBJ began his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014, Curry and his Golden State Warriors squad were just about to revolutionize the sport by ushering in an era of fast-paced offense predicated on three-point shooting. For four consecutive seasons, Curry and James met on the NBA’s biggest stage, with the Warriors outgunning the Cavs three out of four times.

In short, Curry stood in the way of James enriching his legacy and possibly sealing his case as the greatest of all time. Though these two all-time greats have had plenty of opportunities to link up in subsequent years, joining forces at All-Star Games and Team USA’s epic run at the 2024 Paris Olympics, James might still be harboring a grudge against the baby-faced assassin.

Or, it could be as simple as this: James, a bit winded after seeing action on the court, made the honest mistake of missing Curry on the sidelines. If four-time NBA champions can miss shots when they’re under duress on the court, surely there is some grace afforded to them when they occasionally overlook teammates during their customary daps on the bench.

James, one of the most intelligent athletes to ever lace up a pair of sneakers, might have realized his error immediately afterwards and darted a look at Curry to see if his friend still wanted to slap fives.

Take your pick.