Stephen Curry says he spotted Bronny James' freak athleticism during a 2009 visit to LeBron's mansion: "Now to see him in the league is crazy"
Bronny James is undoubtedly one of the most scrutinized young players in the NBA today. While the 20-year-old has a lot of work to do even to become a rotation player for the Los Angeles Lakers, that's not why he's involved in so many discussions. It's because he is LeBron James' son.
But before Bronny became the subject of attention, Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry knew he would be an exceptional athlete one day. He gleaned all these during his visit to LeBron's mansion in Akron during his rookie campaign during the 2009-10 season.
Hung out with LeBron
It was in late November 2009 when the Warriors visited Cleveland to play LeBron's Cavaliers. Since the two already knew one another, mainly because of Curry's incredible performances at Davidson, some of which King James witnessed with his own eyes, the latter invited him to hang out.
"I called him up like, 'Yo, I'm in Cleveland.' And he's like, 'Come to the crib in Akron,'" Steph narrated on the "360 with Speedy" podcast. "And I was born in Akron, so I was like, 'I'm going to Akron. I'm hanging out with Bron.'"
Upon his arrival, they quickly settled in and began watching various shows on LeBron's TV wall, which featured 16 individual screens. Before long, the King surprised Steph by inviting him to an impromptu bowling match.
However, what struck Steph the most was seeing LeBron's two sons there: Bronny and Bryce. Bron's oldest son, in particular, caught him by surprise.
"I remember how athletic Bronny looked. He maybe couldn't have been more than three or four and how fast he ran across. Like, he going somewhere!" Steph recalled.
Steph and Bronny have come full circle. Bronny is now playing in the same league that his father and Steph have shaped with their presence.
"Now to see him in the league is crazy," he added. "But it was just cool to chill and kick it on the road and have a good time."Steph and LeBron go way back
Over the past decade, the battles between Steph Curry and LeBron James have defined the NBA. Whether it was in the NBA Finals, the regular season, or even the All-Star Game, every match is must-see. However, the two megastars go way back to Curry's NCAA days. Their first interaction occurred in December 2008, when LeBron's Cavs visited Charlotte to face the Bobcats.
With that game being held at night, he sat courtside for Steph's early afternoon game against the NC State Wolfpack. Steph didn't disappoint as he put up 44 points in a 72-67 win for Davidson. That's when he first met LeBron.
"I came back to the game that night, and after the game, he came out the locker room with a jersey. It's like, 'The King of Basketball — North Carolina.' Signed it. And I had it on my wall the rest of college," Curry shared.
While Steph's rivalry with LeBron is the narrative that is incessantly pushed, many aren't aware that their roots run deep. So deep that Curry recognized that Bronny had a chance to become a pro athlete long before he could hoop.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
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