Steve Kerr has explained how LeBron James and Kevin Durant showed what he calls the ultimate sign of respect to Steph Curry during the Paris Olympics.
The Team USA head coach reflected on the leadership dynamics within a roster stacked with MVPs and future Hall of Famers.
While LeBron James emerged as the vocal presence, Kerr revealed how the group ultimately rallied around Curry in the biggest moment. The story offered insight into the hierarchy inside an all-time great squad.
Steve Kerr explains Team USA leadership under LeBron James
Speaking in comments shared by 95.7 The Game, Steve Kerr said: “Well, the beauty of it was it just happened pretty organically, and LeBron is definitely the more vocal of the two. Steph is a pretty quiet leader, leads by example.”
“LeBron was very vocal every shoot-around, so engaged, he had been through USA Basketball and the Olympics many times before. … The guys looked at him as the leader of the group,” Kerr added.
Kerr highlighted LeBron James’ experience and communication as central to Team USA’s structure throughout the tournament.
His familiarity with Olympic competition helped set the tone from day one.
Steve Kerr says LeBron James and Kevin Durant deferred to Steph Curry
Steve Kerr continued: “You saw it in the gold medal game, the guys all threw the ball to Steph. Whether it was Kevin Durant or LeBron, Joel.”
“All these guys were MVPs and incredible players, they did all defer to Steph down the stretch. That to me was the ultimate sign of respect,” Kerr concluded.
Despite James’ leadership and Durant’s pedigree, Kerr pointed to the closing stages of the gold medal game as the defining moment. In crunch time, the roster’s biggest names trusted Curry to deliver.
For Kerr, that collective decision spoke louder than any speech. It reflected acknowledgement among elite peers that when the stakes were highest, Curry was the one to finish the job.
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