The NBA's greatest modern rivalry will reignite on Christmas Day 2024

The NBA has released its Christmas Day schedule and announced a main event for the ages. In what could be their final encounter on the Christmas stage, Stephen Curry and LeBron James will reignite their rivalry after shining as teammates at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

On Christmas Day, Curry and the Golden State Warriors host LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Curry and James have defined a generation, with statistics, accolades and stylistic influences that rival any in NBA history. During their time at the top of the association's hierarchy, they have played against each other in five different postseason series, including one between the Lakers and Warriors.

Curry has a 3-2 lead in head-to-head postseason duels, but it was James who recently knocked his rival out of the playoffs.

Curry and the Warriors won their first championship in 2014-15 by defeating James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in a classic NBA Finals. A year later, James and Kyrie Irving made history by helping the Cavaliers overcome a 3-1 deficit to defeat Golden State 4-3 in the legendary 2016 NBA Finals.

The Warriors responded with the controversial signing of Kevin Durant and subsequently won two championships in a row against James and the Cavaliers.

James evened the score somewhat in 2022-23 when he and Anthony Davis led the Lakers past the Warriors in the second round of the playoffs. Curry scored 32 points in the decisive Game 6, but James finished with 30 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, two steals and a block in the Lakers' 122-101 victory.

Davis has been nothing short of dominant in this series, capping his efforts with 17 points, 20 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals in the final game.

The rivalry will be reignited on Christmas Day as two of the NBA's biggest organizations look to overcome recent inconsistency. Golden State missed the 2023-24 playoffs, which surprised many considering they had just won a championship in 2021-22.

Los Angeles made the playoffs, but after reaching the 2023 Western Conference finals and winning the 2023 NBA Cup, the team was eliminated in the first round in 2024.

Los Angeles has left its roster largely unchanged, but key moves are expected to prove their importance yet, including the hiring of JJ Redick, the selection of Dalton Knecht in the 2024 NBA Draft and the hope that Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent can stay healthy in 2024-25 after appearing in a combined 40 games in 2023-24.

Golden State, on the other hand, is entering a new era after the departure of Klay Thompson and the signing of players such as Kyle Anderson, Buddy Hield and De'Anthony Melton.

Both sides hope that the Olympics will give their superstars a boost and lead them back to the promised land. Curry, Davis and James are all representing Team USA in Paris and have been at the center of key duels throughout the tournament.

On Christmas Day, those friendships will be put aside as the greatest rivalry of modern times is reignited on one of the biggest stages of the 2024-25 NBA season.