Just over a month ago, Team USA
claimed its fifth straight Olympic gold medal after beating hosts
France at the Paris 2024 Olympics. 

The team was led by brilliant
and ageless superstars LeBron James and Stephen Curry, who teamed
up for the first time in Team USA after countless battles in the
NBA.

It was LeBron’s 4th medal in the
Olympics, having won bronze in Athens 2004 and gold twice in
Beijing 2008 and London 2012, and yet just added another piece to
his already GOAT-esque list of accolades as he approaches his
40-year-old season (22nd season) in the NBA. It was perhaps even
sweeter for Steph, as the gold medal completed his own trophy
cabinet after having achieved everything in the NBA.

What does this gold medal mean
for both James and Curry at this point in their careers? Former
Golden State Warrior and Los Angeles Laker Juan Toscano-Anderson
believes it has cemented their place as one of the best, if not the
best players ever to do it. 

“I think it further concretes
their legacy. Obviously, they’ve already done what they’ve done and
they’ve been in conversations for the best player ever/ top five/
best point guard ever. I think as they continue to add accolades to
their shelves, it continues to concrete the idea of them being in
the GOAT status,” Toscano-Anderson said in a one-on-one interview
with BasketballNews.com. 

“I personally think LeBron is,
you know, if not the best player to ever play one of the best
players; and I think Steph is the best point guard to ever
play.”

Toscano-Anderson had the rare
chance of being teammates with both superstars following his stints
with both the Warriors and the Lakers, and he detailed how James
and Curry are different and similar in their ways of leading their
squads.

“They’re very similar in a lot
of ways,” Toscano-Anderson mentioned. “Greatness doesn’t happen by
accident, I mean they lead by example. They [LeBron and Steph]
spend all day at the facility taking care of their bodies and
working on their game. Just the way they approach being a
professional is very relative and similar.”

“Obviously they’re different –
they have different personalities, different guys,”
Toscano-Anderson added. “LeBron is probably a little more like
goofy and funny, and Steph is very likable and friendly as well.
But I think LeBron is more kid-like – he has that side of him that
a lot of people don’t see because they only see him in the
limelight from a professional standpoint where he has to carry
himself in a certain way. So, they’re both very great guys. I
really enjoyed playing with both of them, and I will consider both
of them friends and I still have a relationship with them
both.”

Although not with an NBA team as
of the moment, Toscano-Anderson is still around the NBA circuit as
he’s about to play for the NBA’s G League United team which will be
competing this weekend at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in
Singapore. The 6’7 forward has been a part of this newly formed
team to go up against the champions of each continent and he has
been enjoying the experience thus far.

“It’s a lot of fun,”
Toscano-Anderson said. “We got a lot of talent – different dynamic
for me as I’m the oldest on the team (it’s my first time being the
oldest on the team). A lot of fun to see the young talent and play
with some guys that I’ve never had the opportunity to play with.
Then playing with a guy that I’ve known since college (Deonte
Burton), he was my roommate in college and this has brought us
again – so just a good overall experience.”

When asked about his future
basketball plans, Toscano-Anderson is hopeful to play in the NBA
again.

“If somebody offers me, playing
in the NBA is always my first preference. But obviously, that’s not
completely up to me so I’ll revisit that after the
tournament.”

Check out the full interview
here:

We caught up with former Warrior and Laker
Juan Toscano-Anderson (@juanonjuan10)
as his @nbagleague
United team is set to compete at the 2024 @FIBAIC in
Singapore this week ✊🏽

On playing with the NBA G League United ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Ng4KinU216

— BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews)
September 12, 2024