NBA fans were thrilled to watch Curry, 36, and James, 39, — who have long been rivals as two of the league’s biggest stars — join forces for the first time to win gold for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. It was just as — if not more — thrilling for the Golden State Warriors star, who tells PEOPLE he was excited to put aside any former rivalry and team up with James. “All the battles we’ve had on the court and the back and forth, the fact that we actually got to be teammates, not just in any game like an All-Star game or whatever, but in high stakes basketball with a lot on the line…I think there’s a deepened respect and friendship there,” Curry says while discussing his new investment and partnership with Nirvana Super Waters & Seltzers. “Hopefully, there will be more experiences in the future, even if we’re teammates or not,” he adds, noting that the two basketball greats “still have to compete against each other until it’s all over” when they return to their respective NBA teams for a new season in October.