Cleveland Cavaliers Rumors: Steph Curry Closed The Gap On LeBron James [VIDEO]

Steph Curry was named the 2015 AP Male Athlete of the Year on Saturday. The final domino separating LeBron James' greatness from Curry's has finally fallen.

Hours before the Cavaliers' trip to Oracle Arena on Friday -- a game in which they lost 89-83 -- James reiterated his place in the NBA.

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"I'm great," he told SI.com, recalling his press conference after Game 5 of the Finals. "I'm the best player in the world."

Every step in Curry's ascension challenged that notion, but Friday's announcement made it official. The reigning MVP joined elite company, becoming one of only four basketball players to be named AP Male Athlete of the Year, per ESPN.

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He joins Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and, of course, LeBron James.

"That's a real honor," Curry said. "I'm appreciative of that acknowledgement because it's across all different sports. It's pretty cool."

Curry -- three years James' junior -- can't match his counterpart's MVP count, but he began his tally in 2015. He can't match James' ring total, but he's not far off after lifting the title in 2015. A 28-1 start to the season isn't hurting his prospects of matching it in 2016, either.

While that will come with time, Curry can at least check one box off his list.

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