Facundo Campazzo Reveals How Guarding Stephen Curry Led To Rappers Dissing Him Courtside

Former Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo got real on what it was like to guard Stephen Curry.

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Credit: Fadeaway World

Former Denver Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo will be well-remembered by the fans of the franchise for being the stand-in point guard who played while Jamal Murray recovered from his ACL tear. At that time, Campazzo guarded the best player in the NBA including Stephen Curry. The now Real Madrid guard opened up on how he would face trash-talk from rappers and Draymond Green while guarding Curry.

“I had to defend Stephen Curry and Trae Young… there were these rappers sitting in the front row. They were saying to him, ‘Attack him, he can’t defend you! Look, look, he doesn’t know how to defend!’… And I was thinking, ‘Please don’t attack me!… Or don’t fall so you don’t end up in the top 10 of the week.’ And it was the same when I was defending Curry. Draymond would come up to me and say, ‘No matter how you defend him, he’s going to score 30 points on you, so ask your coach to switch you out.’” 

Campazzo averaged 5.6 points, 3.5 assists, and 1.1 steals during his stint with the Nuggets. He played half a season for the Mavericks in 2022-23 before leaving the NBA and returning to the EuroLeague where he plays for his old team Real Madrid. 

The Nuggets faced the Warriors in the first round of the 2022 Playoffs where Campazzo had the assignment of guarding Curry. Steph averaged xxx in that series which the Warriors won in five games before winning the title that season. That was Campazzo’s last taste of basketball with the Nuggets, as they won the title the next season while Campazzo struggled in Dallas before leaving the NBA altogether.


Austin Reaves Once Said Guarding Stephen Curry Was Hell

Guarding Stephen Curry is not for the faint of heart, with Austin Reaves reflecting on his assignment on Curry during the 2023 Playoffs by calling it hell as he was exhausted by the movement of Curry and Klay Thompson.

“It’s honestly hell… You literally can’t ever relax. I remember Games 1 and 2, chasing him and Klay around, and I couldn’t make a shot… I’m like ‘I ain’t got no legs!’”

Mikal Bridges is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA but even he has an impossible time guarding Curry, whether it’s when the guard is looking to score or make the right play.

“With how much coverage he gets with double-team stuff, he just makes the right play… He’s just non-stop, he’s the most unique. It’s easier to play on the ball with him because like as a defender as anybody else, it’s easy to relax off the ball. Guarding that man, that’s like a 24-shot clock (job).” 

Steph averaged 26.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists last season, showing off his offensive versatility in a wasted season for the Warriors as they failed to make the Playoffs. 

He’ll have even more responsibility this season, with Klay Thompson gone and no obvious second option on offense. We might see a defining season from Curry, or we might see age finally start catching up to the 36-year-old.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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