Stephen Curry is one of the greatest basketball players to step onto the court, dominating the NBA over the last 15 years and changing the game with his shooting ability. Despite the success, Curry has never represented Team USA at the Olympics before. He spoke to Fadeaway World about how his first-ever Team USA training camp is going.
“It’s still early. We’re just over a week in and continue the vibes of figuring out the strengths of this team, and how we need to play. It’s been an amazing experience so far. The energy of this group, a lot of guys who have accomplished a lot of things in their basketball careers, and it just seems like we’re having fun playing the game.”
Curry said he was enjoying the competitive but supportive environment before comparing himself to a kid in a candy store with the Olympics.
“That’s the cool part about having fun. You put agendas aside, you put the ego aside, well you don’t put the ego aside but you bring the healthy ego of who you are, but you put aside everything other than winning. We talk about it every day. Hopefully, we can show it when we start. Everything around the Olympics, I’m like a kid in a candy store because I’ve never experienced it before.”
Stephen Curry on his first time representing Team USA at the Olympics: "It's been an amazing experience… Everything around the Olympics, I'm like a kid in a candy store because I've never experienced it before." pic.twitter.com/lyO3f5jBrt
— Fadeaway World (@FadeawayWorld) July 14, 2024
Curry came into the NBA in 2009 but has surprisingly never found himself representing the USA at the Olympics. He was not prominent enough to make the squad in 2012, but teammates LeBron James and Kevin Durant both participated back then, with 2012 being Durant’s first Olympic appearance and James’ third.
In 2016, Curry chose not to play for Team USA after a long NBA season which saw him become the first-ever unanimous league MVP but the Warriors also became the first team to blow a 3-1 NBA Finals lead. Curry picked up minor injuries he chose to heal in the summer of 2016 instead of traveling to Rio de Janeiro for the games.
The two-time league MVP could’ve played in Tokyo 2020, held in 2021, but he chose to rest as the USA took a younger squad with players like Jayson Tatum getting their first Olympic call-up.
The 2024 Olympics might legitimately be the last chance for Curry to be a viable contender for selection, so it’s wonderful to see him participate alongside LeBron and Durant. We know Curry and Durant were teammates for three seasons, while LeBron and Curry have been occasional All-Star teammates, but all three representing the USA at the Olympics together is huge.
Curry had a longer offseason than he’s used to, with the Warriors missing the Playoffs, though Curry had declared his intention to play during the season. Even if Golden State made a Playoff run, Steph wouldn’t have let this opportunity pass him by. He averaged 26.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists last season.
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