Why Kerr is aware of each means Steph ‘matches completely’ into Staff USA initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Bay Space
Steve Kerr nonetheless remembers sitting in his new Oakland workplace a number of months after being named the Warriors’ head coach in 2014, watching his backcourt of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson take dwelling gold for Staff USA on the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.
Curry performed a team-high 23 minutes for the USA, and he and Thompson mixed to attain 22 factors within the gold medal recreation. Thompson once more gained gold for Staff USA within the Rio 2016 Summer season Olympics, however Curry hasn’t sported the pink, white and blue for a decade.
That can change this summer time when Curry fits up for Staff USA, taking part in for Kerr in Paris on the 2024 Olympics.
“Who might have predicted that it could be one other 10 years earlier than he performed for Staff USA,” Kerr stated Thursday morning over Zoom.
A 24-year-old Curry wasn’t chosen for Staff USA in 2012 and wasn’t wholesome sufficient to undergo the pains the Olympics demand in 2016 after taking part in a mixed 97 video games between the common season and playoffs. He merely opted out of taking part in the 2020 video games which have been pushed again a yr to the summer time of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking his age into consideration, that left one final alternative.
Curry has zeroed in on this summer time for fairly a while now. The Warriors celebrity turned 36 years outdated in March and is aware of this doubtless will probably be his final probability at representing his nation on the Olympics.
When Curry final performed for Staff USA in 2014, his legendary shot didn’t all the time fall by way of the ring like ordinary. Even within the gold medal recreation, he scored solely 10 factors on 2-of-7 capturing – all being 3-pointers. He shot 40.8 p.c general, which was the second-worst on Staff USA regardless of averaging the fifth-most minutes (20.6) per recreation. Curry is also a 42.6 p.c 3-point shooter for his profession within the NBA.
That very same success, nonetheless, did comply with him to Spain 10 years in the past, capturing 43.8 p.c behind a shorter 3-point line.
“I understand how excited he’s to play in his first Olympics,” Kerr stated. “Let’s face it, he is an amazing slot in any league on the planet. The very best shooter. He is such a simple participant for others to play with, so he matches completely into this type of problem the place you are making an attempt to develop continuity rapidly.
“He is excited. It is his first Olympics, an opportunity to play with so many nice gamers. And I am excited to proceed to educate him after 10 years.”
Kerr having Curry by his facet must be a serious benefit for the coach’s final go at main Staff USA. This summer time’s model of Staff USA already is being in comparison with the Dream Staff of 1992, with some saying the 2024 squad is even higher.
There nonetheless are challenges and hurdles to clear.
Coaches will arrive in Las Vegas for Staff USA coaching camp on July 3, and gamers will be part of them two days later. Coaching camp practices start July 6 for 4 days, setting the stage for Staff USA’s exhibition recreation towards Staff Canada on July 10. That rapidly, a gaggle of the 12 greatest American gamers within the nation will collect to search out the appropriate formulation for workforce chemistry.
Which is what makes Curry so priceless, except for his generational expertise. He isn’t going to be the loudest within the room. Gamers nonetheless all the time will hearken to him and respect his presence above almost anyone else. Anytime Curry decides to speak, all the room listens.
“I do know he’ll make my job simpler as a result of he’ll speak to the opposite guys about a few of my tendencies and what I am on the lookout for, so it’s extremely useful to have him on this roster,” Kerr stated.
The connection Curry and Kerr have created for the final decade has led to 4 Warriors championship rings and 6 journeys to the NBA Finals. Subsequent up, a shot at Olympic gold with Kerr roaming the sidelines and Curry cashing 3s towards the very best basketball gamers the remainder of the world has to supply.
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