During the abysmal performance Team USA showed during the FIBA world cup last week, all that was broadcasted during the airwaves consisted of, ” This is what happens when you don’t have our top tier players”. Even the great black mamba “Kobe” himself stated the rest of the world is catching up with our top talent.
The problem is that Team USA didn’t even have our third tier top talent, in many eyes and finished ,an awful 7th place during the tournament, our worst finish ever during the FIBA event. Star talent dropped their names from consideration left and right.
The politically correct answer we heard from players withdrawing their names for consideration consisted on wanting the focus on the season. The uncensored answer the players wanted to give consisted of ” not giving a damn about a FIBA cup”.
Someone is ready to change that narrative and defend our Olympic Gold medal. That someone is the sharpshooter, NBA champion, MVP, Steph Curry.
According to Yahoo, Steph Curry recently told ESPN,
“That is the plan, for sure,” Curry said in an interview with ESPN. “You know, obviously knock on wood, you don’t want any injuries or things like that to interfere.”
This would be Curry’s first Olympics. He did indeed play on World cup teams in 2010 and 2014.
Big news coming early from a super star such as Curry.
What could this mean potentially going forward?
Curry committing this early in the process would definitely bring out the likes of a Lebron James, James Harden, Damian Lillard who already has committed, as well and other big names.
The stars tend to show up for the Olympics so regardless of the early commitment from Curry; the big names will represent the country for sure.
Curry continued by stating ,
“We’re still the best; “If we get the guys that are supposed to be there, in terms of, you know, representing us in the Olympic stage and the commitment’s been there, and I think it’ll be there next year.”
Having a commitment from Curry is big to say the least, and with others looking to follow suit, you can book Team USA bringing home gold in Tokyo. Book it!
The interview with Rachel Nichols took a turn when Curry responded to former teammate Kevin Durant’s comments about not feeling accepted during his tenure in Golden State.
Kevin Originally stated,
“As time went on I started to realize I’m just different from the rest of the guys. It’s not a bad thing. Just my circumstances and how I came up in the league. And on top of that, the media always looked at it like KD and the Warriors. So it’s like nobody could get a full acceptance of me there”
Durant also stated that at times the Warriors playbook was limited. Also stating,
“the motion offense we run in Golden State, it only works to a certain point”
Curry respectively responded to KD’s comments stating,
“I mean, that’s tough,” Curry told ESPN’s Nick Friedell. “There’s so many narratives that go on, especially when you’re at the top of the league. No matter how, you know, the full transition happens to Brooklyn, him separating himself from the Warriors — that’s gonna happen. I think he knows, you know, what we were about as teammates, what we were about as friends on and off the court. And again, nobody is gonna take away the accomplishments we had. But at the end of the day, whatever he, you know, needed to do to make that decision and however he wants to explain that — that’s just what’s gonna happen.”
On the notion the offense was limited Curry stated,
“Well, I don’t– care what plays we ran,” said Curry in response. “We won two championships. And at the end of the day, we had a lotta talent and there was an expectation of us figuring out how to balance all that. And we talked a lot about it throughout the three-year run. It wasn’t always perfect, but I think in terms of, you know, the results and what we were able to do on the floor, that kinda speaks for itself. We all wanna play iso-ball at the end of the day in some way, shape or form. But I’d rather have some championships too.”
Nevertheless, they both may feel a type of way about how things ended sour in Golden State, but what they can enjoy together is bringing home two NBA championships during a three year run playing alongside together.
Flip the page to see Curry announce his plans for joining Team USA, his response to KD as well as reaction around Twitter.