Stephen Curry Leadership Role Among NBA’s Top Talent At USA Basketball 2014 (Photo: TeamUSA.org)
MENDENHALL CENTER, LAS VEGAS, NV — Stephen Curry is a rising star in the NBA. Over the past two seasons, Curry has found his stride and is now regarded by many as the best shooter in the NBA. But Steph isn’t only a shooter. He averaged nearly 9 assists per game last year, and was 2nd in the league in triple-doubles behind only Lance Stephenson.
After getting snubbed of a roster spot on the 2013 All-Star team, Curry came out during the season’s second half as if he was on a mission to prove the doubters wrong. He dropped 54 points at Madison Square Garden, and led the Golden State Warriors to a first-round upset of the Denver Nuggets. In 2014, he got the All-Star berth most felt he should have gotten a year earlier, but this time it came as the West’s starting point guard.
Now this summer, Curry seems to be a lock to make the final 12-man roster on USA Basketball’s Men’s National Team (#USABMNT) that will head to Spain later this month to play in the 2014 FIBA World Cup (#Spain2014).
For the first time in his career, this major accomplishment is nothing new. Curry played for the 2010 FIBA team that saw Team USA take home the gold medal. In 2010, Curry was just a 22-year-old kid with only a season of NBA experience. This time around, he is a veteran.
“Use experience you’ve gained to help keep composure and keep the focus and direction when we get over there to winning the gold,” Curry told LetsGoWarriors.com in an exclusive interview after last Thursday’s practice, when asked about his leadership role on this year’s team, “There’s obviously a lot going on overseas: unfamiliar territory for a long time, just trying to make sure we’re all on the same page. Guys that have been there can help.”
Curry had a decent outing in the USA Basketball Showcase totaling 9 points, 3 assists and 5-for-5 from the free throw line, although individual performances was the least of everyone’s worries after Paul George broke his right leg early in the 4th quarter.
Curry will continue to find his role on this team both as a leader as well as play style on the floor. Even though a few of the league’s top players have opted to sit this summer out, this team still has an immense amount of talent. Of the guys returning from 2010, each of them has an extra 4 years of experience and maturity which is key to making a championship run.
“There’s nothing really surprising. It’s just this team has the potential to be better than we were in 2010, just because of the experience of guys maturing in their careers,” Curry told us, “I’m excited about the challenge that obviously we won three straight golds and we’re going to be the hunted when we go over there. It’s a new challenge for this group of guys.”
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