Stephen Curry: “I definitely see myself as a Rookie of the Year candidate”
Tell me a little bit about your summer. What has been the focus for you during the offseason?
Stephen Curry: Well, I’ve been working with a lot of different NBA guys ever since summer league was over. I’ve been working on my ballhandling and point guard skills, and trying to make it in front of the best competition possible. Just preparing myself for training camp and stuff like that. Everybody knows I can shoot the ball, but they haven’t seen my playing the point. So I’ve been working on my ballhandling, working in the weight room to get stronger… With the way that we play in Golden State, you’ve got to be in shape and able to run. Being in top condition is something I’ve been working on. So I’ve been putting a lot of work in this summer.
Do you feel you’ve held your own against those NBA players this summer?
SC: Yes, no doubt. Guys like Chris Paul, Joe Johnson, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade… I’ve been working out with those guys, playing one-on-one all the time and they all see that I can play. It’s great competition and we have a lot of fun doing it. I definitely held my own and I’ve got a lot of confidence going into my first season that I can play with these guys.
How do you think you can contribute to a team like Golden State that already has so many scorers and guards?
SC: Just being another option. It’s nice, I think, to have a guy that can shoot the ball and be a playmaker for others. Whatever my role is on the team, wherever I fit, we have a lot of talent in our team with Monta Ellis and Stephen Jackson in the backcourt. Wherever coach Nelson thinks I fit, I’m gonna play up to the best of my abilities. My ability to shoot and spread the floor, I think that’s something coach Nelson values in his offense. So I’m looking forward to it.
Have you talked with Don Nelson about your role on the team?
SC: Yeah. I spoke a little bit about it with him in summer league. They just wanted to see if I could be a point guard, and I think that’s the position where they see me, playing alongside guys like Monta Ellis, CJ Watson, Jackson… Just to complement their game. They said training camp would define my role a little bit better.
Are you aware that for the most part Don Nelson doesn’t play the rookies much?
SC: That’s what I’ve heard. This team has a lot of young guys who already have a lot of experience, so I think he’s going to go first with them naturally. Hopefully I can convince him that I help win games when I’m on the floor and he’ll put me out there. I’m going with the attitude that if I work hard and prove that I should be on the floor, he’ll see that and I will play.
Golden State seems to be a team going through a lot of turmoil. Are you worried?
SC: Not really. NBA’s business is to win and there’s going to be a lot of drama in the offseason for teams that didn’t do so well the previous year. But when training camp starts, that’s all going out of the window. We’re going to have one goal and that’s to play hard and win. That’s the attitude I have, hopefully the attitude my teammates have… I’m sure they’ll come focused and ready to play, so all this stuff that happened over the summer will disappear.
You talked a lot about your desire to play in New York during the draft process in May and June. Why was that?
SC: It was just a system thing. Like Golden State, they like to run up and down, giving freedom to make plays. Mike D’Antoni has been known to develop point guards. He’s coached Steve Nash. That was a big part of it. But all that stuff goes out the door on June 25, when you’re at the mercy of the draft. I got a great team to play for now, with the same kind of system, which is up and down with a lot of freedom to shoot.
Do you think there’s any added pressure on you because you’re the son of a very good basketball player like Dell Curry?
SC: A little bit. It could affect me if I let it. There’s going to be a lot of comparisons between my career and his. It’s kind of weird, but there are a lot of guys in the league that played against my dad or with him. I just got to play through it and I’m hopeful I can make it in the NBA. I’m not really worried about living up to my dad’s career. Just want kind of make it on my own.
In which ways being the son of Dell Curry has helped you?
SC: This offseason, I’ve been able to ask him questions about things that I’ve got to go through that he went through. How he prepared for his first year, what things he would look out for… That kind of thing. I got that in my home with my dad. That type of advice is great for me in order to prepare myself for my first year. Even down the road, I can always go back to him and ask him, “How did you handle this?” or whatever.
Do you see yourself as a Rookie of the Year candidate?
SC: Definitely. If my opportunity comes, I’m going to take it and run with it. I feel like I’m one one the best guys that were drafted this year. Hopefully I’ll get the opportunity to play and show that.
You have talked in the past about how playing golf helps your basketball game a little bit. Can you explain that?
SC: Well, for me mentally the game of golf is a lot harder than basketball. If you want to be good at golf, you have to be able to focus for hours straight. That’s something I can transfer to basketball – being able to focus and being confident in your own game. For me it’s a mental relief kind of thing. I have fun out there and it takes your mind off the game of basketball, so when I come back and play I can focus on basketball a lot better. I play golf a lot. That something that helps me.
Do you think you could have been a pro golfer had you put your mind into it?
SC: I like to think so. I played a lot growing up, played a lot in high school… I was decent. If I had proper coaching and the time to play every day, I’d probably be very good. But who knows?
Stephen Curry: “I definitely see myself as a Rookie of the Year candidate” golf company Said,
September 18, 2009 @ 6:53 pm
[...] Read the original post: Stephen Curry: “I definitely see myself as a Rookie of the Year candidate” [...]
ISRW Said,
September 19, 2009 @ 8:04 am
Golden State is a jumble of talent. It’ll be plenty interesting to see how it all shakes out, and frankly whether Nellie lasts out the next year or so. If they have a coaching change, the next regime will probably be trying to sort the positions out.
Curry might not have been following Mr. Nelson’s clippings over the years that closely. Coach doesn’t draw that line when training camp starts. He’ll drag things out into the season, shuffling players through his doghouse, feuding in the papers…. Good luck Steph.
Nick Said,
September 19, 2009 @ 2:09 pm
I don’t see Curry as being much more than a bit player in the NBA. Monta Ellis is twice the talent. And his golf talk is laughable. I’m sure he’s solid, but a pro? C’mon.
Jacob Said,
September 19, 2009 @ 3:45 pm
If Golden State knew how use defense to set up the break then they would be dangerous.
jmaaan Said,
September 20, 2009 @ 5:09 pm
I think he’ll be a good player because he seems to have the mental makeup, good enough talent, and the advantages of being around the pro game. Don’t know that he’ll be a great player, that’s to be seen.
In some respects his comparison to Nash is right on. He’s not physically dominant but he’s just big enough and quick enough to play. At the same time he seems to have that great work ethic, good head on his shoulders, and good decision making. He’s obviously got very good leadership potential. From a stylistic standpoint, he’s certainly not comparable to Nash at this point in his career. Nash came in as a better ballhandler and has worked to become a very good shoooter. Curry will need to do the reverse.
Nonetheless, he should at least be able to play like a Paxon and be a solid starter on the right team. But he wouldn’t be good in any system, he needs to be in the right system to thrive, at least for the first several years of his career. We’ll see if Don Nelson and/or his replacement can create that envioronment.
I don’t see him as a ROY candidate, he’s got a steep learning curve and without the ability to dominate physically from the outset it’ll take a couple of years, IMO.
Stephen Curry has the confidence : NBA Obsessed - NBA Basketball News – NBA Scores, Teams and Players Said,
September 21, 2009 @ 4:38 am
[...] That ability to score must have been in the DNA, because Stephen has the same ability and can pretty much score at will. He is not lacking in the confidence department either. Yes, no doubt. Guys like Chris Paul, Joe Johnson, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade… I’ve been working out with those guys, playing one-on-one all the time and they all see that I can play. It’s great competition and we have a lot of fun doing it. I definitely held my own and I’ve got a lot of confidence going into my first season that I can play with these guys. source [...]
Stephen Curry has the confidence | NBA Rumors and Players - NBA USA Said,
September 21, 2009 @ 11:43 am
[...] That capability to measure contingency have been in the DNA, since Stephen has the same capability and can flattering many measure at will. He is not not in in the certainty dialect either. Yes, no doubt. Guys similar to Chris Paul, Joe Johnson, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade… I’ve been operative out with those guys, personification one-on-one all the time and they all see which I can play. It’s good foe and we have a lot of fun you do it. I really hold my own and I’ve got a lot of certainty going in to my initial deteriorate which I can fool around with these guys. source [...]
Yanni C. Said,
September 21, 2009 @ 9:59 pm
Blake Griffin … will run away with the ROY….. After that, I see B. Jennings and J. Flynn as the next two top rookies.
Two Simple Rules (To Following the Golden State Warriors) – The No-Look Pass Said,
September 22, 2009 @ 12:04 pm
[...] Rule 2: keep your eyes on Stephen Curry. There is a reason that the Knicks and Mike D’Antoni wanted the son of former NBA sharpshooter Dell Curry, and knowing how Don Nelson also employs a run-and-gun offense, he’s going to be a great fit on the team. Why else should you be looking out for Stephen Curry? Well, for one, Dime mag lists him as a Top 5 contender for Rookie of the Year. According to an interview with HoopsHype, he also feels like he could be this year’s top rook. [...]
shawn Said,
October 2, 2009 @ 1:50 pm
nick, the kid plays golf 25 times a year and is a true 3 handicap, with any practice at all he would be a scratch golfer, and with coaching he could definetley play for money, you are a real jackass nick, just cause you never amounted to anything doesnt mean other people cant