Draymond shares great story to explain Steph’s respect around the league originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
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Draymond Green shared a great story about how the rest of the NBA looks up to Steph Curry.
Green recounted an interaction he had with an NBA player last summer while speaking to the media after the Warriors’ 102-99 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday at Intuit Dome.
“Guys in the league are watching it [Steph] like this mythical superhero,” Green explained. “I had a very prominent basketball player in the NBA, like All-Star, hit me this summer because he wanted to talk to Steph. And it was like, ‘Yo, so I don’t talk to Steph, can you give me his number?’
“I’m never just going to give someone a number, so I immediately told Steph, ‘Yo, so-and-so wants your number,’ and he said, ‘Definitely give it to him.’ Then he asked me, ‘How should I ask that?’ [Steph]? I want to do this, how should I?’, and I just said, ‘Ask him, what do you mean? Just ask him the question.” ”
I asked Steph if he even knew other guys in the league felt this way, and he said he knows when things like this happen. “It’s surreal,” he said, although he also noted that partly this just means he’s old 😂 https://t.co/wY795k46Rv
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) November 19, 2024
Given Curry’s status as one of the greatest players in NBA history, it’s not surprising that the younger generation of stars consider him a mythical hero. According to Green, the entire league, both young and old players, have so much respect for Curry.
“And you’re seeing that with more and more guys,” Green said. ‘And it’s not always just young boys. So when people come to this team, their first reaction is, ‘Man [Steph] behaves like this? Is he okay with you doing this?’
“Just now [Steph’s] attitude, it’s super inviting and makes everyone feel comfortable. And then guys feel comfortable on the basketball court.”
Sixteen years into his NBA career, Curry has redefined basketball with his long-range shooting skills. Before the rise of the Golden State dynasty, the three-point shot was seen as something new.
Once Curry unlocked his true shooting potential, the game was never the same. Now teams build rosters based on shooting and speed, with little attention paid to the mid-range jump shooting of yesteryear.
Beyond the pure statistics, Curry’s calm demeanor and mentorship have been crucial to the franchise’s success over the past decade.
Golden State has started the season strong, exceeding expectations thanks to strong shooting and lockdown defense. Still, it’s Curry’s impact on and off the court that drives the team.
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