Draymond shares a great story to explain Steph’s league-wide respect originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
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Draymond Green shared a great story about how the rest of the NBA views Steph Curry.
Green recounted an interaction he had with an NBA player over the summer, speaking to the media after the 102-99 loss of warriors to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday at Intuit Dome.
“Guys in the league are watching [Steph] like this mythical superhero,” Green explained. “I had a very prominent basketball player in the NBA, like an All-Star, hit me up this summer because he wanted to talk to Steph. And it was like the whole thing was like, ‘Oh, so I’m not talking to Steph, can you give to I his number?’
“I’ll never give anybody a number, so I immediately hit Steph like, ‘Oh, so-and-so wants your number,’ and he said, ‘Absolutely give it to him.’ He then proceeded to ask me, ‘So how should I ask? [Steph]? I want to do this, like me?,’ and I’m just like, ‘Well ask him, what do you mean? Just ask him the question.’ “
I asked Steph if he even knows other guys in the league feel this way, and he said he does when one of these things happens. “It’s surreal,” he said, though he also noted that partly it just means he’s old 😂 https://t.co/wY795k46Rv
– Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) November 19, 2024
Based on Curry’s status as one of the greatest players in NBA history, it is not surprising that the young generation of stars regard him as a mythical hero. According to Green, it’s the entire league, both young and old players, who hold such respect for Curry.
“And you’re starting to see that with more and more guys,” Green said “And it’s not always just young guys. So when people come to this team, their first reaction is, ‘Man [Steph] act like that? He’s glad you’re doing this?’
“Just [Steph’s] behavior, it is very attractive and makes everyone comfortable. And then guys feel comfortable on the basketball court.”
Sixteen years into his NBA career, Curry redefined basketball with their long-range shooting abilities. Before the emergence of the Golden State dynasty, the 3-point shot was seen as something of a novelty.
Once Curry unlocked his true shooting potential, the game was never the same. Now, teams build rosters based on shooting and speed, with little thought given to the mid-range jump shooting of yesteryear.
Beyond the sheer statistics, Curry’s calm demeanor and mentorship have been critical to the franchise’s success over the past decade.
Golden State is off to a strong start to the season, exceeding expectations thanks to strong shooting and blocking defense. However, it is Curry’s impact on and off the court that pushes the team.
