How Steph Curry inspired the professionalism of 49ers rookie Dominick Puni originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SANTA CLARA — Like many sports fans in the Bay Area, standout 49ers rookie Dominick Puni life was strongly influenced by the attractive size of Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry.
Growing up in Eastern Missouri, Puni didn’t have an NBA franchise to root for in nearby St. However, at an early age, his attention was captured by a scrappy upstart team on the West Coast led by a player on the verge of changing the sport of basketball forever.
“It was like 2012, I was in high school. I didn’t really have a favorite team, my older brother Devin wouldn’t stop talking about Steph,” Puni told NBC Sports Bay Area. “He is [Devin] till death too. And I started watching, and I think 2012-13 is when they started getting good and started getting some playoff wins, and I just loved the way he played the game. Changed the game.
“He’s not the biggest guy out there, but his efficiency is through the roof. The more I learned about basketball, the more I learned how important he is and how great he really is.”
Curry’s basketball accomplishments speak for themselves. A four-time NBA champion and two-time league MVP with 10 All-NBA and All-Star nods to his name — Curry will undoubtedly be one of the greatest athletes of his generation.
As decorated as Curry’s resume is, where he truly influenced Puni — and so many other kids growing up watching Warriors basketball — that’s how the NBA star graciously carried himself off the court in his everyday life.
“I think it’s just the type of person he is, really,” Puni said. “On the court, I mean his effort is ridiculous. His work ethic is ridiculous. I really like the person. Every time he talks to the media or [the] audience, he’s just amazing. He seems like a great family man, everyone speaks so highly of him, and I think that’s the great thing. Like when you have so much noise around you and so much attention, you’re not supposed to be that cool, but he is.”
Coincidentally, cool is the perfect adjective to describe Puni’s demeanor. Despite being in his first NFL season, Puni carries himself like a seasoned veteranespecially when speaking to the media.
That maturity especially shines through after games, as the rookie guard is always available to engage in thoughtful conversation regardless of whether the 49ers are winning or losing — a trait inspired by years of watching Curry from afar.
“I would,” Puni said of crediting Curry with influencing his professional behavior. “Just looking at him, he loses the Final, he’s still going to talk to the media [and] give them your full attention. He never wavers, he is always straight forward. So yeah, just watching that grow, yeah I give him a lot of credit.”
While Puni’s NFL dreams realized took center stage after San Francisco selected the Kansas product No. 86 overall in the 2024 draftsoon after the deep realization that he would soon be playing just down the path of his favorite player began to creep in.
“Yeah, I think the next day my brother said, ‘We’re definitely going to a Warriors game,'” Puni said.
Curry’s transcendent play early on is what hooked Puni to Warriors basketball, but make no mistake about it, the 49ers rookie is a Golden State supporter through and through.
“Hell yeah,” Puni said when asked if he identifies as a Warriors fan. “I want them to win a chip again. I think when [Kevin Durant] was here, it was so much fun to watch, you always knew they were going to win. But then he got injured [2019] so that kind of threw things away, and then Klay [Thompson] got hurt But I think the best year was [2022] when they defeated the Celts.
“It was so amazing because Steph finally got hers [Finals] MVP. He kind of just put the team on his back. Obviously it’s Klay and Draymond [Green]and all those role players, but they don’t go anywhere without him. They know that. He’s the engine, he makes everything go.”
Puni attended Golden State’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Lakers, taking in the sights and sounds of Chase Center for the first time. Despite it being a preseason game, Puni continued to appreciate the atmosphere in the home field of the Warriors.
“It’s hard to say in preseason, I was actually in a streak, so it was pretty cool,” Puni said. “I just love it, I love the atmosphere, those fans get really rowdy, just like they do here [Levi’s Stadium]. I can’t wait to see a regular-season game.”
Which Warriors regular season game did Puni circle on the calendar? The return of a franchise icon tops the list.
“Mavericks, when Klay [Thompson] coming back,” Puni said. “I want to see Klay, and I know he’s going to have a tribute video, so I definitely want to see that. And then the Lakers, when LeBron [James] comes to town A lot of people have him as their GOAT, so I got to see it in person.”
Puni offered a prediction for Thompson’s first game back at Chase Center, while adding a hilarious joke about a viral clip of Green referencing his former teammate.
“I think the Warriors are going to win, but I think Klay is going to shoot lights out,” Puni said. “There’s a video of Draymond where he said he was going to run through his chest, I thought that was hilarious. Hopefully, he doesn’t do it though.”
When Puni attends these games, there is a chance he could cross paths with one of his childhood idols in Curry. But what exactly would he say to Curry if he had the chance?
“I’d just be like, ‘friend’. I’d have a photo with him first, and then I don’t know if I’d like after that,” Puni said. “But I would definitely tell him that I watched him growing up.”
Will Puni’s older brother Devin, the one who first introduced him to Curry’s greatness, be in attendance with the 49ers rookie if he gets the chance to meet his favorite player?
“I hope so. He would die if he met him too,” said Puni. We love Steph, he’s so much fun to watch.”
