Why Steph believes ‘Golden Dagger’ shot better than OKC ‘Double Bang’ originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Steph Curry has the 3-point compilation that every NBA player desires, featuring some of the most iconic calls for some of the most memorable shots from beyond the arc in basketball history.
But of the Warriors superstar’s nearly 4,000 3-pointers, two shots stand out among the rest: the “double blast” against the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016 and his “Golden Dagger” in 2016. Team USA is exciting gold medal match victory over Team France to cap the 2024 Paris Olympics.
On the latest episode of “Dubs Talk,” Curry told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole and Dalton Johnson which one of the two he ranks higher and why.
“The Golden Dagger,” Curry told Poole and Johnson. “It takes the cake for a lot of reasons just because it’s the stage that’s one game, the gold medal game.”
With Team USA up six with less than a minute remaining, Curry hit his eighth 3-pointer of the night, facing a French double-team as the shot clock wound down, prompting Noah Eagle to deliver his instant classic. Call “Golden Dagger”..
The 36-year-old star stepped back and drilled the fadeaway jumper over both defenders to put the game to rest. Months later, Curry admits it’s the highlight of his career, especially considering the context of the scenario.
“It was the end of four 3-point spurts, which is still very surreal to me,” Curry added. “At this stage of my career, the fact that I haven’t played in the Olympics before.
“There was so much excitement and buildup for me just being a part of Team USA basketball and being a part of the U.S. Olympic Team, taking in all the sights and sounds. To have a growth moment like that was crazy.”
More than eight years ago, Mike Breen delivered a “Bang. Bang” call of Curry’s game-winning shot in Oklahoma City during Golden State’s 121-118 overtime win over the Thunder.
With 5.9 seconds left on the clock, Curry ran the ball down the court before pulling up on the Thunder’s logo for a game-winning deep splash, evoking perhaps the most memorable NBA call of its respective decade.
The “Golden Dagger” ranks higher on Curry’s list. But from the perspective of how difficult the shots were, Curry admits that his shot against the Thunder was more difficult.
“Degree of difficulty, from a shooter’s perspective, I think the OKC shot was a little more difficult because it was a little deeper,” Curry told Poole and Johnson. “And honestly, there’s no thoughts in my head about either of them – just come to your spot and shoot it. Two iconic calls, too.”
Curry, who delivered some of the best individual moments in team history for Dub Nation and Team USA, didn’t forget to add the infamous call of French announcers to the list as well.
“And the French are calling,” Curry concluded. “Devil Curry. That was crazy. I apologize [to] all McDonald’s fans who had their curry sauce recalled in Paris. That was different.”
