Almost a month ago, Stephen Curry ended the French team's gold medal dreams with an exceptional “money time”: four 3-pointers in less than three minutes! The Warriors' point guard multiplied his exploits in the semi-finals and finals to save Team USA, and return home with his first Olympic gold medal.
“This Olympic gold medal is undoubtedly the fifth on the list of titles, but it evokes a different emotion because there is something special about representing your country on the international stage and hearing the slogan 'USA' everywhere you go.” he confides to Stephen Colbert. “I can walk into any room and hear 'USA,' and that's something I don't take for granted.”
When LeBron gives confidence to Curry
He also spoke about his relationship with LeBron James. Adversaries since forever, they learned to know and appreciate each other, and a friendship was born. “He had a positive talk. We were winning and I was doing my part by setting screens, playing hard, but I wasn’t making my shots. I knew at some point I was going to have to make shots because that’s what I’m here for. After the Puerto Rico game, I was in an interview and they asked me, ‘What’s wrong with your shot? Are you worried?’ I said, ‘No, we’re winning and I know a burst is coming.’ As soon as I said that, LeBron came up behind me and said, ‘Of course I am.’ That gave me a lot of confidence. I was caught off guard because I had to get used to liking this guy after all our battles. But it gave me confidence and it came at the right time.”
Saving the best for last
Regarding this “flurry” of three-pointers, Curry quotes a thought from Anthony Edwards. “He joked that I was only seen in Paris in the last three days because I saved all my shots for the last two games. It was kind of funny because I didn’t shoot well in the first four games. I think I only made five 3-pointers, but I made 16 in the last two games. So yeah, I kind of visualized it. Whenever the moment calls for it, I’m going to shoot. That’s what I do, and that’s what I’ve always done.”
Photo credit: FIBA
