SAN FRANCISCO (USA) – Stephen Curry has done it all in basketball, except play at the Olympic Games with the USA.
That will change in about four months when he runs onto the hardwood at the Men’s Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024.
With the Golden State Warriors, the two-time FIBA Basketball World Cup winner in 2010 and 2014 has claimed a couple of NBA MVP honors and four NBA titles. When it comes to the Olympics, however, during his glittering career, Curry hasn’t taken part. This summer, one of the most influential players from his generation has decided to suit up for his National Team again.
Curry was among the players that USA Basketball recently announced would play at this summer’s Olympics in France.
“I’m beyond excited,” he said to the NBA on TNT. “I played in two World Cup teams, I’ve had that international experience. But in 2016 and 2021, I missed it. So, I’m excited about this opportunity.”
Though it remains to be seen what his role will be this summer with the national team, there’s a good chance his boss at Golden State, USA coach Steve Kerr, will figure out how to best utilize Curry as the Americans take aim at a fifth straight Olympic gold medal.
“Obviously, we have an amazing team,” Curry said. “I know Coach Kerr and his approach. He has a great coaching staff beside him. Being in Paris and representing your country at the highest level, there is no greater experience.”
Curry was asked in the NBA TNT interview by 1992 Dream Team forward Charles Barkley about the chance to finally make his Olympic bow.
“I know that with the Dream Team and your experience, it’s something you can’t really imagine because of the heights of what the Olympic buildup is, and the Opening Ceremony and going to see the other athletes do their thing in their respective competitions,” he said. “We obviously want to go get the gold, and for this being my first experience, I’m super excited. I’m 36 now and I don’t know if I’ll have another one so this is definitely the year.”
In their current run of Olympic title runs, the USA had to twice overcome Spain in thrilling Gold Medal Games (2008 and 2012) while their biggest survival act came three years ago against France in Tokyo.
USA will begin their run at a fifth straight gold medal by playing in Group C against Serbia, South Sudan and the country that wins the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament on July 7 in San Juan. Puerto Rico, Lithuania, Italy, Mexico, Bahrain and Côte d’Ivoire will compete at that event.
“We have a great team coming,” Curry said in a separate interview on NBA TV. “We obviously understand nothing is a sure thing. You can’t take anything for granted, and bringing the right energy, so I’m excited about all of it and this summer should be fun.”
Even at 36, Curry remains one of the elite players in the sport. He was just announced as the 2023-24 Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year after beating former USA star DeMar DeRozan and Canada superstar Shai Gilgeous Alexander to the award.
Curry, with 189 points, led the league in clutch scoring – points scored in the last five minutes of fourth quarters or in overtime, with the score differential in the game being five points or less.
