Lakers Player Opens Up About the Challenge of Guarding Steph Curry

While Steph Curry’s shooting range is unmatched, the Golden State Warriors star’s movement is what most defenders cite when asked what makes him so unstoppable. Recently joining the Run Your Race podcast, Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt got honest about what it’s like chasing Curry around.

“Ran like three miles that game,” Vanderbilt said of drawing the Steph Curry assignment. “So I’m chasing Steph around. Obviously, Game 1 did a good job. Game 2, I actually got hurt in the second game, I think Moses Moody fell on my leg. At that point, I’m a little hobbled and I still got to chase him. Steph is just nonstop movement. It’s a tough task. People don’t realize that it’s a tough task being the guy that has to chase somebody around all game.”

While the Lakers were able to handle the Warriors in the Western Conference Semi-Finals, Steph Curry did what he does. Averaging 26.7 PPG, 7.5 APG, and 5.5 RPG that series, Curry was great, but his next highest scoring teammate was Klay Thompson at just 16.2 PPG and 34.3% from the field.

Had Curry gotten more help that series, perhaps it could have been different, because the Lakers did not have a real answer for him. While Curry’s shooting splits were not where they usually sit, he was still able to produce at a high level despite the aggressive defense being played against him by Vanderbilt and others.