Stephen Curry has accomplished nearly all possible basketball accolades as a four-time NBA Champion, two-time NBA MVP, NBA Finals MVP, NBA All-Star Game MVP and reigning NBA Clutch Player of the Year. This summer, he represents America, teaming up with some of the best players in the world and seeking to add another championship to his resume.
LeBron James isolated, attacked the basket and converted the game-winning layup with eight seconds left to hold off a resilient South Sudan team that played the United States to the game’s final possession. James connected with Curry on a pair of 3-pointers and Curry’s final splash came in the third quarter during a 16-0 USAB run. Going for a two-for-one, Curry launched the three from well behind the arc, giving the United States their first lead of the second half after trailing by 14 at halftime. He again led USAB in made 3-pointers (3), finishing with 10 points in 23 minutes.
“Basketball is such an intricate team sport that if you don’t play the right way, you don’t come with the right energy and focus, play defense, rebound, not turn the ball over, you can be beaten. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing,” Curry said postgame after the competitive battle in London.
Curry scored USAB’s first nine points and had 18 in the first half as they cruised to victory over Serbia in Abu Dhabi. Curry led all players in points (24), made field goals (8) and made 3-pointers (6) in 21 minutes. One of his six made threes was a four-point play as he drained a step-back fallaway triple in front of his bench, with a defender draped all over him.
“Getting our chemistry right leads to good shots,” Curry said postgame after Team USA collectively hit 16 threes at a 44.4 percent clip.
The United States Men’s National Team headed to Abu Dhabi for their second exhibition game, facing Australia. Curry and USAB emerged victorious, but Australia put up a great fight, particularly late in the third quarter and into the fourth. Australia had 14-2 and 15-3 runs over that span before the United States ultimately sealed the deal. Curry scored just three points on 1-for-6 shooting but added two steals in 21 minutes.
“We have to take advantage of every exhibition game we have,” Curry said postgame.
USAB fell behind 11-1 in their first exhibition game against Canada in Las Vegas, but Curry broke the seal by hitting their first field goal and fittingly for the NBA’s all-time leader in made threes, it came from behind the arc. In the third quarter, Curry splashed in two more 3-pointers within a minute, giving him a team-high three made triples. Later in the frame, he connected with LeBron James on a transition alley-oop for an emphatic slam. By then, the tide had completely turned and the United States would maintain a double-digit advantage. Curry led all starters with 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting in 19 minutes.
“It’s an absolute treat to play with one of the greatest to ever play this game and I’m looking forward to the rest of the summer,” James said of playing alongside Curry.