Golden State Warriors star and Charlotte native Stephen Curry will make his Olympics debut this summer.
Why it matters: It’s almost unfathomable that this is the four-time NBA champion’s first Olympics as he’s about to start his 16th season.
Driving the news: Team USA’s men’s basketball, led by Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, plays its first game of the Olympics on Sunday against Serbia at 11:15am ET/8:15am PT.
What he’s saying: “I’m surprised a lot of people are realizing that this is my first time playing in the Olympics,” Curry told Andscape this month.
Zoom in: Here are five things to know about the two-time MVP as he embarks on his first, and likely last, journey for a gold medal.
How this ended up being his first Olympics
Curry told Andscape it was a combination of simply not being selected, needing rest after a Finals run and the uncertainty around the pandemic that resulted in 2024 being his first real opportunity.
In 2012, Curry said he “didn’t get picked because [he] wasn’t on the level [he] needed to be.”
In 2016, after a devastating NBA Finals loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in which the Warriors blew a 3-1 lead, Curry said he didn’t think he’d get enough rest to be ready for the following season.
And in 2020, amid the pandemic, “it wasn’t a good time for me.”
But when it came to 2024, Curry made sure it would be a good time for him, telling the Associated Press in April that he and his wife, Ayesha, planned the birth of their fourth child around the Olympics.
His history with Team USA
Curry is hardly new to USA basketball. He won his first medal, silver, with USA Basketball in 2007 at the FIBA men’s U-19 world championship.
He’s also a two-time FIBA World Championships gold medalist (2010 and 2014).
Curry was named a finalist for the Olympic team in 2016 and 2020/21.
Why he’s not wearing No. 30
Curry’s name is synonymous with No. 30, but don’t expect to see him rocking a jersey with his iconic number at the Olympics.
Instead, he’ll wear No. 4 in part due to Team USA’s decision to honor FIBA rules of the past.
The rule requires players to wear Nos. 4-15 so officials could more easily communicate using hand signals, NBC reports.
Other notable players to wear No. 4 for Team USA: Jimmy Butler and Hall of Famers Allen Iverson and Charles Barkley.
On needing gold to cement his legacy
Curry’s legendary status is firmly cemented, from his retired jersey in the rafters at Davidson to his NBA championships with Golden State, regular season and Finals MVPs, 10 NBA All-Star selections … you get the picture.
He’s a global icon with a key to the city of Charlotte, North Carolina. So a gold medal at the Olympics would be the cherry on top.
When asked Thursday about who he’s most looking forward to playing against, Curry said, “whoever is in the gold medal game.”
1 fun thing to go: He can’t spin a basketball on his finger
This one is … interesting. Curry struggles to spin a basketball on his finger, saying “it’s the one thing” he can’t do.
But at least he’s not alone. Guard Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers) and center Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers) also carry this shame.
What’s next: Tune in on NBC and Peacock to catch the men’s team in action.