Let’s make two things abundantly clear: Steph Curry doesn’t need to add to his legacy, and he’s not in Paris to do so. The face of the Golden State Warriors franchise has his legacy beautifully defined already: a four-time champion, a two-time MVP, a 10-time All-Star, a 10-time All-NBA selection, the NBA’s all-time leader in threes made, and the consensus greatest shooter of all time. He can — and will — add to that legacy, but he sure doesn’t need to.
And the reason he’s in France, suiting up for Team USA in the 2024 Olympics? It’s certainly not because he has legacy in mind. It’s competitiveness, patriotism, and the desire to win on the largest stage that sports offer.
But while legacy isn’t what Curry is chasing, or what he needs to be chasing, it’s still something perched there for the taking. Olympic gold sure would like nice on his curriculum vitae, especially if backed by a stellar performance.
It hasn’t been the best Olympics for Curry, if we’re being honest. He’s entrenched as a start, which is no surprise since he’s the best point guard in the country, and since Steve Kerr is the team’s coach. But in the three group stage games — which the Warriors swept handily — Curry never quite found a rhythm. He’s scored just 22 points in the three games, while shooting just 8-for-25 and 5-for-19 from distance.
There are probably some legitimate reasons for Curry’s struggles. He doesn’t fit the tall, isolation-scorer mold that typically has excelled for Team USA (you might notice that Kevin Durant is doing a remarkably-strong Olympic Melo impression). A 40-minute game with limited playing time makes it hard to find rhythm — essential for a shooter — and I think it goes without saying that Curry is more willing than the average Team USA star to defer to his fellow elite teammates.
But still. We’d all like to see a Curry flurry on the international stage, and he’s confident that one is coming. The games get more important now: Team USA is on to the knockout stage, and they’ll face Gui Santos and Brazil on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. PT in a critical game. We know that Curry shines on the biggest stages, and the stage is only getting larger and larger.
No one will think any the lesser of Curry if he leaves the Olympics without a signature performance … especially if he has gold wrapped around his neck. But it sure would be fun if he could turn in the type of superstar performance that we’ll all reflect on happily for many years — and Olympics — to come.
