Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Monday, July 29th.
Stephen Curry officially made his Olympic debut during Team USA’s dominant 110-84 victory over Serbia on Sunday. Playing on the international stage for the first time marked a significant career milestone for the Golden State Warriors superstar, who admitted to feeling “a lot of nerves” prior to the game.
Via the San Francisco Chronicle
“I had a lot of nerves up until the national anthem,” Curry said. “It’s a really cool environment, obviously sold out to the nosebleed seats. The energy was great. And putting on this jersey at this level, I’ve been looking forward to it for a very long time.”
Curry’s nerves were evident early on, as he committed an early turnover after a lazy pass was stolen and converted into a breakaway layup. However, he eventually settled in, finishing the game with 11 points while shooting 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. “And if there was ever any doubt that Curry would thrive in Olympic play, he erased it by hitting a signature look-away three-pointer to close the game as the clock ticked down.”
THIS ANGLE OF STEPH’S LOOKAWAY 3 AGAINST SERBIA IS INSANE
— TheWarriorsTalk (@TheWarriorsTalk) July 28, 2024
(via xvnry92/tt) pic.twitter.com/24Q9dUZt5v
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Monday, July 29th:
He acknowledged the timeout — during which Kerr admonished him for letting a Serbian player score on a back cut — served as his first Olympic wake-up call.
“It’s human nature to kind of let your imagination get the best of you,” Curry said. “You’re thinking, ‘Oh, we can’t lose this game.’ So that timeout was probably the moment when it’s like, ‘We’re here, settle in, get adjusted to the environment.’
“Thankfully, I hit that shot coming out of the timeout, and then we were off to the races.”
Curry confessed to nerves in the hours ahead of his long-awaited Olympic debut. He walked onto the court at Pierre Mauroy Stadium at 4:25 p.m. local time, 50 minutes before tipoff. Curry revised his customary pregame routine, given Olympic logistics (a full slate of games Sunday in Lille) and restrictions on the number of people allowed on the court pregame.
“I think all teams have to be careful with doing that, because with the new CBA and the way things are, I mean, it’s pretty scary to go naked on not having trades,” Lacob said. “There are some teams in this league that don’t have any picks for the rest of the decade, essentially under their own control. I’m not saying that’s something you can’t do, or shouldn’t do ever, but you better be right if you do it.
“It’s a balance, I think we have to balance. We would do it, we would send all types of picks in a particular trade or players if we felt we were getting back something that was really great and that made sense, and that got someone that was the right age and the right cultural fit and also fit within the construct of the team. It’s possible. I will consider, and we’ll consider anything and have considered all of these options.
“But I think you’re missing the real point, and I know what you’re alluding to, but you have to have two parties that are reasonably willing to do deals together that make sense for both sides in order for things to happen.”
Jazz get:
Moses Moody (via Warriors)
Kevon Looney (via Warriors)
Gui Santos (via Warriors)
Kevin Huerter (via Kings)
Colby Jones (via Kings)
2025 first-rounder (via Warriors, top-5 protection, else 2026 unprotected)
2026 Atlanta Hawks second-rounder (via Warriors)
2027 first-round swap (via Warriors, top-5 protection, else a 2028 Hawks second-rounder)
2028 first-rounder (via Kings)
2030 first-round swap (via Kings)
Warriors get:
Lauri Markkanen (via Jazz)
$8 million trade exception (Looney)
$1.9 million trade exception (Santos)
Kings get:
Jonathan Kuminga (via Warriors)
$9.2 million trade exception (Huerter)
$2.1 million trade exception (Jones)
Coach Steve Kerr sat Jayson Tatum in Team USA's Olympic opener against Serbia on Sunday.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 29, 2024
After the game, Kerr explained why.
Do you agree with his decision to bench Tatum? pic.twitter.com/Cyt6TuHBmt
A Generational Trio
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 28, 2024
#USABMNT pic.twitter.com/Ssx4bbt1P7
“He’s the most skilled player I think I’ve ever seen, for a guy that size to be able to shoot the ball that well with the athleticism movement and flow,” said USA coach Steve Kerr.
Durant turbocharged the first half by making all of his shots, connecting on all five of his 3-pointers and didn’t miss until his ninth shot.
“And let me tell you,” Durant said about that shot, “it felt great leaving my hands. I wanted to end the night perfect.”
In some ways, it was.
“I eased him in,” Kerr said. “He didn’t ease himself back in.”
“Right now, I’m planning on retiring,” Barkley said. “I’m not trying to do anything.”
Barkley said he would be “stupid” not to listen and informed the entities of his plans, but he wanted them to have their packages squared away.
“But from a compensation standpoint, I said, ‘I will sit down and see what y’all are going to have going forward,’” Barkley said. “I’ve been straight honest with all the companies.”
The latest on @ZO2_ injury and the next big step he’s taking pic.twitter.com/BCk6V0JCoi
— The WAE Show (@TheWAEShow) July 26, 2024
The internet predictably freaked out, accusing Kerr of anti-Celtics bias (Derrick White and Jrue Holiday combined for 40 minutes), mismanagement, and intentionally embarrassing Tatum, through a conspiracy with Miami Heat coach and Team USA assistant Erik Spoelstra. Jaylen Brown hasn’t weighed in yet, because Tatum being a Nike athlete clashes with his contention that sneaker company bias kept him out of the Olympics.
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