Even NBA Hall of Famers were in awe of Stephen Curry’s epic 36-point barrage in Team USA’s come-from-behind Olympic semifinal victory over Serbia.
Oakland native and Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, who won Olympic gold medals in 2000 and on the legendary 2008 Redeem Team, said Friday afternoon that he was impressed but not shocked by the two-time MVP’s scoring explosion.
“When you talk about Steph, he’s a winner,” Kidd told the Bay Area News Group. “There’s no panic no matter the score. It’s just positive energy with him and LeBron when they were figuring out how to get back in the game, then figuring out how to control the game, and then figuring out how to win the game. It was a beautiful thing to watch.”
Curry made nine 3-pointers and helped the U.S. claw its way back from a 17-point deficit. His last triple of the game, which he splashed after he curled off a screen in trademark fashion, gave Team USA a lead it would not relinquish in its 95-91 victory.
“What we saw Steph do yesterday was incredible,” Kidd said. “They needed every point, and what he did, being able to shoot 3s to keep them in the game, and then make the 3 to take the lead.”
Kidd, now 51, was the point guard on both of his U.S. Olympic teams, unsurprising considering the St. Joseph’s of Alameda graduate is ranked second in assists on the NBA’s all-time leaderboard.
It was a key skillset on the U.S. Olympic team, which is made up of players accustomed to being the stars of their respective teams.
“There’s a lot of pressure because you’re playing with 12 other All-Stars,” Kidd said. “There has to be sacrifice. But you also have to play your game, and then everyone is expecting you to win by 10 or 15.”
He was an elder statesman on the 2008 team that included a 23-year-old James along with Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and Dwyane Wade. Fast forward 16 years, and James is still one of the best players on the team.
“When you’re talking about watching LeBron, it’s just amazing at his age what he’s doing to be a leader and a big focal point of that team in 2024,” Kidd said. “Like in the last game, he’s always going to figure out how to get back into the game, because he’s a winner.”
Team USA will take on 20-year-old star Victor Wembanyma and host France in the final on Saturday. The French could give the team its closest championship game since Spain pushed the 2008 squad to the brink in their final.
“We’re gonna have our hands full with France, but it’s great again for the world to see that the game of basketball has grown,” Kidd said. “Not just here, where we talk about the States, but when you talk about the global game of basketball that is at a very high level right now.”
Like the U.S. national team, Kidd is hoping the program he promoted on Friday in downtown Oakland is also a winner.
Kidd was back in his hometown as part of an unveiling of Oakland XChange, a program designed to invest money in Black businesses beginning with real estate acquisition.
Aside from support from Kidd and fellow Cal alum Jaylen Brown, the organization will rely on investment from local businesses and figures for funding.
“You’ve got to have finances to make a change,” Kidd said at the press conference inside Oakstop, a coworking space that will serve as the program’s office.
Brown, who was controversially left off the national team after he was named Finals MVP following Boston’s victory over Kidd’s Mavericks, did not address his omission during the media scrum.
Brown has already launched Boston XChange, and hopes the Bay Area version will have similar results.
“The wealth gap is widening in other places of the U.S, not just Boston, so to be able to invest in our community is important,” Brown said. “People are signing up as we speak, and we’re looking forward to making more announcements in other places as well.”
U.S Rep. Barbara Lee (D-12), Oakland councilmember Carroll Fife and deputy mayor Kimberly Mayfield were also in attendance.
The organization is aiming to raise around $10 million before it begins investing in real estate, a
Trevor Parham, the founder of Oakstop, told media that the XChange is aiming to raise around $10 million before it starts investing in real estate.
