Stephen Curry will miss out on an opportunity to defend his American Century Championship title as he participates in his first Summer Olympics
This summer, Stephen Curry, alongside the likes of LeBron James and Kevin Durant, will travel to Paris in pursuit of an Olympic gold medal, one of the few pieces of hardware that he doesn’t own. With Curry headed overseas in a couple weeks, one of his most well-known hobbies will take a back seat.
Curry announced in a statement on Tuesday afternoon that he will not participate in the 2024 American Century Championship, a celebrity golf tournament which takes place in mid-July, passing up the opportunity at back-to-back titles in the pursuit of international athletic achievement.
“I’m disappointed that I won’t be able to defend my title at the American Century Championship in Tahoe this summer, but the chance to represent my country and, hopefully, win an Olympic gold medal the first time at the 2024 Games in Paris is an opportunity that I simply could not pass up,” Curry said in a statement. “I look forward to returning to the shores of Lake Tahoe and creating more memories next July and in subsequent years. In the interim, I know that Dell and Seth will represent the Curry family well in my absence, but if one of them doesn’t come home with another trophy for our mantel, I will be highly disappointed!”
“Well, we’ve discovered that the only thing Stephen Curry can’t do is be in two places at once,” said Jon Miller, NBC Sports’ President of Acquisitions and Partnerships, in a statement. “Obviously, the tournament and our fans are as disappointed as Steph that he can’t be here, but representing our country at the Olympics and going for gold is a proud priority to support. We wish Team USA and our entire Olympic contingent well and look forward to having Steph defend his American Century title in 2025.”
Curry had no shortage of brilliant moments en route to winning the 2023 championship, the highlight being a 152-yard hole-in-one. He became the first African American champion in the tournament’s 35-year history, as well as the first active athlete to win since the Tennessee Titans’ Al Del Greco in 2000.
Following a Wednesday practice round and the Thursday Celebrity-Am, the tournament will take place from July 12-14 and feature 84 athletes and entertainers, a list that includes Seth and Dell Curry, Jerry Rice, Steve Young and Charles Woodson, among others.
Curry has three gold medals on his resumé from the 2014 FIBA Men’s World Cup, 2010 FIBA Men’s World Championship and 2007 Global Games, as well as a silver medal from the 2007 FIBA Men’s U19 World Championship, but this summer will mark the first time that the 36-year-old will participated in the Olympics. In addition to Curry, James and Durant, Team USA, coached by Steve Kerr, will feature Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Bam Adebayo and Jrue Holiday.
