Tag: Steph Curry

D’Angelo Russell doesn’t worry about Warriors potentially trading him

Warriors guard D’Angelo Russell isn’t worrying about possibly being moved as trade season looms.

Golden State Warriors guard D’Angelo Russell is playing his fifth NBA season, and by now he’s hip to how teams handle their business.

That’s why with trade season looming, Russell isn’t fretting over the Warriors possibly moving him. Dec. 15 is when players who signed deals as free agents over the offseason are eligible to be traded. A restricted free agent over the offseason, Russell joined the Warriors via the sign-and-trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Brooklyn Nets.

In a story written by The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, Russell talked about how he isn’t worrying about the possibility of being traded.

“I just don’t care (about the buzz),” Russell said. “Simple as that. I just don’t care. “When you say max contract to come in and learn from these guys as much as you can as quick as you can — because you don’t know when you’ll be gone, shipped out — that’s what I’m doing. I can’t control that. I can’t control if Bob Myers is like, yo, let’s go get such and such for this and make this pick. That’s his job. I can’t control it or say anything about it, especially if I’m a part of it. So I don’t waste energy worrying about it.”

With Russell’s max contract, he is signed for four years and $117 million. The Warriors could potentially trade him to not have a salary cap logjam. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are both on max deals for five years, and Draymond Green is on one for four years.

A first-time All-Star last season, Russell has proven to be a solid guard in a league filled with talent at the position. Last season, he averaged 21.1 points per game, a career-high at the time. He also shot 36.9% from the 3-point line and tallied 7.0 assists — both numbers remain career-highs.

This season his scoring has gone up slightly, as he’s scoring 22.0 points per game in 13 games. He has missed some time because of ankle and thumb injuries.

For Russell, it’s just going to be about continuing to show his skills. Whether the Warriors are interested in keeping him or not, his skill set could be useful in multiple places. He’s one of the best pick-and-roll guards in the league. According to NBA.com stats, Russell is scoring 8.8 points a game on plays where he’s the ball handler in the pick-and-roll.

Steph Curry releases new UA Curry 7 colorway with ode to ‘Dub Nation’

Stephen Curry’s newest signature shoe, the UA Curry 7 pays tribute to the Golden State Warriors fanbase, Dub Nation.

After suffering a broken hand, it’s been officially over one month since Stephen Curry suited up in a Golden State Warriors uniform, and to say it’s been rough wouldn’t do the two-time MVP justice. The Warriors are in the cellar of the 2019-20 NBA standings with a 5-19 record, while Curry is still a long way from returning to the Chase Center floor.

Although Curry isn’t launching three-pointers for Golden State, the All-Star’s signature sneaker is still rolling out new colorways— with the latest holding a special spot in Warriors’ fans hearts.

After releasing Under Armour Curry 7 colorways, “UNDRTD” and “Sour Patch Kids,” next up is “Dub Nation” — an ode to the passionate fanbase that surrounds the Golden State Warriors.

The sneakers’ moniker listed inside the Curry 7 locker in the Warriors store expresses the faith and loyalty Warriors fans had during the transition from Oracle Arena in Oakland to Chase Center in San Francisco.

“The stadium is new… but the fans, the energy, and the excitement is the same.”

Curry took to Twitter to state that he misses the fans and is patiently waiting to return to the floor, but in the meantime, the shoes are for the Dub Nation.

The Dub Nation Curry 7s have a blend of navy blue, with a unique dose of highlighter green. The shoe is currently available at the Warriors store in Chase Center, with a scheduled wide release on December 13, just in time for the holidays.

Report: Jacob Evans listed as available for game against Grizzlies

Warriors guard Jacob Evans will be available Monday night for the team’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

[jwplayer HLC65J95-z6KDnl0B]

With injuries hampering their season, the Golden State Warriors have had a carousel of guards available each game this season.

On Monday, the Warriors will have one of their young guards back. Per The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, second-year player Jacob Evans is available for the Warriors’ game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Evans has missed the past 21 games with an adductor strain.

According to Slater, Warriors guard Damion Lee will be out with a broken hand injury. Lee has missed the past 13 games.

Evans has played three games this season, averaging a career-high 6.0 points and shooting a career-high 41.7% from the field. Before his injury, Evans was earning the most minutes of his career to date (14.3), and he had showed potential as a serviceable backup point guard.

In the season opener, Evans scored a career-high 14 points off the bench during the Warriors’ loss against the Los Angeles Clippers. He also made a career-high four 3-pointers.

Since Evans went out of the lineup, though, the Warriors’ guard rotation has been in flux. Steph Curry is out with a broken left hand injury. D’Angelo Russell has had an ankle sprain and thumb sprain; he’s played in 12 games.

With injuries being a major factor this season, rookie guards Ky Bowman and Jordan Poole have both started at least six games, and each of them have played 24.

This season, Evans is shooting 50% from the 3-point line on 2.7 attempts. Going forward, Evans, 22, has the potential to be a key player for Golden State because of his shooting touch.

[lawrence-related id=19308,19292,15191,14299]

 

 

Report: Steph Curry had second surgery to remove pins from broken hand

Stephen Curry is still on-track for February update after having surgery to remove pins from his broken left hand.

The Golden State Warriors season hasn’t been the same since Stephen Curry left with a hand injury against the Phoenix Suns in October. It’s been one month and six days since Curry’s injury, and the Warriors have only won three-of-19 games in that time, to say the team has missed their two-time MVP would be an understatement.

Curry’s 19 games missed due to injury will continue to grow as he’s not close to nearing a return, but there’s positive news on the All-Star’s rehab. Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Curry had his second surgery on his broken left hand, this time to remove pins from his surgically repaired hand.

Curry’s original injury timetable was set with a re-evaluation planned for February, and Charania confirmed the shooter is still on track for that evaluation period after having his second surgery.

Expect the Warriors to be incredibly patient with their franchise star’s rehab. Although it’s a positive sign Curry is still scheduled for re-evaluation in February, it would be a surprise if Golden State rushed him back to the floor.

With the Warriors sitting 15-games under .500 in only December, there’s little need for Curry to accelerate his comeback. The season is quickly turning into a developmental year with an emphasis on the future. Curry is only 31-years old and still the centerpiece to any, and all of the Warriors’ long-term plans.

Andre Iguodala shares epic story on Steph Curry dropping 40 after golf

What isn’t Stephen Curry good at? Andre Iguodala shared a story of Curry going for 40-points after spending the day on the golf course.

Both Andre Iguodala and Stephen Curry will go down as two of the best teammates in Golden State Warriors history, the duo shared three-storied championship runs, and their adventures on the golf course are pretty legendary too.

Both Iguodala and Curry have a lengthy relationship with their second favorite sport, golf. Both are avid players outside the NBA, with each stepping into the professional side of golf as well. Iguodala joined TNT’s broadcast of the PGA Championship in 2017, and Curry has participated in the Web.com golf tour.

Iguodala and Curry spent many off-days playing golf courses around NBA cities, even a back-to-back didn’t stop the pair from breaking out the clubs.

Now with the Memphis Grizzlies, Iguodala joined the Erik Anders Lang show to discuss golf and meditation. The former Finals MVP dropped an epic story about Curry and him on the golf course.

“Like, we got a game tomorrow, and it’s important for him to play well—If I don’t play well, it’s whatever they ain’t going to blame me,” Iguodala told Lang. “But he played great that day. He shot in the 70s like he always does. I shot ok— I shot in the 80s, so I was happy around that time. So, I might have broke 90 that day, and I was happy.”

The story gets better when Iguodala goes on to explain that Curry tallied 40-points after playing 18-holes on the golf course the same day, during a back-to-back in the NBA.

“I didn’t play well that night because I was like—’whatever,’ but he had like 40 that night—he had 40 that night. He killed them.”

Iguodala joked that no one on the team knew what the two were up to earlier, except the Warriors head coach, Steve Kerr. Kerr joked with Curry after the game that he should play golf every game day, according to Iguodala.

“Steve was like, ‘You guys better play good today.’ Then he was like, ‘Steph; you should play golf every day.’ It was funny— it was hilarious,” Iguodala said.

Chris Montano of House of Highlights, linked the Warriors against the Phoenix Suns in 2017 as the game Iguodala mentioned. Curry tallied 42 points, with eight three-pointers and 11 assists.

The percentage of the human population that can score 42-points in an NBA game is ultra-low, then to shoot a 70-on the golf course on the same day, all while traveling on an NBA schedule is astounding.

NBA already worrying what Warriors will do with 2020 high lottery pick

According to NBC Sports NBA Insider, Tom Haberstroh, the NBA is worried about the potential of the 2020 Golden State Warriors after owning a high lottery pick.

Just a season ago, the Golden State Warriors were at the top of the NBA’s food chain. The franchise went on a dynasty run that shook the core of the NBA— three Larry O’Brien trophies, five-straight trips to the Finals, multiple MVPs, and the best regular-season the league has ever seen.

Now, in 2019, saying things are drastically different is an understatement. Kevin Durant is with the Brooklyn Nets, the “Splash Brothers” are dealing with extended injuries and the Warriors have the worst record in the NBA at 4-19. However, there is still hope the team can turn things around as quickly as next season.

In 2020, Golden State should have some salary-cap flexibility to bring in new talent, with things like a traded player exception, and the mid-level exception; while Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green and D’Angelo Russell are all still under contract for the future. All positive steps towards getting back on track, but where the team could strike gold is the 2020 NBA draft.

The Warriors’ measly 2019 record is setting up the team to own a top pick in the 2020 draft lottery. The Warriors’ potential after getting healthy and adding firepower in 2020 is worrying some around the NBA, according to NBC Sports NBA insider Tom Haberstroh.

“The people I talk to around the league are really worried that they are going to trade that first-round pick, the 2020 pick—because if they load up with an All-Star-type player with that pick, they are terrified—or if they land a Luka Doncic in the draft, they’re terrified. ” Haberstroh said when joining the Warriors-Hornets television broadcast on NBC Sports Bay Area. “So, that 2020 pick, adding to the group they have established here with Paschall stepping in right away, man—I think every team is going to try to do a gap year.”

A healthy and rested Splash Brother tandem, paired with Russell, Green, Paschall and either another All-Star talent or high lottery pick could poise the Warriors for a return back to dominance, a scary thought for the rest of the NBA.

Draymond Green says Warriors helped increase NBA ratings

The Golden State Warriors’ dominance helped bring more people to watching NBA games.

With the Golden State Warriors having the worst record in the NBA, it’s a rough state of affairs for the franchise that’s won three titles in the past five seasons.

But aside from the Warriors’ situation, the NBA is in a bad spot, too. Ratings have been down to begin the season. Per John Ourand of Sports Business Journal, TNT’s and ESPN’s ratings are down 23% and 20%, respectively.

On Wednesday, Warriors forward Draymond Green was asked about what he thought was the reasoning for ratings being down. Green acknowledged he isn’t very knowledgeable on the situation, but he did say how the Warriors’ quality play over the past few seasons helped the league’s ratings.

“The Warriors definitely helped boost the ratings, and not so much right now,” Green said, per The Athletic’s Anthony Slater. “So I think that definitely plays a part in it.”

Steve Kerr added that Steph Curry being out with a hand injury is a potential factor for ratings being down. Per Eric Walden of the Salt Lake Tribune, Curry said in November he will need a second hand surgery in December. After the second surgery, he will be re-evaluated in three months.

“I’m not the expert on this stuff,” Kerr said, per Slater. “I don’t think it helps that Steph’s injured. I know he drives the ratings. But I’m not really sure.”

Golden State has been flexed out of two upcoming national TV games, per Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times. The Warriors’ game Dec. 13 against the Utah Jazz won’t be on ESPN. The team’s Dec. 18 game against the Portland Trail Blazers also won’t be on ESPN.

The Warriors have been the most dominant team of the 2010s, and their extraordinary play helped bring more eyes to NBA games.

But with the Warriors being at the bottom of the standings this season, their lack of success likely is a factor for the decrease in ratings.

[lawrence-related id=19200,19188,19150,19092]

Stephen Curry shows off incredible memory during career highlight quiz

What isn’t Stephen Curry good at? The All-Star guard was quizzed on some of his career highlights in his career and didn’t miss.

The Golden State Warriors broadcast team is pulling out all the stops during the team’s underperforming 2019-20 season. The Warriors flagship television station, NBC Sports Bay Area, has utilized both of the “Splash Brothers” in recent broadcasts.

Klay Thompson served as the team’s sideline reporter against the Chicago Bulls, while Stephen Curry sat in as an analyst during the pregame and postgame coverage for the Warriors matchup against the Miami Heat.

The broadcast had some games planned for Curry, including a pop-a-shot shootout with Warriors Hall of Famer, Chris Mullin, and a quiz on some of his career highlights.

The only information the three-time champion was told was the game’s date and then was asked to state the highlight that came out of that game. Some of the highlights went back to 2010, and in familiar Curry fashion, he did not miss. Watch the NBC Sports Bay Area video below to see Curry’s memory on display.

After Curry was perfect in the pregame show, the broadcast decided to double-down in the postgame and rechallenge the guard. Curry knocked down every highlight the show lined up until he was finally stumped when asked about a preseason game from 2015.

Watching Curry do his thing in front of the camera begs the question, what can’t he do? Two time NBA MVP, scratch golfer, television personality, and now a photographic memory. Warriors fans won’t be seeing Curry return to the floor anytime soon as he recovers from his broken hand. However, an appearance on the television broadcast might be the next best thing.

Steph Curry, Klay Thompson selected to The Athletic’s All-Decade team

Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are three of the best Warriors ever.

As arguably the best backcourt ever, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson will go down as two of the best guards in NBA history.

Curry’s and Thompson’s greatness was recognized Monday by Zach Harper of The Athletic. Harper placed Curry and Thompson on The Athletic’s All-Decade team for the 2010s. Curry was picked as the lead guard for the first team, and Thompson was selected as a wing on the second team. Along with Curry and Thompson, Draymond Green earned honorable mention.

As three-time champions, Curry, Thompson and Green are arguably one of the best trios of all-time.

They’re up there with the 1980s Boston Celtics frontcourt of Kevin McHale, Larry Bird and Robert Parish; the Heatles that consisted of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh; the Celtics Big 3 of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen; the regularly competitive group of San Antonio Spurs legends Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.

Curry and Thompson are two of the best shooters ever, and both are ranked in the top five among active players for 3-point field goal percentage. Curry has shot 43.5% from the 3-point line for his career, and Thompson has shot 41.9%.

Green is one of the best defenders of this era, and he’s arguably the most valuable role player of this generation as well. It’s hard to say the Warriors would have been as feared had Green not been on the team.

With his facilitating and hustle, Green was one of the Warriors’ most important players during their run from 2014-2019.

As the decade comes to a close, the Warriors are no longer one of the league’s best teams. Next season, though, with Curry and Thompson presumably healthy, the Warriors should be competitive again.

[lawrence-related id=17764,16336,16233,15446]

3 things to watch in the Warriors’ game against the Pelicans

The Golden State Warriors are 2-11 through their first 13 games of the 2019-20 NBA season.

The Golden State Warriors are in the midst of a temporary rebuild this season and have two wins through 13 games.

Despite injuries to Steph Curry, D’Angelo Russell and Draymond Green affecting their rocky start, the Warriors have made strides.

The Warriors lost 105-100 against the Boston Celtics on Friday night, allowing their second-fewest number of points. The fewest points they’ve allowed was 93 in a loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Nov. 2.

As the Warriors continue to grow, they’ll play the New Orleans Pelicans on the road Sunday. The Pelicans are one of two teams Golden State has defeated this season, with the other being the Portland Trail Blazers.

Will the Warriors continue good defense in New Orleans?

After the Warriors’ loss to the Celtics, coach Steve Kerr praised his team’s quality defensive performance.

The Warriors allowed their lowest field goal percentage of the season, as the Celtics shot 40.7% from the field.

“We played our best defensive game of the year…It was the first night, all year, I thought we looked like we knew what were doing defensively,” Kerr said, per The Athletic’s Anthony Slater. 

This season, the Warriors rank 29th in opponent field goal percentage and last in opponent 3-point field goal percentage.

When they defeated the Pelicans on Oct. 28, the Pelicans shot 46.6% from the field and 31.9% from the 3-point line.

Rebounding Growth

The Warriors grabbed 55 rebounds against the Celtics, tying their second-highest number of rebounds for the season.

This season Golden State ranks 20th in rebounds per game (44.4), a decrease from last season when they ranked 11th. Willie Cauley-Stein is Golden State’s top rebounder this season, averaging 6.3 rebounds a game.

The Pelicans rank 12th in rebounds per game, with Derrick Favors and Brandon Ingram being the team’s top two rebounders. Along with Favors and Ingram, Jrue Holiday, Kenrich Williams and Josh Hart each average at least five rebounds a game.

Alec Burks’ quality play off the bench

In nine games coming off the bench, Alec Burks has been the Warriors’ best reserve.

Burks has averaged 13.2 points a game off the bench this season, ranking 18th among bench players in the league, according to NBA.com. 

On Friday night against the Celtics, Burks had a team-high 20 points on 4-of-11 shooting. He also had three rebounds and an assist. With Burks starting the season well, it’ll be important for him to consistently bring a spark off the bench.

[lawrence-related id=18535,18507,18508,18496]