Stephen Curry is not a source of inspiration for just hoopers but athletes from different fields. His dedication, work ethic, and consistency have reached the ears of rising stars, looking to attain the kind of superstardom Steph has. One such athlete is the Spanish tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz. Of course, Carlitos is not a new face in the NBA scene.

His close friendship with Jimmy Butler means that he finds himself the subject of discussion among basketball fans. But this time, he is the fan. The 4x Grand Slam winner was heaping praise on Stephen Curry in an interview on ESPN during the US Open. But not before Coco Gauff’s coach, Brad Gilbert managed to pull out his one regret during the recent Olympics.

Gilbert, a self-declared Curry enthusiast, asked if Alcaraz got to watch Steph Curry in the Olympics. With a look of absolute disappointment, he said, “No, I couldn’t. I would have loved to come over and watch the American stage playing basketball. But I couldn’t. The tennis schedule is always so tight, so couldn’t find the time to go. But I’ve watched him. I’ve watched Stephen Curry play in real life in Miami and it was a joy, it was a privilege watching him play.”

“I’m trying to do the same things as he is doing in the basketball court, but it is difficult. Probably same games, same feelings that we try to put joy on games,” Carlos said with a smile.

The meet-up he mentioned happened in May when he took some time off from his busy schedule in the Miami Open to watch a game between the Dubs and the Heat. Alcaraz had just passed the quarterfinal round and waiting to go head-to-head with Grigor Dimitrov when he decided a little basketball was just what he needed.

And when two sporting greats met, it made the headlines. Given that Curry himself is fond of tennis, the meeting was a beautiful experience for both of them. But will this newfound admiration prove to be a threat for Butler?

Jimmy Butler might face stiff competition from Stephen Curry

And it really wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Gilbert might just have had a hand in it. The 63-year-old ESPN analyst was all praise for Stephen Curry in the above clip. “When I watch you in practice, you have so much joy, [like] my favorite basketball player, Steph Curry. I feel like, for a tennis player, you have a little Steph Curry in you,” Gilbert said.

Recently, the Heat star had taken to Instagram to support his good friend Alcaraz after moving to the fourth round in the French Open. He, however, hadn’t shown the same support for Coco Gauff, despite having a stronger and closer bond with the 7x singles title winner. While there hasn’t been any explanation from either side or even a hint of any issues between them, we cannot discount the possibility that Gauff (and perhaps her coach) might have felt slighted.

As for Gilbert’s praise, it is certainly well-deserved. Carloz Alcaraz has already proven that he’s capable of greatness and if Steph Curry is the way forward, why not. However, could it prove to be detrimental for Butler? What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments?