The Golden State Warriors’ recent practice session just proves the locker-room chemistry these guys have with each other. From being in awe to complaining about fellow teammates, the Warriors certainly make for a unique bunch. Everybody in the NBA knows just how hard it is to guard Stephen Curry.
Those unlucky enough to be on guard duty can provide hands-on details about the experience. Second to NBA veteran Magic Johnson, Steph is the greatest point guard in the league. Apparently, guarding Curry is not something his teammates look up to either.
Fellow Warriors teammates are not happy with guarding Stephen Curry
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In a recent tweet, Basketball on X shares a hilarious practice session of the Warriors with us. Fellow teammates can’t seem to shut up about just “how annoying” it is guarding Steph. A sentiment many others will echo.
GP2 & Jonathan Kuminga complaining to each other about guarding Steph Curry 😂😂
“It’s annoying guarding him bro. Annoying ’cause you can’t rest! Because soon as you rest, he’s open, and it’s bad…Don’t nobody move like 30. So if they move like 30, they don’t shoot like 30″… pic.twitter.com/whUAK90gP3
— BASKETBALL ON 𝕏 (@BasketballOnX) October 26, 2023
Jonathan Kuminga, forward/center and Gary Payton II, the guard are the loudest when it comes to complaining about the guard duty. Being on defense duty to Steph is like military training. No time to rest. They also go on to mention how nobody in the league, except for Damian Lillard, shoots like “30”. But even Dame can’t move like Steph.
The fact that Curry does not take a moment to rest is one of the reasons he is this good. Many players get comfortable once they reach a point in their career. Not Steph. He keeps drilling himself, and this forces the others to be on the move if they ever plan to form at least a support cast for Curry.
Why guarding Steph is a mammoth task
Even though the subheading mentions ‘mammoth’, it’s practically an impossible task. And here’s why.
First and foremost, as GP2 and Kuminga attest, Steph does not need much space to take shots. Defenders who think crowding him into losing the ball is a neat trick will have to think again.
Read More: Damian Lillard Explains Why Warriors’ Steph Curry is the Toughest NBA Player to Guard
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Secondly, Curry baits his opponents into thinking they have got the ball. The way he is dribbling the ball seems like he is going to drop it any second. And when his opponent least expects it, he strikes.
Thirdly, he can take a shot from literally anywhere on the court. Couple that with his range and quick release, Steph’s opponents will have a hard time trying to keep track.
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NBA legend Isiah Thomas explains what makes Steph so dangerous succinctly. “Everything he does depends on what the defender is doing.” When you have a player making moves based on what the opposing team’s defender is doing, then it’s pretty much useless to even try.
So now you can understand why even his fellow teammates have are “annoyed” when they’re tasked with Stephen Curry.