If you’re a young basketball player looking to take the next step, there are few you would rather have guiding you than Steph Curry. The Golden State Warriors guard is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer and among the best players in the history of the NBA.
On August 1, a video clip began circling social media, showing Curry giving advice to the next generation of hoopers, urging them to make fast decisions and move without the ball. Curry can be heard telling those listening to try and make decisions in .5 of a second, noting how the ‘dominoes start to fall’ when you can read the game at speed.
“I’m catching and shooting,” Curry said. “I’m catching and ripping. Or, I’m catching and giving it up. If you hold the ball for one second, that’s a grenade, and it blew up, and ya done. So think about that. I only have .5 seconds to make a decision. And that’s when you start to get the dominoes to fall.”
https://twitter.com/TheHoopHerald/status/1686476935394623488
In recent years, .5 offenses have become heavily prevalent in the NBA. The core principle behind the system is that every player has .5 of a second to make a decision on whether they’re going to pass, shoot, or drive. By playing the .5 brand of basketball, teams are able to operate at pace and attack teams before their defense can get set up.
Isaiah Thomas praises Curry's message
Shortly after the footage of Curry’s coaching hit social media, former MVP candidate Isaiah Thomas praised the message Golden State’s star guard was trying to spread.
Trainers teaching these kids to DRIBBLE DRIBBLE DRIBBLE!! When they can’t even do that when they play… one of the GREATS telling what it really is and how to really play. Listen up 🫡 https://t.co/4rFC5gsUuf
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) August 2, 2023
“Trainers teaching these kids to DRIBBLE DRIBBLE DRIBBLE!! When they can’t even do that when they play,” Thomas tweeted. “…one of the GREATS telling what it really is and how to really play. Listen up'”
Thomas has been out of the NBA since his 2022 spell with the Charlotte Hornets but continues to have an impressive presence on social media.
Reggie Jackson believes Curry's off-ball movement makes him 'the most difficult' to guard
During a recent interview on the Sam Okauru YouTube channel, recently crowned NBA champion Reggie Jackson was asked to pick his two most difficult matchups in the NBA. As to be expected, Jackson selected Curry as his toughest assignment, noting how his off-ball movement makes for a tough night.
Reggie Jackson discussed how difficult it is to guard Steph Curry. https://t.co/9kMtyYVsq0
— Warriors Wire (@TheWarriorsWire) August 2, 2023
“Two of my toughest matchups (for) my whole career is Steph,” Jackson said. “Everybody (finds it) hard (to guard) Steph. When he plays is usually when everybody takes a break. So when he passes the ball, are you ready? That’s when he’s really starting to get into it. So that’s what makes it tough. Great team. The pace that they play at, the shooting ability, his knowledge for the game makes it tough.”
