Stephen Curry on Klay, Tiger, LeBron, Monta, Poole, Keith Smart & Brandon Payne

[Notes/quotes/video]

Stephen Curry went on 95.7 The Game yesterday and went over a variety of topics, including Klay Thompson, Tiger Woods, LeBron James, Monta Ellis, Jordan Poole, Keith Smart and Brandon Payne. Below is the transcript. Watch the interview here.

STEPH

• How’s the foot? “First time I’ve been asked that today (jokes). Nah, it feels good. It’s a slow process. It’s a weird one just because of where it is…hasn’t been crazy leaps every day which is kinda frustrating but even just to get shots up and to get back on the floor, that means a lot. Rehab is some long days and it’s kinda monotonous so when you can get to the next part of the process that always keeps the spirits high. And obviously I know what the goal is, to try to get ready by next weekend.”

• How is it gonna look throughout the playoffs with the core not having played together much? “We’ve had bright spots throughout the year…different combinations that have had some good moments. Obviously, me, Draymond and Klay, we know each other like the back of our hand…Loon’s been Mr. Reliable all year…there’s been enough samples of it working…you can believe that it’s gonna come together…the anxiousness of what does it look like will help us emotionally in the playoffs…gotta have that right juice…we can bottle that up and make all that work for two and a half months…”

• How much did it mean to average 32 points per game last year, especially hearing everything? “…I hear it all…I pride myself on being adaptable…Meet whatever challenge is in front of me. That’s kinda been my entire basketball career, forget the NBA, it’s always been kinda the MO…extending my prime for as long as I can…whatever narrative…”

• What’s going on with your shot (age, defenses have gotten better, rotation, new ball, too muscular)? “(No on the last two.) The first four you talked about, it’s kinda been a combination of all of that…I’m my own worst critic so it doesn’t matter what anybody else says about my shot…from the three point record and all the hoopla around that, I was shooting like 15-17 threes, I was forcing it a little bit…anxiousness around that moment. Bad habits start to creep in in terms of mechanics…shot selection…before I got hurt I was shooting a little bit better…I’m still in that mindset…”

• What’s it like getting Klay back? “It’s The best, man. It’s unprecedented in this league the opportunity that we have…fight through all that (Klay’s injuries), try to maintain our culture, or DNA, Warriors basketball…been away from basketball for almost a thousand days…just be healthy, I know that’s part of winning a championship…utmost confidence who we are and what we do…that’s what we’re banking on…you can’t guarantee anything in this game…you have to appreciate every opportunity that you have…”

• How special would a title this year would be, with Bird having three, LeBron four? “…the best one’s the next one…everything that we’ve went through…it would be unbelievable. It would be legendary and we’re gonna give it everything we have…our culture is gonna show up when it matters, for good or for bad…confidence that we are who we are…”

• What do you think about Tiger Woods in the Masters? “I like the way he went about it…got to play with his son…everyone’s asking him that question…competitive mentality…inspiring…underdog mentality…he’s been the greatest of all time and the true underdog…back and forth multiple times…something about Augusta, Georgia brings out the best in him…”

• LeBron saying he wants to play with: “Oh shoot. That is phenomenal. When did he say that? (The latest episode of The Shop.)…he’s picked me the last two All-Star Games. I don’t know if that suffices, but I’m good right now.”

• How did that make you feel, though? “…he is one of the greatest of all time. Cool. Is amazing. We all can live in that fantasy world though.”

• Steinmetz might be Steph’s Skip Bayless: “You can’t be lovey dovey all the time…”

• Changing the positions at the 1 and 2, ability to play off the ball: “…was Monta the 2? “

• Monta didn’t want to play the 1: “…we were both kinda hybrids…”

• You played point guard at Davidson your last year? “I was a pass first point guard in high school. They had to tell me to shoot more in high school…in college, first two years I was strictly a two and that’s all I did was catch and shoot and run off picks and my junior year I played traditional point and had to do a lot of playmaking and scoring. That’s why I love it because I had to do both…try to be as efficient and productive as possible. That was my only chance in the league too because at 6’3 you can’t really — ”

• Not running pick and roll all game like Harden or Westbrook, the ability to pay off the ball makes you greater, yes? “Absolutely. There’s certain times when you shipment over-complicate it, if one of the two is working better…obviously I’ve been blessed with Draymond…”

• Scoring 50 at All Star Game: “It was kind of an out of body experience…I got the boos from my favorite fans and it kind of inspired me…I made my first two and it started to kinda feel good and then you just start to get a rhythm. Other guys on the court, they pick up on that especially your teammates when you’re feeding the hot hand…you’re in your element…”

• How to beat really good teams on the fly in the playoffs: “Our preparation is gonna have to be key. We’re gonna have to over-communicate…whatever the rotation is…prepare for crunch time because that’s where we’ve gotten exposed a little bit in terms of execution. Our IQ ok to show up especially on the defensive end…not fouling…in sync and locked in offensively…one or two play calls…next week’s gonna be important…play-in game will help us…five days of preparation…you have to be able to respond and react depending on how the series goes…wash, rinse, repeat for every round we go through.”

• How good can Jordan Poole be? “The sky’s the limit. I don’t even want to put any type of levels to it. It’s amazing to see our player development process work…thrown into the fire rookie year…no veteran presence…bad habits, you can get distracted from what’s the goal…for a young guy that’s really difficult (second year to be sent down to G League)…he just took off…he had kind of a slower start…all I wanted him to do was embrace the challenge of what we were throwing at him. He was built for it…flair, he’s got a killer instinct. Going through those ups and downs has prepared him for the success he’s going through right now…putting himself in another tier of players that people, I’ll say, fear in the league…pay attention to where he’s at at all times…it’s all confidence in this league…keep things simple…we’re all trying to support him…”

• Do you ever allow yourself to think about how far you and the organization have come? “All the time. All the time. Even just coming into this building…look across the bay and kinda see where Oracle is…embrace the journey and appreciate…I saw Keith Smart (for Arkansas NCAA)…used to bench me in the fourth quarter because he didn’t think I could close out games. Acie Law was playing…still here, still trying to lead the charge, still got a lot left in the tank…”

• Brandon Payne: “It’s wild. I met him in Charlotte after my first ankle surgery…Alan Tyson…ankle mobility…(Payne) doing research for his gym…setting up down the street…I gotta bunch of ball hand workouts I can put you through while you’re sitting in the chair so you can stay sharp while your ankle is still healing…I didn’t know him from Adam…Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, HBCU down there…worked out for about an hour…I was like o really like this…that was eleven years ago. A lot of the work we’ve done, he’s grown with me…he’ll tell you, he just gave me the tools and his knowledge and I went out and did it. But there’sa good chemistry in terms of confidence, skill set, being efficient with your body, every move that you make on the court…been on the same journey together…amazing how I just took a leap of faith just go to the gym and work out and have been with him ever since.”

• How long are you gonna play? “My wife might be listening. I’m not gonna tell y’all. I don’t wanna get in trouble.”

• What is your handicap right now? “…Point three on the other side. If we’re giving legit strokes, I’m not winning any money because I ain’t played in a long time.”

• Masters picks: “…I’m going with Jon Rahm.”

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