Curry just months away from making Olympic bow In August, Curry will become an Olympian for the first time. Coach Mike Krzyzewski and chairman Jerry Colangelo will not hand out invitations to training camp for some time but it's a safe bet that Curry will get one. He is all but certain to make the Olympic squad.
I have talked to Coach K, Mr Colangelo, Sean Ford - all of the guys that are a part of USA Basketball. I'm trying to let it be known that I want to play. I've been on two World Championship teams before and feel like I've gotten better and can help the team and I'm looking forward to it. - Curry
Stephen Curry (USA) at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup
Since he last played for the national team in Spain, much has
happened with the program. USA Basketball announced in October that
Colangelo is to continue as managing director of the men's national team
through the 2020, and San Antonio Spurs boss Gregg Popovich is to
succeed Krzyzewski as head coach.
After the Rio Olympics, Krzyzewski will take on a special advisor
role with Colangelo and the national team. He will have been at the helm
of the USA for more than a decade when he leaves the bench.
Curry envisions continued success with Popovich, who has coached the Spurs to five NBA titles since the 1999 season.
"I think that's a pretty good choice," he said to FIBA.com of
Popovich's appointment. "He's a guy that's won. He just breeds success
with anything he touches so I'm sure the level of expectation that Coach
K has established with the teams that he has put together will
continue, so we can continue that dominance that we've had.
"Popovich, I know, does a great job of handling all sorts of personalities, skill sets and putting a team together."
Curry believes the transition will be seamless, although Popovich will have his own ideas about how the USA should play.
"I'm sure it will be different in certain respects with the different
personalities (of Krzyzewski and Popovich) and they have different
philosophies," Curry said. "When it comes to putting together a national
team, I'm pretty sure there is a formula to it. They figured it out.
Gregg Popovich will study what has made it successful in years past and
try to make it better."
The USA exited at the Quarter-Final stage of the 2002 FIBA Basketball
World Cup in Indianapolis and won the Bronze Medal Game at 2004
Olympics (Popovich was an assistant coach on that team), and the 2006
FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Since then, the Americans have finished top of the podium at every event they have taken part in.
EmoticonEmoticon