Entering an offseason that came much earlier than expected, the defending-champion Golden State Warriors are in clear need of additional support around their Stephen Curry-Klay Thompson-Draymond Green core. And, surprisingly, the team may need more help on the offensive end than anywhere else.

During the postseason, the Dubs logged an offensive rating of 110.9 and an effective field-goal percentage of 52.5 (marks that ranked ninth and 10th out of 16 playoff teams, respectively). For comparison, Steph and Co. scored 114.5 points per 100 possessions with an eFG% of 56.1 during their 2022 title run.

As it happens a career 11.0-point scorer who has shot 40% or better from three in each of the last seven seasons is set to become an unrestricted free agent, and it just so happens that this sharpshooter already has a strong connection to the Warriors.

That player: Steph’s younger brother, Seth Curry.

On Thursday, the ballin’ brothers’ retired father, 16-year NBA vet Dell Curry, weighed in on the possibility that his sons could join forces while he was out promoting the American Century Golf Championship on Thursday.

Dell Curry Addresses the Idea that Steph & Seth Curry Could Reunite on the Warriors

While he opined that Seth and Steph teaming up in the Bay is likely a “longshot,” the elder Curry — who played in over 1,000 career games with five teams and sunk 1,245 triples along the way — stopped well short of closing the door on the idea.

“There’s always that possibility,” Dell Curry said, via NBC Sports Bay Area. “The salary cap and all that is going to come into play. But I think that would be a good market for Seth as a shooter. We know how important threes are, and he’s one of the best in the league to do it.”

In 19.9 minutes per outing off the bench for the Brooklyn Nets this season, Seth Curry averaged 9.2 PPG and shot 40.5% from distance, and it’s not difficult to envision him contributing something similar in a Warriors uniform next year. As Dell Curry alluded to, though, there would be some serious financial hurdles to clear.

Assuming Green opts in for the final year of his deal, Golden State is looking at paying out something in the neighborhood of $200 million in salary in 2023-24. And when you factor in the stiff repeater tax penalties the club will have to pay, that number grows exponentially.

So, even a modest, fair-market deal for Seth Curry could end up costing the Warriors an incredible amount of money. That’s not the only thing standing in the way of a potential partnership, either.

Seth Curry May Not Be Interested in Joining His Superstar Brother

The Curry patriarch further noted that Seth may have some hang-ups about signing with his big brother’s team, saying: “I’m not sure what they think about it, especially Seth. Seth has always been a guy that wants to make his own way, write his own story, create his own narrative.”

This tracks with comments made by Seth Curry to NBC Sports Bay Area last summer:

You never know what the future holds. I wouldn’t be against it, but it’s definitely not my preferred choice to be on the same team as him — definitely right now. I also like competing against him and trying to beat the best.

Being a younger brother gave me another leg up and an edge to get to where I am today. I always had somebody that I was chasing to be as good as, or better than, in literally everything, not only just basketball.

It’s no secret that Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is one of the more difficult players in the league to defend. He’s led the Dubs’ high-powered offense for more than a decade, winning four NBA championships along the way.

During a recent appearance on Theo Pinson’s “Run Your Race” podcast, Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell labeled Curry as one of the two most difficult players in the NBA to try and slow down, alongside Kyrie Irving.

“It’s between Kai (Kyrie Irving) and Steph, bro,” Mitchell told Pinson. “Steph, because that motherf***** don’t stop running around, bro. Like bro, he don’t stop. And the thing about Steph is the minute you f*** up it like ‘All right, bet, I got you’.”

Curry put together yet another dominant season in 2022-23. He had to miss some games due to various injuries, only playing in 56, but made an impact when he suited up for sure. Curry averaged 29.4 points, 6.3 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 49.3% from the field and 42.7% from deep.

JR Smith Tells Hilarious Story of Matthew Dellavedova Trying to Defend Warriors’ Stephen Curry

Mitchell isn’t the only one who’s spoken about the amount of running Golden State’s No. 30 does on the court. JR Smith shared a similar anecdote during an April 2023 appearance on The Old Man & The Three With JJ Redick and Tommy Alter. Smith had told the hosts that his teammate Matthew Dellavedova “almost died” while chasing Curry around back in 2015.

“Delly almost died guarding Steph Curry,” Smith said. “No, he literally almost died. We have footage of this man in the ice tub like literally up to his neck trying to guard this man.”

Smith’s Cavaliers faced off against Curry and the Dubs in four straight NBA Finals from 2015-2018.

De’Aaron Fox Second’s JR Smith’s Stephen Curry Story After Matchup With Warriors

Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox learned about defending Curry this spring, when he and the Kings faced off against the Warriors in the playoffs.

After Game 1 of the series, Fox joked about how difficult it is to chase the star guard around, saying his experience was quite similar to Dellavedova’s in 2015.

“Did you all see that clip with JR Smith talking about Delly guarding Steph? That sh— real,” Fox said, laughing, via the Sacramento Kings official YouTube channel. “It’s real. I mean honestly I didn’t guard Steph the entire game, but most of the first quarter, most of the fourth quarter I guarded him. Yeah, that clip is real. Obviously, my team wants me to do things offensively.

“Mike [Brown] talked about it as soon as he got here, he’s not worried about what I can do offensively. He wants to see me be better defensively. And that’s something I want to take the challenge of doing. I think we’ve all seen it in spurts, but I want to do it throughout the course of a game. Playing 40 minutes and scoring 38 points is cool, but just trying to be as disruptive as possible while guarding the best player to ever shoot a basketball, not just off the catch but off the dribble.

“Guy’s probably one of the craftiest players to ever touch the ball. Just being able to be try and be disruptive for me is the biggest step and I think that’s kind of something that… I want to prove to myself that I can go out there and just try to hound some of the best guards in the league.”

When one thinks back on the Golden State Warriors‘ recent dynasty, there’s really no shortage of big moments to reminisce about.

Klay Thompson dropping 37 points in a single quarter during a 2015 bout with the Kings rates highly. So, too, does Kevin Durant’s dagger three during Game 3 of the 2017 NBA Finals against LeBron James and the Cavs. Then there’s the Dubs’ comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against KD and the Thunder the year before, Stephen Curry‘s 60-foot buzzer-beater during a close-out effort against the Grizz in ’15, et al.

However, it would be nigh impossible to talk about the Warriors’ dynastic years without at least making mention of Steph’s daughter, Riley, who stole hearts and headlines with her antics during a handful of postgame pressers during the middle years of the dynasty.

If she had known then what she knows now, though, Steph’s wife, Ayesha Curry, may not have allowed her oldest daughter to become the center of attention in such a way.

Ayesha Curry Speaks Out on Her Children Being Documented by the Media

Ayesha Curry made her proclamation about Riley — who will turn 11 this summer — being overexposed in the media in a May 24 digital cover feature for Insider. While it all seemed natural at the time, she’s remorseful now for having brought Riley into that space.

“When the social media thing started, nobody knew what that was going to become,” she said. “If we had known back in the day just how chaotic it would make life, I don’t think we would’ve done it. But we were just genuinely living our lives back then. And we thought, ‘This is our kid. We’re bringing our kid along.’”

Now she and Steph are doing their best to give their children something resembling a normal childhood, without having to experience media scrutiny.

Per the Insider story, none of their three kids have social media accounts or cellphones. However, Ayesha and her sharpshooting husband are also doing their best to strike a healthy balance between what’s public and what’s private; social media and real life.

“Where’s the middle ground, where we’re strict, but we’re also allowing our kids to experience life?” she says. “We’re trying to figure out what that balance is. Just kind of learn as you go, right?”

Draymond Green Tops B/R’s Free-Agent Big Board for the Warriors

Although the conventional wisdom is that the Warriors probably need to get Steph and Klay more help if the team truly wants to climb back onto its old championship perch, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley believes that Draymond Green — who has a player option for 2023-24 — will be the most important free-agent domino to fall in Golden State.

Wrote Buckley:

Green’s value runs the gamut from emotional leadership, dynamic defense and offensive quarterbacking. It’s imperative to keep that value in mind when weighing the merits of giving a 33-year-old a lanky and pricey pact if (when?) he declines his $27.6 million player option for next season. Maybe the contract wouldn’t age the greatest on the back end, but if he exited, the impact of his loss would be immediate and profound.

The Dubs desperately need Green, and you could argue the feeling is mutual. Stay together, and they can at least hold out hope of contending next season. Split up, and there’s no telling what the future holds for both.

The Golden State Warriors hit the jackpot 14 years ago with Steph Curry. They now find themselves in position to trade for one of the few NBA players with equal value.

According to odds issued by PointsBet on Tuesday, May 23, the Warriors are tied with the New York Knicks as the third most likely landing spot for four-time NBA MVP and four-time champion LeBron James.

NBC Sports Authentic shared a graphic on Instagram depicting those odds just one day after the Denver Nuggets eliminated James and his Los Angeles Lakers from title contention by sweeping them out of the Western Conference Finals.

PointsBet listed the Warriors at +1500 to land James ahead of next season, the same odds that the Knicks hold. The Cleveland Cavaliers, James’ hometown team with which he has played two stints already, are the second most likely destination at +1200.

The Lakers remain the favorite to retain James, who is under contract in Los Angeles for two more seasons with a player option on the second, at odds of -700. There are also +500 odds listed that James retires given recent rumblings to that effect.

Draymond Green Expected to Recruit LeBron James to Golden State

GettyGolden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (right) and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers (left).

James said last summer he’d prefer to join the Warriors were he ever to move on from the Lakers and remain in the NBA. His comments came during Episode 4 of the fifth season of “The Shop,” a show that James produces for HBO.

“It would be Golden State,” James said. “I like the way Draymond talks to guys. I would love to get into a pissing match with Draymond. I love when somebody cuss me the f*** out if I’m not doing my [job]. I would love that with Draymond.”

Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer revisited the possibility of James teaming up with Green in Golden State on Tuesday.

“How soon until Draymond Green begins recruiting LeBron to the Warriors?” O’Connor wrote. “No one needs a source to tell you those conversations will happen, if they haven’t already, given Draymond’s love for LeBron, the Klutch connection and his history of recruiting.”

Green was reported to have been instrumental in the recruitment of Kevin Durant, making an already super team in Golden State super duper and leading to three straight NBA Finals berths as well as two rings.

Steph Curry, LeBron James Can Help Each Other Win 5th Ring

GettySteph Curry of the Golden State Warriors (left) and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers (right).

More than James’ friendship and business relationship with Green, his motivation to head north to Golden State may be to cement his legacy.

James wants desperately to match the six titles that Michael Jordan won during his NBA career. While that number feels more and more out of reach after the Lakers’ exit from the playoffs on Monday, getting to five titles and tying Kobe Bryant remains a realistic possibility.

Pairing up with Curry as they both begin to wind down their careers is one of the best ways to achieve that goal. Curry also has four rings and another championship or two will vault him into the same all-time conversation that James occupies, if he isn’t there already.

“LeBron, now more than ever, needs an All-Star shot-creating teammate,” O’Connor continued. “Steph, who is no longer at his peak, could use a little extra push too. That’s why Golden State’s summer is so pivotal, as well. The union of Steph and LeBron seems like a match made in heaven, particularly as they enter the twilight of their careers.”

The only way for James to land in Golden State this offseason is via a trade, though the Warriors have the pieces necessary to make the money work if they center a deal around Jordan Poole. Jonathan Kuminga and several draft picks would also likely need to be a part of any deal to which the Lakers might realistically agree.

This offseason will be a crucial one for the Golden State Warriors. After bringing home their fourth Larry O’Brien trophy in the span of eight seasons last year, they lost in the second round to the Los Angeles Lakers. It snapped Steve Kerr’s unbeaten streak in the Western Conference playoffs.

Now, Golden State will have to decide what path to take moving forward. Will they trade the young stars in an attempt to help Stephen Curry win another title? Or will they commit to the two timelines they’ve heralded for the last two years?

Well, according to Curry, Jordan Poole is the key to the latter. He told The Ringer’s Logan Murdock as much after the Warriors’ Game 6 loss to the Lakers.

“Following the game, I asked Curry how the Warriors could bridge the gap between the dynastic present and an unknown future,” Murdock wrote. “Curry paused, then glanced to his left, toward Poole’s locker, and pointed.

“’He’s the key,’ Curry said, for all to hear, before exiting the room.”

Poole struggled mightily during the Warriors’ playoff run. He battled inconsistency all season long, and in the team’s series against the Lakers, Poole melted under the pressure. He was barely able to see the floor in Kerr’s rotation.

Against the Lakers, Poole averaged 8.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 34.5% from the field and 25.0% from behind the three-point line.

Stephen Curry Uncertain of Warriors Future With Jordan Poole & Youngsters

While Curry may have made it clear to Murdock that Poole is the key to bringing together the old core and new core, that doesn’t mean he’s sure of the team’s future. When asked about Poole and the other Golden State youngsters after the Warriors’ loss to the Lakers, Curry said that everyone needs to get better, but he’s unsure of what the future holds.

“Everybody’s going to get better. Everybody’s going to take the next step. Everybody’s going to learn the lessons that you learned this year and try to put them into use next year,” said Curry. “I don’t know what the opportunity is going to be. I don’t know what the roster will look like. I don’t know what, sitting here right now, what Opening Night is going to look like in terms of who’s going to be asked to do what, but I have a lot of confidence in everybody being able to take advantage of the summer.”

Jordan Poole Breaks Silence on Struggles During Warriors Playoff Run

Meanwhile, when asked about his struggles throughout the postseason, Poole blamed his role change, also noting that every playoff run will be different.

“Probably just a little bit of a role change,” Poole said. “Last year, I could come in, score, be aggressive with the team that we had around being more of a facilitator. Trying to get guys off the ball. Get them easy shots. Throughout the course of the playoffs, we had two really good defensive teams that we played. Just trying to find ways to facilitate, get inside. It’s not always about scoring. It’s about finding ways to try to help her team be successful. I think every playoffs will be different. Everything won’t be the same. And like I said, you learn from that, grow from that, and apply it to your skill set.”

After the Los Angeles Lakers eliminated the Golden State Warriors from the 2023 playoffs, Stephen Curry talked about his rivalry with LeBron James.

James and Curry have faced each other in four NBA Finals — with Curry’s teams winning three of them — and now one Western Conference Semifinals. Curry’s teams are 17-11 overall against James’ teams in the postseason.

“I mean, it’s just a battle every time,” Curry said after the Lakers beat the Warriors in Game 6 on May 12. “And I know there are a lot of different narratives within each of the series that we’ve had and different teams and teammates and all the above. But it’s just great basketball, great competition. Understanding who LeBron is and who he’s been his entire career and the accolades and the championships he’s won and the records that he has. Like, he’s an amazing basketball player. And he brings the best out of you and you know you have to be your best if you’re gonna try and beat him. And I think he feels vice versa. And so you love those experiences. Somebody’s gotta win and it’s part of the nature of what we’re dealing with. But there’s so much respect. And again, appreciation for the battles and experiences and the back and forths cuz it’s basketball at the highest level and that’s all you can ask for.”

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr talked about Curry and James’ rivalry as well after Game 6 ended. The 57-year-old said the two future Hall of Famers have been “amazing for the league.”

“No doubt this last decade they have been two of the greatest and they’ve had a lot of meetings in the postseason,” Kerr said. “I think there’s a lot of mutual respect there, but just like Magic and Bird, back in the day, you meet in the playoffs, and that respect kind of takes a back seat. Guys are trying to beat each other and they’re going to do anything to do so.  … It’s wonderful for basketball fans, amazing for the league. Just to have two all-time greats at the peak of their powers for almost an entire decade playing against each other frequently. Pretty, pretty awesome rivalry.”

LeBron James on the Warriors: I Have Nothing but Respect for Them

James told reporters that he has nothing but respect for Curry and the Warriors, who have won four championships in six trips to the NBA Finals during the Kerr era.

“First of all, nothing but the utmost respect for their organization,” James said. “But as far as the players — Steph, Draymond and Klay — those are the guys that I’ve had the most battles with. Those are the guys that I’ve been in a war against. And nothing but respect for them. Obviously, for the franchise as well.”

James, 38, dominated the Warriors in Game 6 at home from start to finish. The four-time MVP and four-time Finals MVP put up 30 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in 43 minutes while shooting 10-of-14 from the floor, 2-of-3 from beyond the arc and 8-of-11 from the free-throw line.

The win advanced the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals for the second time in the LeBron era. They will face the Denver Nuggets, the same team they beat in the 2020 Western Conference Finals.

LeBron James on the Nuggets: ‘We Give Them a Lot of Respect’

James told Lisa Salters of ESPN that he and the Lakers have a lot of respect for the Nuggets, who are the No. 1 seed in the West. Denver is led by two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and star point guard Jamal Murray.

“It’s gonna be a great series,” James said. “You got two well-coached teams. They’ve been the No. 1 seed in the West all year long. So we give them a lot of respect. We come in with that series with a lot of respect for Denver and what they can accomplish and what they can do against us. And if we’re not locked in, they’ll put it to us. … We understand what they possess. I know what they possess and we’ll be ready for it on Tuesday.”

The Lakers went 2-2 versus the Nuggets during the regular season.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt will be the primary defender on Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry, and despite Curry being a load to deal with, Vanderbilt is relishing this opportunity.

“That is my calling on the team,” Vanderbilt told Marc J. Spears of Andscape. “I like those matchups. Those challenges. That is what I’m here to do.”

According to ESPN Stats & Information, Curry shot 5-of-10 from the field in Game 1 versus Vanderbilt and committed three turnovers. The Warriors guard finished with 27 points while shooting 10-of-24 overall and 6-of-13 from beyond the arc in the Lakers’ five-point win.

“He’s a hell of a player,” Vanderbilt said of Curry. “He’s even more dangerous without the ball. One second you think you can relax and give it up. That is when you have to lock in the most. He’s a tough cover. We have a lot of bodies to throw at him. Starting with me, Dennis, I think everyone did a great job of chasing him around kind of wearing him down and making it hard for him.”

Jarred Vanderbilt: With My Size, I Can Dictate a Little Bit

Vanderbilt is 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan. The Lakers swingman believes his length will help him slow Curry down.

“With my size, I can dictate a little bit,” Vanderbilt told Spears. “I’m trying to send him this way even though it is still hard. Having a little length on him helps a little bit. But it’s tough. It’s tough. I watched a lot of film. I’ve guarded him before, just not in the playoffs. I just locked down and just trusted the game plan.

“Anytime he’s inside the 3-point line, it’s a win for us. Just get him off the [3-point] line and make him drive to take a couple layups. I focus on him. He’s obviously the most dangerous on the court, especially when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands, the way he moves and cuts and coming off screens. The biggest thing was stopping him. Limiting him.”

If the Lakers win Game 2, they will take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series back to Los Angeles.

Stephen Curry Says It Takes Time to Get Used to Playing Against Anthony Davis

Curry told reporters after Game 1 that it takes time to get used to playing against Lakers big man Anthony Davis since he’s so long and athletic. AD had 30 points, 23 rebounds, five assists and four blocks in Game 1 while shooting 11-of-19 overall.

“For sure. It’s also because of how they’re playing us,” Curry said. “They know they want to take away our threes, even though we got 50 of ’em up. They wanna try to put pressure on the perimeter, funnel everything into the paint and allow him to disrupt a lot and close the space pretty quick. It’s kind of deceiving.

“You feel like you have a good look to get it over the top and he gets a fingertip on it. So you gotta respect it. Like that’s how he makes an impact on that end of the floor. And you can’t be stubborn thinking you can just keep going in there. You still got to be able to drive and put pressure on the rim, but you can do it in a creative way. So yes, you got to feel it because it’s impactful.”

Davis and LeBron James combined for 52 points and 34 rebounds in Game 1.

While Curry walked to the bench to sit, James followed him. Many people were wondering why the Lakers star did that, so a Warriors reporter asked Curry to explain the viral moment after Game 1.

“He was just joking around about having to guard me all the way until I got to the bench,” Curry said.

Curry is the greatest shooter in NBA history, as he’s first all-time in 3-point field goals. The four-time champion had a terrific Game 1 against the Lakers, finishing with 27 points and six rebounds while shooting 10-of-24 from the field and 6-of-13 from beyond the arc in 37 minutes.

Despite Curry’s great game, though, James and the Lakers won by a final score of 117-112 to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. LeBron put up 22 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 40 minutes.

Stephen Curry: It Takes Time to Get Used to Playing Against Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis led the Lakers to victory in Game 1. The Chicago native had 30 points, 23 rebounds, five assists and four blocks while shooting 11-of-19 from the floor. Davis was excellent on defense and Curry told reporters that it takes time to get used to playing against the big man.

“For sure. It’s also because of how they’re playing us,” Curry said. “They know they want to take away our threes, even though we got 50 of ’em up. They wanna try to put pressure on the perimeter, funnel everything into the paint and allow him to disrupt a lot and close the space pretty quick. It’s kind of deceiving. You feel like you have a good look to get it over the top and he gets a fingertip on it. So you gotta respect it. Like that’s how he makes an impact on that end of the floor. And you can’t be stubborn thinking you can just keep going in there. You still got to be able to drive and put pressure on the rim, but you can do it in a creative way. So yes, you got to feel it because it’s impactful.”

James and Davis combined for 52 points and 34 rebounds in Game 1. The Lakers will look to go up 2-0 in the series in Game 2, which is on May 4.

LeBron James Believes the Lakers Will Retire Anthony Davis’ Jersey One Day

James believes the Lakers will retire Davis’ No. 3 jersey one day. “The King” thinks “The Brow” is one of the greatest players of all time.

“The Lakers franchise over the years, over the course of their existence, has always had dominant big men. Dominant guys that have been a force at the rim,” James said. “And that’s why their jerseys are in the rafters. And AD will be up there when he’s done playing. And the No. 3 will be up in the rafters. And he continues to show why he’s one of the best players that we have in this league. And for us, it’s a treat for us to be able to have such a dynamic player that can not only go out and get you 30 and 20, but also command the paint defensively, can switch out to guards and also give you five assists as well.”

James and Davis are looking to win their second title together. The Lakers won the 2020 championship in Davis’ first season with the team.

There is enough history between Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James to author an epic, with plenty left over for a sequel.

Another couple of chapters were added to that history during Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals at Chase Center on Tuesday night, May 3. The headliner is that the Lakers came into the Warriors’ house and stole home court. The subhead is that Golden State very nearly snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a 14-0 run late in the fourth quarter to tie the contest with just a handful of seconds left to play.

But somewhere in the in the middle of the entry, interested readers will find a blurb about an interaction between Curry and James as the former made his way to the bench after being substituted out.

On Wednesday, Bleacher Report posted a split video of the now viral interaction, with Curry’s postgame explanation at the top and audible, while the on-court interaction between Curry and James plays below.

“He was just joking around about having to guard me all the way until I got to the bench,” Curry said.

Rivalry Between Steph Curry, LeBron James Among Greatest in NBA History

GettyLeBron James, formerly of the Cleveland Cavaliers, (left) and Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors (right) exchange words during the 2018 NBA Finals.

James was being playful and respectful of Curry simultaneously with his antics, though the relationship between the two hasn’t always been so amicable.

The Warriors met James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals four consecutive times between 2015-18, winning three of those matchups. Neither player spoke about the other in inflammatory terms, at least not publicly, during their heated and historic rivalry. However, the rhetoric they did utter never left the impression there was any love lost between two great players who were battling for league throne — both as team champions and for the right to lay claim to the title of best basketball player in the world.

James’ famous stare down of Curry after emphatically blocking one of his shots during Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, the one title the Cavs captured, offered some interactive evidence to backup the long-held and widespread opinion that the two were less fond of one another both on and off the court.

Steph Curry, LeBron James Have Softened Over the Years

GettySteph Curry of the Golden State Warriors (left) guards LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers (right) during an NBA game.

Despite James’ move to L.A. in 2019 and the subsequent intrusion onto Curry’s California turf, the animosity appears to have mostly dissipated in the five years since the two all-timers last met in the postseason. James has won a title with the Lakers in that time, while Curry has won one with the Warriors.

Both men spoke highly of the other before renewing their playoff rivalry officially on Tuesday night, with Curry kicking off the proceedings Sunday.

“It is special, from the first series we played [James] in Cleveland [in the] 2014-15 season to now, we’re blessed to be playing at this level still and excited about a new chapter,” Curry said. “Two teams trying to keep your season alive and chase the championship, and that’s what it’s all about.”

James addressed facing off against Curry again the following day.

“Two of the most competitive players that’s ever played this game, and we want to etch our names in the history books as much as we can by doing it our own way,” James said of Curry Monday. “Like I said, I got nothing but the greatest [admiration] and greatest respect for Steph.”

In Game 1 of their Western Conference Semi-Finals series against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, the Golden State Warriors fell short.

The Lakers dominated the paint in an effort led by Anthony Davis—who finished the game with 30 points, 23 rebounds, and four blocks—and did a phenomenal job of shutting down the Warriors in that area on the other end.

Meanwhile, Golden State maintained their fast-paced offensive, getting up 53 three-point attempts and taking 14 more shots than the Lakers did.

But in the end, LA’s defensive prowess persevered, giving them a 1-0 series lead over the Warriors and stealing home-court advantage.

Stephen Curry put up solid numbers, but the tandem of Jarred Vanderbilt and Dennis Schroder made his life difficult all night. That being said, it was no easy task for Schroder.

“I mean, whatever it takes to win. But it’s really, really, really hard,” Schroder said of guarding Curry. “I mean, Steph is probably one of the best, conditioning-wise, in sports because he’s running around for 23 seconds and still taking a shot. So, just to be by him when he catches it makes it really, really tough. So, I might have to get an IV tonight.”

In the end, Curry finished the game with 27 points on 10-of-24 shooting from the floor and 6-of-13 shooting from deep. He also added six rebounds, three assists, and one steal to his totals.

As for Schroder, the Lakers guard made his mark, getting to the free-throw line for 10 attempts and nailing nine of them. He dropped 19 points, two rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Schroder shot 5-of-10 from the floor.

LeBron James Urges Lakers to Defend Warriors Better

Despite their defensive successes in the paint, LeBron James still wasn’t totally pleased with the Lakers. Golden State’s 53 three-point attempts were the most of their playoff run thus far, and although it wasn’t enough to get them over the hump, they still made a few huge runs.

James stated that with how many open threes Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole are already getting, LA can’t afford to give up anymore.

“We got to do a better job,” James said post-game. “I think, even though late, they made a run, and I think throughout the second half, just only giving up 48 points, that’s really good. But we had a couple of lulls where we allowed those guys—Steph, Klay, and Jordan—to get some looks. And if we’re really tuned in, it won’t happen.”

Stephen Curry Discusses Jordan Poole’s Final Shot in Warriors’ Game 1 Loss

Meanwhile, the story of the night was Poole’s final shot attempt with roughly 10 seconds remaining. He chucked up a deep three instead of moving the ball and trying to get it back in Curry’s hands. However, after the game, head coach Steve Kerr said he was happy with the attempt.

“Pretty good look,” Kerr said via 95.7 The Game. “That’s a shot he can hit. Really happy with that possession. Jordan had six threes already. It was a great shot for us.”

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry sounded off on Anthony Davis after the Los Angeles Lakers won Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

Curry said it takes a game or two to gauge Davis’ length and his ability to alter and block shots.

“For sure. It’s also because of how they’re playing us,” Curry said. “They know they want to take away our threes, even though we got 50 of ’em up. They wanna try to put pressure on the perimeter, funnel everything into the paint and allow him to disrupt a lot and close the space pretty quick. It’s kind of deceiving. You feel like you have a good look to get it over the top and he gets a fingertip on it. So you gotta respect it. Like that’s how he makes an impact on that end of the floor. And you can’t be stubborn thinking you can just keep going in there. You still got to be able to drive and put pressure on the rim, but you can do it in a creative way. So yes, you got to feel it because it’s impactful.”

Davis had four blocks in Game 1 to go along with 30 points, 23 rebounds and five assists. The Warriors had no one who could stop the Lakers star, who shot 11-of-19 from the field. Los Angeles beat Golden State by a final score of 117-112 to steal home-cour advantage in the best-of-seven series.

LeBron James: Anthony Davis Will Get His Jersey Retired by the Lakers One Day

LeBron James believes Davis will get his No. 3 jersey retired by the Lakers one day. Davis helped the purple and gold win the 2020 championship in the Walt Disney World bubble and became the fifth player in franchise history to have at least 30 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game, joining Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor and Shaquille O’Neal.

“The Lakers franchise over the years, over the course of their existence, has always had dominant big men. Dominant guys that have been a force at the rim,” James said. “And that’s why their jerseys are in the rafters. And AD will be up there when he’s done playing. And the No. 3 will be up in the rafters. And he continues to show why he’s one of the best players that we have in this league. And for us, it’s a treat for us to be able to have such a dynamic player that can not only go out and get you 30 and 20, but also command the paint defensively, can switch out to guards and also give you five assists as well.”

James and Davis combined for 52 points and 34 rebounds in Game 1. The two future Hall of Famers are looking to win their second title together and they are three wins away from knocking out the defending champions and advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals.

Darvin Ham on LeBron James: He’s Playing a Total Game

James had 22 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in Game 1. Lakers head coach Darvin Ham believes “The King” is playing a “total” game for the LakeShow.

“He’s just playin’ a total game, man,” Ham said. “He’s not forcin’ anything. And that’s who he’s been his entire career. We knew what we did off the ball defensively, particularly, would be extremely important. And he was all on board for that and understood why we had to do it. And he did his part. And defensive rebound is a huge thing. And so some of the blocks he had, some of the hard, tough rebounds he had, it allows us a lot of flexibility defensively. And then offensively, he’s just playin’ the right way. It’s times where he’s gonna dictate the pick-and-roll, dictate the offense. It’s times he’s gonna be off the ball. And we got guys around him that can carry the load, from D’Lo to Austin to Dennis, Rui. Obviously AD.

“So it gives him a chance to not have to make every play. And so now down the stretch when we really need him to step up and dominate, the ball particularly, he’s able to do that with a lot of gas left in his tank.”

Jordan Poole became Twitter’s favorite punching bag after missing a 28-foot jumper that would’ve brought the Golden State Warriors level with the Los Angeles Lakers with under 10 seconds to play in Game 1 on May 2.

Though the internet had its fun with Poole and his questionable decision to heave up that shot, his teammates stood by his side. Stephen Curry defended the 23-year-old’s late-game miss, when speaking with the media after the 117-112 loss.

“He had made six of ‘em tonight,” Curry said via the NBA Interviews YouTube channel. “It was decisive and it was a shot he was open. Considering how they guarded us that possession – trapping me at halfcourt and Draymond [Green] swinging it over – it’s one of those where it’s kinda in a rhythm shot. I’m sure he felt pretty good about it, that’s why he shot it. There’s no doubt or regrets on that. It’s just a make-or miss situation. [I’ve got] a lot of trust in his ability to put the ball in the basket.”

Though Poole’s Game 1 performance will be remembered more for that shot attempt, rather than his outing as a whole, he did play a solid game.

Golden State’s No. 3 poured in 21 points in 30 minutes off of the bench. He shot 7-of-15 from the field and 6-of-11 from deep. Aside from his scoring, Poole set up his teammates with six assists.

Steve Kerr Defends Jordan Poole’s Wild Shot in Warriors-Lakers Game 1

Like Curry, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr came to the defense of his young guard, following the disappointing Game 1 loss.

Kerr explained to the media that Poole took a “shot he can hit,” and that he was happy with the possession.

“I knew somebody was going to be wide open if we could just get the ball out and Steph did a great job,” Kerr praised via NBA Interviews on YouTube. “He got the ball out of the trap and Jordan was wide open, and pretty good look, and you know, that’s a shot he can hit. So really, happy with that possession, and again, Jordan hit his six threes already. So it’s a great shot for us.”

LeBron James Says Lakers Needed to Defend Warriors Better

Kerr and Curry both seemed to agree that the look Poole got at the end of the game was fine. One guy who wasn’t happy about the type of looks that Golden State was able to get was Lakers star LeBron James.

James claimed that his squad had some “lulls” that allowed the Warriors’ shooters to get good looks. He added that if L.A. is tuned in, those looks won’t be happening for the Dubs.

“We got to do a better job,” James said post-game. “I think, even though late, they made a run, and I think throughout the second half, just only giving up 48 points, that’s really good. But we had a couple of lulls where we allowed those guys—Steph, Klay, and Jordan—to get some looks. And if we’re really tuned in, it won’t happen.”

Despite opening up the series at home, the Golden State Warriors weren’t able to pick up a win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of their Western Conference Semi-Finals series. Now, the Lakers control home-court advantage.

While Golden State was able to make a few runs, the Lakers’ defense did a great job of stifling them, especially in the paint. Anthony Davis led the way in that regard, and after the game, Stephen Curry admitted that it could take the Warriors a little bit to get used to his presence.

“For sure. It’s also because of how they’re playing us,” Curry said when asked about if the Warriors need to get used to facing Davis. “They know they want to take away our threes, even though we got 50 of them up. They want to try to put pressure on the perimeter, funnel everything into the paint, and allow him to disrupt a lot and close the space pretty quickly. It’s kind of deceiving. You feel like you have a good look to get it over the top, and he gets a fingertip on it.”

Davis put up monster numbers against the Warriors, highlighted by four blocks. He also had 30 points, 23 rebounds, and five assists. The big man shot 11-of-19 from the field.

Curry stressed the importance of Golden State staying aggressive while also acknowledging Davis’ dominant presence down low.

“You got to respect it,” Curry said. “That’s how he makes an impact on that end of the floor, and you can’t be stubborn, thinking you can just keep going in there. You still got to be able to drive and put pressure on the rim, but you can do it in a creative way. So, yes, you got to feel it because it’s impactful.”

LeBron James Name-Drops Warriors’ Stephen Curry

Meanwhile, after the game, LeBron James urged the Lakers to be better on the defensive end, noting that they gave up too many easy threes to Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole.

“We got to do a better job,” James said post-game. “I think, even though late, they made a run, and I think throughout the second half, just only giving up 48 points, that’s really good. But we had a couple of lulls where we allowed those guys—Steph, Klay, and Jordan—to get some looks. And if we’re really tuned in, it won’t happen. They’re going to get their looks anyways, so we can’t have our own personal-problem mistakes,” said James. “So, we got to be better. We got to be better. We loved the game plan, but we got to be better as the guys on the floor.”

Warriors’ Steve Kerr on Jordan Poole’s Shot

One of the biggest moments of the game was when Poole missed a three with roughly ten seconds remaining in the contest—a shot that would have tied the game. However, post-game, head coach Steve Kerr said he was happy with the look.

“Pretty good look,” Kerr said via 95.7 The Game. “That’s a shot he can hit. Really happy with that possession. Jordan had six threes already. It was a great shot for us.”

On Tuesday night, the Golden State Warriors couldn’t get the job done. 

After a grueling series against the Sacramento Kings, in which they won in seven games, they got to head home for Game 1 of their series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Unfortunately, the Lakers got the best of them on both ends, leading to a Golden State loss.

With Anthony Davis leading the charge, the Lakers were able to shut down the paint, and Jarred Vanderbilt helped slow down Stephen Curry. However, after the game, LeBron James said that the Lakers didn’t do well enough at stopping Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole, noting a few lulls in their defensive pressure and urging them to do better.

“We got to do a better job,” James said post-game. “I think, even though late, they made a run, and I think throughout the second half, just only giving up 48 points, that’s really good. But we had a couple of lulls where we allowed those guys—Steph, Klay, and Jordan—to get some looks. And if we’re really tuned in, it won’t happen.”

Curry finished the night with 27 points on 6-of-13 shooting from deep, Thompson had 25 points on 6-of-16 shooting from deep, and Poole put up 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting from deep.

James stated that since those three stars are always going to find a way to get good looks from distance, the Lakers can’t afford to give them any extra ones because of their own mistakes.

“They’re going to get their looks anyways, so we can’t have our own personal-problem mistakes,” said James. “So, we got to be better. We got to be better. We loved the game plan, but we got to be better as the guys on the floor.”

Warriors’ Steve Kerr on Jordan Poole Shot

Perhaps the most high-profile three-point shot taken on the night game with 10 seconds left in the game. Down three points, the Warriors had the ball, and Poole pulled up from well beyond the arc.

Rather than pass up the shot to Curry or Thompson, he took it upon himself, drawing criticism from Twitter and the general public. However, after the game, head coach Steve Kerr said that he liked the shot.

“Pretty good look,” Kerr said via 95.7 The Game. “That’s a shot he can hit. Really happy with that possession. Jordan had six threes already. It was a great shot for us.”

LeBron James on Warriors’ Stephen Curry

Prior to the series, most of the hype that was generated surrounded the draw of a matchup between James and Curry. Before Game 1, James told Mark Medina of NBA.com about how much respect he has for the Warriors superstar.

“He puts in the work,” James said . “When you put in the work, 9-time-out-of-10, you’re going to see results and he’s done that, throughout his whole entire career. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Steph and everything he’s been able to accomplish on the floor. Not only on the floor, but off the floor too. It’s great to have people like that in this league that can set an example for generations to come.”

The Golden State Warriors are defending NBA champions, but that hasn’t bought them much in the way of faith regarding their chances to repeat.

Finishing the season six games over .500 and slotted firmly the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference has sowed doubts among basketball fans and media. An 11-30 record away from home didn’t inspire much confidence either. Then, of course, there is the Dubs’ aging trio of stars and the preseason fiasco in which one of those stars, Draymond Green, dropped fourth-year guard Jordan Poole with a swift punch to the face during practice.

So maybe, in retrospect, the doubters came by their apprehension honest where the Warriors are concerned. But four titles and six trips to the NBA Finals in eight years has to count for something. Knocking off the No. 3-seeded Sacramento Kings with road wins in Games 5 and 7 ought to buy the Warriors even more. Yet still, the questions persist, even as Golden State heads into a series against the No. 7-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in which the Dubs hold home court and are the favorites to advance (Warriors [-160] and Lakers [+135] to win series, per BetMGM).

Steph Curry, fresh off breaking a league record by dropping 50 points in Game 7 against the Kings, was asked about the Dubs being written off as legitimate title contenders moving forward in this year’s playoffs. He responded with the kind of message every team and player still active in this postseason can, or at least should, take to heart.

“Not as long as I’m still breathing,” Curry said.

Draymond Green Takes Exception to NBA Experts ‘Turning Page’ on Warriors

GettyDraymond Green of the Golden State Warriors (left) and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers (right).

Green, who has been Curry’s running mate through the entirety of the Dubs’ modern day dynasty, also took exception to people around the league assuming that the Warriors are past their collective prime.

“Stop trying to turn the page on us so fast. Stop trying to turn the page on [LeBron James] so fast. We get so caught up in, ‘What’s the next thing?’ that we don’t appreciate the current,” Green said during his postgame press conference on Sunday.

“And then you get to the next thing and looking back like, ‘I wish we still had that. I wish we could still see this,'” Green continued. “So for me and our guys, we’re gonna appreciate this every step of the way.”

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Warriors Renew Postseason Rivalry With LeBron James

GettyDraymond Green of the Golden State Warriors (left) defends LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers (right).

It was interesting that Green invoked James’ name in his comments considering their shared history as competitors.

The Warriors squared off against James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in four consecutive NBA Finals between 2015-18. Golden State captured three of those titles, falling to the Cavs just once in 2016 after holding a 3-1 series lead.

Green was famously suspended for Game 5 of that series on the Dubs’ home floor after he punched James in the midsection during action late in the previous contest. Cleveland went on to win Game 5 and the next two, allowing James to capture his only championship with the Cavaliers.

James has won a title since, doing so as a member of the Lakers in the NBA bubble during the 2020 season, which was interrupted by the pandemic. The Warriors have also captured another title, winning last year over the Boston Celtics.

Even with all the great teams Golden State has vanquished on its way to dynasty status, perhaps the franchise’s greatest nemesis is a single player — and that player is James. The two sides haven’t met in the postseason for five years and it is fitting that now, with all of the participants longer in the tooth and presumably more mature, they will square off again in a seven-game bout for the right to play in the 2023 Western Conference Finals.

Things are sure to get heated between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, but the team’s top two superstars are taking the high road to start the series. LeBron James spoke at length about his admiration for Curry pointing out the Warriors guard has “put in the work” to have such a high level of success. James listed off the similarities between himself and Curry noting that both have had success by playing “our own way.”

“Two of the most competitive players that’s ever played this game, and we want to etch our names in the history books as much as we can by doing it our own way,” James told reporters on May 1, 2023. “Like I said, I got nothing but the greatest [admiration] and greatest respect for Steph.”

James and the Lakers will be looking for a way to slow down Curry heading into the marquee playoff matchup. Curry posted 50 points, eight rebounds and six assists to propel the Warriors to a Game 7 victory over the Kings setting up a postseason series against the Lakers.

LeBron James on Steph Curry: ‘He Puts in the Work’

Things have gotten heated at times between James and Curry dating back to the NBA finals appearances between Golden State and Cleveland. Since James joined the Lakers, the four-time MVP has been extremely complimentary of Curry. This prompted some wild speculation that James was aiming to recruit Curry prior to the star signing a contract extension with the Warriors in 2021. Heading into the second-round matchup, James continued to praise Curry noting that he has the “utmost respect” for the Golden State legend.

“He puts in the work,” James said of Curry. “When you put in the work, nine times out of 10 you’re going to see the results, and he’s done that throughout his whole entire career. I got nothing but the utmost respect for Steph and everything he’s been able to accomplish.

“Not only on the floor but also off the floor, too. It’s great to have people like that in this league to set an example for the generation to come.”

Steph Curry on Facing Lakers & LeBron James: ‘It’s Amazing Because You’re Still in the Fight’

Curry admitted that the Warriors are facing a much different Lakers team than the one that took the floor prior to the overhauled roster at the NBA trade deadline. Overall, Curry only expressed gratitude to face James again given Sacramento had Golden State on the ropes during the first round.

“It’s amazing [facing James] because you’re still in the fight,” Curry said during an April 30 press conference after the Warriors advanced to the second round. “It’s better than the alternative of [being] on the outside looking in. And having been down O-2 in this series, nothing’s guaranteed and you don’t take anything for granted.

“And it is special, from the first series we played him in Cleveland [in the] 14-15 season to now, we’re blessed to be playing at this level still and excited about a new chapter. Two teams trying to keep your season alive and chase the championship and that’s what it’s all about.”

The word “frenemy” may be the best way to describe Steph Curry’s relationship with LeBron James, but the two appear to be on friendlier terms as the Los Angeles Lakers prepare to take on the Golden State Warriors in the postseason. Things were much more intense during the Warriors’ epic NBA finals battles against the Cavaliers when James was still in Cleveland. Now, Curry only wants to offer gratitude as he prepares to face James for another postseason battle.

“It’s amazing [facing James] because you’re still in the fight,” Curry told reporters on April 30, 2023 after the Warriors advanced to the second round. “It’s better than the alternative of [being] on the outside looking in and having been down O-2 in this series, nothing’s guaranteed and you don’t take anything for granted.

“And it is special, from the first series we played him in Cleveland [in the] 14-15 season to now, we’re blessed to be playing at this level still and excited about a new chapter. Two teams trying to keep your season alive and chase the championship and that’s what it’s all about.”

Steph Curry on Lakers: ‘We Know Bron Really Well’

Curry noted that the Lakers look “extremely different” than the roster that existed prior to the NBA trade deadline. Los Angeles has a number of recent acquisitions now playing key roles including D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura and Malik Beasley.

“They’re totally different than the Kings, present a lot of different challenges,” Curry noted. “We know Bron really well. Played them a couple times I think since the trade [deadline], and they look extremely different.

“So, I know they’re playing good basketball and it’s weird, a No. 6-No. 7 seed series. We get home court advantage, so we got to take advantage of that. But they’re big, and we got to be able to have everybody locked in on our preparation over the next 48 hours.”

LeBron James Tried to Recruit Steph Curry During the 2021 NBA All-Star Weekend, Says Insider

James’ tone with Curry has changed with the superstar publicly praising the Warriors star on multiple occasions in recent years. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has followed James’ career dating back to high school and suggested that the Lakers star was attempting to recruit Curry during the 2021 NBA All-Star Weekend.

“I thought it was hilarious over All-Star Weekend, LeBron praising Steph up one side and down the other,” Windhorst detailed during a March 2021 edition of “The Hoop Collective” podcast. “How much he loves his game, how much he respects him. …LeBron has obviously begun [the] recruiting of Steph just in the event that he wouldn’t extend and that somehow he would become a free agent and the Lakers would have a swing at him.”

Whatever narrow pathway existed for the two superstars to be teammates appeared to close after Curry signed a contract extension with Golden State months later in August 2021. Curry’s four-year, $215 million deal runs through the 2025-26 season. For context, James would be 41 years old when Curry’s current contract runs out.

It’s the offseason for the Chicago Bulls but for some of their players, ball truly is life.

“Chef Curry a bad man!!,” tweeted Bulls star DeMar DeRozan on April 30 after watching Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry set the record for points in a Game 7, eliminating the Sacramento Kings in the process.

Curry, 35, averaged 33.7 points on 48.8% shooting including 37.8% of his threes with 4.9 assists and 4.9 rebounds in the series.

The Bulls held the four-time NBA champion to 19.5 points on just 45.2% shooting from the floor in their two meetings. But he also added 10.5 rebounds and shot 38.9% from beyond the arc in those contests in which the two teams split. Chicago won the most recent meeting, snapping an 11-game losing streak to their Western Conference foe.

Golden State is notably helmed by head coach and former Bull Steve Kerr. But they were almost DeRozan’s team before he ultimately joined the Bulls on a three-year, $81.9 million contract as a free agent in the summer of 2021.

“DeRozan garnered interest from several other teams early in free agency, such as Philadelphia, Portland, Phoenix, Golden State, Boston and New York,” reported Jake Fischer for Bleacher Report after DeRozan signed with the Bulls. “For Golden State, acquiring DeRozan would have necessitated a complicated salary-matching sign-and-trade with the Spurs that would have sent out Kelly Oubre. But that framework never gained much traction, sources said.”

DeRozan, 33, is heading into the final year of his current deal and is eligible for a three-year, $179 million extension, per ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks.

DeMar DeRozan Plans on Spreading the Floor

He’s also still adding to his game as the style of play in the NBA trends more in line with Curry’s skill set than his.

DeRozan initially brushed off questions about how he would change his game this offseason saying that he’s more intent on improving what he is already good at. But he went on to acknowledge a desire and the need for him to take more shots from three-point range next season.

The Bulls ranked 30th in threes taken and made (they were 16th in efficiency) while DeRozan knocked down just 32.4% of his deep looks – down from the 35.2% he shot in the 2021-22 season on identical volume.

He did shoot 33.3% from long distance after the All-Star break.

Don’t Anticipate DeMar DeRozan’s Departure

There have been some whispers the Bulls could look to move him as part of their efforts to change their shot profile. But it does not sound as though the veteran has designs on moving on, making a demand that his younger teammates join him to train this offseason.

Anything can happen and everything should be on the table when the team falls short of expectations as the Bulls did this past season.

They could stand to replenish their assets before he can leave for another team and the Bulls were not his first option during his last venture into free agency. But it’s at least as easy to envision DeRozan suiting up for the Bulls next season and, perhaps, even beyond with a potential contract extension being in the realm of possibilities as well.

With their team heading into a closeout situation against the Sacramento Kings on Friday, Golden State Warriors fans were banking on “Game 6 Klay” to lead the Dubs to a series-clinching victory. Instead, Golden State logged one of its poorest efforts of the season, getting blown out at Chase Center and being forced into a difficult Game 7 situation on the road.

Looking back, fans should probably be thanking the basketball gods for vexing Steve Kerr‘s squad that night; if the Warriors had won the game, we would have been robbed of one of the greatest Game 7 performances in NBA history on Sunday, courtesy of one Wardell Stephen Curry.

With their season on the line in Sacto, Curry paced the Warriors with a whopping 50 points on 20-of-38 shooting en route to a 120-100 win. Meanwhile, he made seven three-point shots and further contributed eight rebounds, six assists (with only one turnover) and a steal across 38 minutes of action.

In the wake of the big W — during which Curry established a new all-time record for points scored in a Game 7 — the Warriors’ cornerstone was shouted out by a veritable who’s-who of the Association.

Steph Curry’s 50-Point Bomb vs Kings Raises Eyebrows Around the NBA

Although Curry has turned the utterly amazing into a nightly expectation, the four-time champ’s Herculean hardwood feats still manage to rile the masses each and every time they happen. But it’s not just Joe Average who’s taken aback by his exploits, the best ballers in the game are wowed by them as well.

Following his 50-piece, players league-wide were prompted to hit the tweet machine and pay homage to Steph.

“Legendary 30. 50 pieces,” wrote ex-Warrior and current Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant.

“Unreal Performance. Steph Different,” opined Atlanta Hawks cornerstone Trae Young, who has famously modeled his game after Curry.

“Steph Curry you filthy animal lol… he just packed up a very good team … in a very tough building,” opined another legendary flamethrower in the Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard.

“Chef Curry a bad man!!” exclaimed Chicago Bulls wing and six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan.

“Steph is insaneeeee,” tweeted Washington Wizards big man Kristaps Porzingis.

Warriors Coach Steve Kerr Makes a Point of Acknowledging Mike Brown & the Kings

While there was a lot to write home about for the Warriors amid their series victory over the Kings, Coach Kerr made a point not to get into any of it during his postgame media availability until he had properly recognized former gold-and-blew crew assistant Mike Brown and his team.

“I want to say congrats to Sacramento, to Mike and his staff and his team — they were incredible. [They] had an amazing season and this was a fantastic series. I mean, just great basketball for seven games,” Kerr said.

“They’ve had, frankly, a much better season than we have. We’ve been kind of up and down all year, as you know, and they put together a whole season where they just… the young talent, the coaching… it’s just impressive to watch and really difficult to play against. So, congrats to the Kings — we are thrilled to move on.”

Leading the charge was two-time MVP Steph Curry, who produced an all-time playoff performance by dropping in 50 points on 20-of-38 shooting including 7-of-18 from behind the three-point line. He added eight rebounds, six assists and one steal. The Dubs bested the Sacramento Kings by a score of 120-100 to capture the series and move on to face old nemesis LeBron James and the resurgent Los Angeles Lakers in the second round.

Curry’s 50-point performance wasn’t just a personal best, it also broke the NBA record for points scored in a Game 7 of an NBA Playoff series. That mark was previously held by Kevin Durant, Curry’s former teammate in Golden State, who scored 48 points in a losing effort for the Brooklyn Nets in Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks.

“Crazy thing is, I just wanted to come out and look for shots early, get my teammates going throughout the game,” Curry said following the win. “But when I’m looking for shots, it usually works in our favor.”

Warriors’ Steph Curry Involved in Passionate Interaction With Kings Fans

GettySteph Curry of the Golden State Warriors looks up at the big screen during Game 7 of the Western Conference Playoffs First Round series against the Sacramento Kings in April 2023.

An impassioned Curry led his team from the beginning of the game and helped keep the Dubs close in a tight first half that nevertheless saw the Warriors playing mostly from at least a few points behind.

The normally cool and collected superstar was so fired up that he began to engage with the Kings’ home crowd as he was taking over the contest in the second half.

At one point in the fourth quarter, Curry emphatically slammed the basketball into the hardwood and hollered at Sacramento fans to “light the beam!”

That saying has become something of a rallying cry and victory mantra for the Kings and their fan base after a 17-year playoff drought, which was the longest in the NBA until the team snapped it this year.

Warriors’ Kevon Looney Produced Monster Game 7 With 21 Rebounds

GettyKevon Looney of the Golden State Warriors put up his third 20-plus rebound performance of the Western Conference First Round Playoff series against the Sacramento Kings in Game 7 on April 30, 2023.

Curry wasn’t the only Warrior to put up unheard of statistics in the Dubs’ Game 7 victory.

Center Kevon Looney added to the mix with a 21-rebound performance, including 10 off the offensive glass. Looney also chipped in 11 points and four assists on his way to a +25 in the plus/minus category on the afternoon.

Looney has been a beast on the boards all series long, putting up 20 rebounds in Game 3 and grabbing 22 rebounds in Game 5. The big man averaged 15.1 rebounds per outing across the series. Curry, meanwhile, averaged 33.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists against the Kings as the Warriors won their final two games of the series on the road.

The Dubs’ performances in Games 5 and 7 have largely put to bed the notion that Golden State can’t repeat as NBA champions in 2023 because they can’t win away from Chase Center. That reputation had been earned during the regular season, when the Warriors were just 11-30 away from home.

Golden State will open the second round of the playoffs in San Francisco against the Lakers on Tuesday, May 2, at 10 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. WST.

The Golden State Warriors are on the ropes, facing a Game 7 on the road against the Sacramento Kings Sunday in large part due to the struggles of Jordan Poole.

The Dubs blew a chance to close the series out at home on Friday, April 28, with a dud of an effort that ended in a 118-99 loss at the hands of the Kings. Bad performances abounded in Golden State, though perhaps none were as abysmal as Poole’s effort after he got the starting nod for Game 6 in place of Draymond Green.

Poole shot 2-of-11 from the field, scoring seven points to go along with two steals and one assist. He posted a -14 in the plus/minus column in 26 minutes of action. After the game, team leader Steph Curry spoke to Poole’s struggles and what he must do to correct them ahead of Sunday.

“We need him, and he’s more than capable and shown the ability to impact games. And the biggest thing for all of us, you know JP included, is that next play mentality that is so important at this level, not just in the 82-game schedule but also in a playoff series where you don’t have to be kind of a victim of the last game,” Curry said. “You always can kind of bounce back. I have nothing but confidence in his ability to do that and understand to bring the right energy for this next game.”

“We’ve all kind of been there, been through those growing pains of a playoff experience, and it happens,” Curry continued. “But we all can play better, and we all gotta play better if we’re going to win on Sunday.”

Klay Thompson Speaks to Jordan Poole’s Game 6 Struggles Against Kings

GettyJordan Poole (right) of the Golden State Warriors goes up for a shot against Trey Lyles (left) of the Sacramento Kings during Game 6 of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs in April 2023.

Klay Thompson also took the podium following the Warriors’ disappointing effort Friday night where, like Curry, he fielded questions on Poole’s struggles and how the young guard’s teammates can help him out of his current slump.

“We’ve all been there. I’ve had terrible slumps during the playoffs, Olympics, at the highest level,” Thompson said, per a press conference video posted on the NBCS Warriors Twitter account. “Jordan is only 23 years old. We lose as a team, we win as a team, so it wasn’t on just JP tonight. He could come out and get 30 [points] effortlessly on Sunday, so he’s just gotta keep his confidence up.”

“He’s a great player and he helped us win a championship last year. If we wanna do that again, he will do the same this year,” Thompson continued. “So it’s just up to us to come in with the right mindset on Sunday and empty the clip.”

Jordan Poole’s Shooting Issues Continue in Playoffs After Rough Regular Season

GettyJordan Poole of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a three-point shot against the Boston Celtics during Game 6 of the NBA Finals in June 2022.

Poole’s difficulties against the Kings were not unique to Friday night. He has shot just 33.8% from the field and 24.1% from behind the arc across six games in the series, averaging only 12.7 points per game, according to statistics compiled by ESPN.

Poole struggled offensively during the course of the regular season as well, as his long-range shot dipped to an average of just 33.6%, down almost three percentage points from the year prior. However, things have gotten considerably worse against the Kings in the playoffs. Poole averaged 20.4 points per game on 43% shooting from the field during the regular season, per Basketball Reference, and has been a far cry from both of those numbers during the postseason.

The Warriors take the court against the Kings on Sunday afternoon in Sacramento at 3:30 p.m. ET and 12:30 p.m. WST. The Kings were a one-point favorite to win Game 7 as of Saturday night.

On Friday night, the Golden State Warriors fumbled. With a chance to close out the series at Chase Center, they got absolutely blown out of the water by the Sacramento Kings in Game 6. It was a complete disaster of a game for the Warriors.

De’Aaron Fox and the Kings lit up the Warriors, beating them 118-99. Fox led the way for the Kings, dropping 26 points and 11 assists. After the game, he talked about how great the Kings played, name-dropping Stephen Curry in the process.

“It was huge, especially when you’re playing on the road,” Fox said of the Kings winning in the margin. “Those are the things that you really want to be able to win. Obviously, we can’t expect Steph to miss three free throws, and Jordan [Poole] to miss two free throws. I mean, those are two of the best free-throw shooters in the league. But I think that the only critique that I really have about our game is my turnovers tonight and them shooting 35 free throws. Other than that, I feel like we basically played a perfect game.”

Curry put up solid numbers, but his efficiency from the field wasn’t great. He finished the night with 29 points, four rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block. However, he shot just 9-of-21 overall. (But he did shoot 5-of-12 from deep.)

Fox also spoke about how the Kings were able to limit the Warriors’ three-point shooting–outside of Curry, of course.

“Holding them to 31% from three,” Fox said. “Obviously, Steph still shoots over 40%, but I don’t know how often you can really keep him under that. But other than that, I feel like limiting other guys, we did a good job at that tonight.”

Warriors’ Stephen Curry Praises Malik Monk

Meanwhile, after the game, Curry had some high praise for Kings guard Malik Monk. Fox was the top option for Sacramento, but Monk led the team in scoring with 28 points off the pine.

“He’s been an X-factor in their wins, and when we’ve contained him, I think most of those games, we’ve come out with the win,” Curry said via the NBA Interviews YouTube channel. “Even in Game 5, he got hot a little bit down the stretch, but in the first half, we kind of kept him in check. So, it’s just a matter of locking in on his energy. He comes in, he plays aggressive, [and] he loves to score. He was hitting his threes tonight. We kind of gave him to me open looks. So, you obviously have to key in on him. And the way that they mixed up their lineup, he’s featured a lot more. So, [we] got to make the adjustments.”

Warriors’ Kevon Looney Discusses Kings Tactics

Sacramento decided to roll out a small-ball lineup with Trey Lyles at center for large portions of the game. Kevon Looney spoke about how it affected the Warriors.

“I think it affected it some, just because it was kind of a new lineup that we haven’t seen this series,” Looney said via NBC Sports Bay Area. “We kind of had to make some adjustments [with] how we were going to guard it and guard the pick-n-roll. Different things like that. We had been playing a certain way the whole series. So, it took some adjustment. Some time to get used to. It’s something that we got to watch film and see how we want to execute better against the small lineup, but I think we can make the adjustments.”

On Friday night, the Golden State Warriors failed.

They failed to close out the Sacramento Kings in Game 6. They failed to win a game at home. They failed to get a win at Chase Center, where they’ve been elite all season. They failed to avoid a Game 7 at Golden 1 Center, where Kings fans will be going absolutely nuts.

Sacramento simply outplayed them at every turn, running out to a dominant victory. After the game, Stephen Curry spoke about Malik Monk, who has acted as an “X-factor” for Sacramento all series, and was great in Game 6.

“He’s been an X-factor in their wins, and when we’ve contained him, I think most of those games, we’ve come out with the win,” Curry said via the NBA Interviews YouTube channel. “Even in Game 5, he got hot a little bit down the stretch, but in the first half, we kind of kept him in check. So, it’s just a matter of locking in on his energy. He comes in, he plays aggressive, [and] he loves to score. He was hitting his threes tonight. We kind of gave him to me open looks. So, you obviously have to key in on him. And the way that they mixed up their lineup, he’s featured a lot more. So, [we] got to make the adjustments.”

Monk put up some great numbers for the Kings in Game 6, helping lead them to a win. He put up 28 points–shooting 8-of-14 from the field and 3-of-6 from deep–seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two blocks.

As for Curry, he wasn’t as efficient as he normally is in Game 6. The Warriors superstar dropped 29 points, four rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block. However, he shot just 9-of-21 overall. (But he did shoot 5-of-12 from deep.)

Kevon Looney on How Kings’ Disrupted Warriors

Meanwhile, Warriors big man Kevon Looney spoke about how the Kings were able to break down his squad and earn the win.

“I think it affected it some, just because it was kind of a new lineup that we haven’t seen this series,” Looney said via NBC Sports Bay Area. “We kind of had to make some adjustments [with] how we were going to guard it and guard the pick-n-roll. Different things like that. We had been playing a certain way the whole series. So, it took some adjustment. Some time to get used to. It’s something that we got to watch film and see how we want to execute better against the small lineup, but I think we can make the adjustments.”

Steve Kerr Sends Message on Warriors’ Jordan Poole

In addition, head coach Steve Kerr spoke about Jordan Poole’s performance post-game. Poole failed to find any sort of rhythm in Game 6.

“Jordan never really going tonight, unfortunately,” Kerr said via the NBA Interviews YouTube channel. “He got a little frustrated early — he  had a couple plays where he didn’t get calls — and he was trying to attack but couldn’t couldn’t quite shake free. So, just a frustrating night for him.”

Kevon Looney scored just four points in the Golden State Warriors‘ 123-116 Game 5 win over the Sacramento Kings, but his ability to clean up the glass has been huge for the Warriors in this series.

Looney became the first player since 1972 to have two games with 20 or more rebounds in the same playoff series. In the 35 minutes he was on the court in Game 5, he scored four points, hauled in 22 rebounds, dished out seven assists and had a blocked shot (all stats via ESPN). Seven of Looney’s rebounds were offensive, giving the Warriors more scoring opportunities. Sacramento actually out-rebounded Golden State, 44-43, which makes Looney’s contributions all the more staggering.

After the game, Warriors superstar Steph Curry, who finished with 31 points, two rebounds and eight assists in Game 5, had nothing but words of praise for the 6-foot-9 big man.

Steph Gives Credit to Loon: ‘Big Effort on His Part’

Looney has amassed 72 rebounds in five games against the Kings, hauling in 22 boards in Game 5, 14 in Game 4 and 20 in Game 3.

“It’s a luxury to have,” Curry said about Looney’s rebounding prowess in an interview after the game. “I don’t know if his hands have a magnet connected to the ball [but] he’s relentless, he finds the angles and he’s pretty sure-handed once he gets it to find the open guy. It was a big effort on his part, second 20-rebound game of the series. I think that gives us such good momentum, allows us to have extra possessions and is huge for us.”

Loon has also handed out 25 assists over the last three games of the series. He’s averaging just 5.5 points a game against Sacramento, but he has been invaluable in other areas.

“Kevon has become like an Andre Igoudala, a Shaun Livingston, like a calming force,” Warriors star Draymond Green said. “And Kevon is that for this team, he’s that stabilizing force that allows everyone else to focus on what they need to focus on. The way he rebounds the ball is incredible, his playmaking has taken another step in the right direction, and he just continues to get better.”

Warriors Finally Playing Well on the Road

Golden State struggled mightily on the road this season, going 11-30, and it lost its first two games of the series in Sacramento before winning both games at home. If the Dubs can win one more on the road, they’ll advance.

“Winning on the road is a big deal,” Curry said in his postgame presser. “It’s hard to do. Then you add on the layer of how we’ve on the road in the course of the regular season, it was a big night for us. You could feel the sense of accomplishment from everybody after the game.”

“We needed this one to snatch momentum back,” Curry added.

“This is a different team than what we had all year,” Dubs coach Steve Kerr said after Game 5, via ESPN. “What happened in November and December and January on the road has nothing to do right now. This is the team we’re looking at, is a team that won a championship last year and won a ton of road playoff games. Our guys know how to do it and got it done tonight.”

The Golden State Warriors took care of business in Game 4, evening the best-of-seven series at 2-2 and protecting their home floor for the second game in a row. Utilizing their playoff experience, they were able to fend off the Sacramento Kings in the final minutes of Golden State’s 126-125 win.

After the game, Kings head coach (and former Warriors assistant) Mike Brown spoke about his team’s playoff inexperience, noting two plays where they left Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson open behind the arc.

“You can’t rest out there,” Brown said. “You can’t think that you can play something a certain way and the champions aren’t going to make you pay the price. One time, we gapped versus Steph, and hit a 3, which was huge. Another time, we gapped versus Klay, and he hit a 3, which was huge. And you might think, ‘Ah, it’s just one possession.’ Well, those six points right there, us not doing what we’re supposed to do, that shows our playoff inexperience, because you have to take pride in playing a certain way for 48 minutes, and it ain’t going to be easy.”

The duo of Curry and Thompson carried the offensive load for the Warriors in Game 4, leading the Warriors in the scoring column. And they lit it up from 3-point land.

Curry finished the night with 32 points, five rebounds, four assists and one steal. He shot 11-of-22 from the field and 5-of-11 from behind the 3-point arc. Thompson put up 26 points, two rebounds, three assists and one steal. He shot 9-of-15 from the floor and 4-of-9 from deep.

Warriors’ Stephen Curry Praises Andrew Wiggins

While Curry and Thompson led the way on offense, Andrew Wiggins played a huge role on the defensive end. After the game, Curry showed love to Wiggins, dropping two nicknames, both praising his clutch defensive play.

“Playoff Wiggs. Two-Way Wiggs. All the different nicknames that he’s established since he’s been here,” Curry said. “Huge part of our success with the way that he can influence games, not just scoring the basketball. So, it’s easy to forget this is only his fourth game back since February. He’s starting to find his legs and find his confidence. His endurance to play 38 minutes and chase D-Fox around all game. You love to see it.”

Wiggins last played on February 13, missing the final 25 games of the regular season with an undisclosed personal issue.

Warriors’ Draymond Green on Game 4 Final Play

Game 4 came down to the wire. With the ball in his hands with 10 seconds left in the game and Sacramento trailing 126-125, the Kings’ De’Aaron Fox drove into traffic in the lane, so he dished it to Harrison Barnes with 2.1 seconds left. Barnes fired a 3-point attempt that bounced off the rim as time expired. On his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” Draymond Green broke down the final possession from Golden State’s perspective.

“We know what Fox does in that situation,” Green said. “Most importantly, you can’t let him beat you there, which was my mindset. He got the ball, he was looking to make his move, [I] tried to get the ball out of his hands because you don’t just win Clutch Player of the Year being average. You’ve been in enough of those situations to show what you do in those situations. He got an award that was well-deserved, so I know in that situation what he’s trying to get to. And I came to help and Steph reacted immediately, went and get a contest on Harrison’s shot, and Harrison missed.”

After dropping the first two games of their first-round series against the Sacramento Kings, the Golden State Warriors took care of business at home. They earned victories in Games 3 and 4 and will now head back to Sacramento in hopes of taking a series lead.

Their victory in Game 4 was hard-fought, as it all came down to the wire. And while Stephen Curry’s and Klay Thompson’s offense jumps off the page, Andrew Wiggins’ defense was just as important. At least, that’s according to Curry, who praised Wiggins’ play against Kings star De’Aaron Fox.

“Playoff Wiggs. Two-way Wiggs. All the different nicknames that he’s established since he’s been here,” Curry said. “Huge part of our success with the way that he can influence games, not just scoring the basketball. So, it’s easy to forget this is only his fourth game back since February. He’s starting to find his legs and find his confidence. His endurance to play 38 minutes and chase D-Fox around all game. You love to see it.”

Wiggins spent more time guarding Fox than anyone else on the Warriors, covering the All-Star point guard for 6:47 of game time. In that time, Fox shot 5-of-11 from the field and 2-of-5 from deep, but Wiggins also recorded two blocks.

As for Wiggins’ overall performance, he finished the game with some solid statistical numbers. He dropped 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one steal, and four blocks. Wiggins shot 7-of-12 from the field and 1-of-3 from behind the three-point line.

Warriors’ Kevon Looney Praises Andrew Wiggins

Curry isn’t the only Warrior to have given Wiggins some major praise since his return from injury. When asked about how Wiggins has come back in such great shape since his return, Golden State big man Kevon Looney had nothing but kind things to say about his teammate.

“No, Wiggs is a super-athlete, super-human type of dude,” Looney said laughing via NBC Sports Bay Area.  “He’s the type of guy who doesn’t really miss games. A guy who can just roll out of bed and can probably do an East Bay or 360 windmill. So it didn’t shock me that [he was in shape]. He really takes care of his body, he watches what he eats, he does all the small things so it didn’t surprise me when he came back and was already in tip-top shape and he’s ready to step right in and play high-level basketball.”

Warriors’ Draymond Green Discusses End of Game 4

In the final moments of Game 4, Fox had the ball, but when he was stopped, he dished it to Harrison Barnes, who missed what would have been the game-winner. During the following edition of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” Draymond Green broke down the final play of the game.

“We know what Fox does in that situation,” Green said. “Most importantly, you can’t let him beat you there, which was my mindset. He got the ball, he was looking to make his move, [I] tried to get the ball out of his hands because you don’t just win Clutch Player of the Year being average. You’ve been in enough of those situations to show what you do in those situations. He got an award that was well deserved so I know in that situation what he’s trying to get to. And I came to help and Steph reacted immediately, went and get a contest on Harrison’s shot, and Harrison missed.”

Stephen Curry nearly cost the Golden State Warriors their Game 4 win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday afternoon. The star guard called a timeout with 42.4 seconds to play in the fourth quarter, when the Warriors had already used all seven of theirs for the game. Curry’s mistake resulted in a turnover, as well as a technical free throw for the Kings.

Golden State was able to hold on for the 126-125 victory, after Sacramento’s Harrison Barnes failed to knock down an open 3-point attempt to take the lead.

Following the series-tying win, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr discussed the near-catastrophic error by his superstar guard, taking blame for the mishap.

“As we’re exiting the huddle, that’s on me. I gotta remind the guys we’re out of timeouts,” Kerr said via the NBA Interviews YouTube channel. “I didn’t say that, and so Steph wasn’t aware. so that’s on me for not making that clear. And then on that play we had all four of the other guys running to the other end and they hit Steph in the backcourt, we didn’t have a trail man. We gotta handle the pressure better late game, take care of the ball. The timeout is 100% on me.”

Stephen Curry Discusses Mistake After Warriors Beat Kings

Curry actually took time to break down what he was thinking when he called a timeout that the Dubs didn’t have. He explained that he hadn’t realized that Golden State lost their final timeout when they lost their coach’s challenge late in the fourth quarter.

“I knew we challenged but I didn’t realize when we lost the challenge that we didn’t have any timeouts left,” Curry confessed, via House of Highlights.

The 35-year-old added that he actually felt like he’d made a brilliant decision to call the timeout, rather than trying to beat Sacramento’s trap defense.

“I ain’t gonna lie — I thought it was the smartest play in the world. When I got the ball, turned around, saw a trap, I realized there were no real outlets,” Curry said of the play. “Instead of turning it over, [calling a timeout] is kind of the heady play but it turned out not to be. I looked over at the bench and everybody was shaking their head…Thankfully, we came away with the win, but good learning lesson on how important all those details are… knowing timeouts, knowing the situation. It was just an unfortunate sequence right there.”

Draymond Green Praises Jordan Poole After Warriors Beat Kings

Curry actually lineup alongside two other guards, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole, in the starting lineup Sunday, as starting forward Draymond Green elected to come off the bench for Game 4.

Prior to tipoff, reports had surfaced of the lineup change, with indication that Green was indeed in on Golden State’s shift.

After the win, he cited Poole’s strong play as part reasoning for the adjustment.

“When I watch basketball, I’m studying,” Green explained via the NBA Interviews YouTube channel. “And I studied that game. And I saw what was working, and we won. So, I’m a firm believer in, if something isn’t broke, you don’t fix it. And our offense was rolling, and we played good defensively. Really good defensively. So, I didn’t want to come back and just shake things up because I’m back. That’s not right. Jordan went out there. He played well. We played well. He earned it. And our team earned that.”

It was the best of times and the worst of times for Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry during Sunday’s Game 4 bout with the Sacramento Kings at Chase Center. On the one hand, his 32-point effort paced the club to a series-tying win and further shifted the momentum in the favor of the Bay Area crew.

On the other, well — he totally pulled a Chris Webber.

While attempting to avoid a deftly-executed trap from Mike Brown’s squad, Curry called a timeout to give his team a better opportunity to work its offense. Unfortunately, the Warriors were already out of timeouts after head coach Steve Kerr had made an ill-fated challenge of a Kevon Looney offensive foul.

As a result, Sacramento got a free throw and a three-point bucket they wouldn’t have otherwise. And, had a Harrison Barnes jumper just before time expired landed an inch or so in a different direction, the Dubs would currently be stuck in a 1-3 hole.

Following the contest, Curry made little attempt to justify his actions in the situation.

Warriors’ Steph Curry Breaks Down His Big Error During Game 4 vs Kings

Speaking to reporters after the 126-125 win, Curry let it be known that he understood the Warriors had lost their challenge and, in turn, a timeout in the moments leading up to his TO snafu. Clearly, though, he failed to finish out the equation.

“I knew we challenged but I didn’t realize when we lost the challenge that we didn’t  have any timeouts left,” Curry confessed, via House of Highlights.

So, in his ignorance, he made what he believed was the right move where protecting the Warriors’ two-possession lead was concerned.

“I ain’t gonna lie — I thought it was the smartest play in the world. When I got the ball, turned around, saw a trap, I realized there were no real outlets,” Curry said of the play. “Instead of turning it over, [calling a timeout] is kind of the heady play but it turned out not to be. I looked over at the bench and everybody was shaking their head…”

Embarrassing though the sequence of events was for him, the nine-time All-Star is looking back on it now as an opportunity to be better the next time out.

“Thankfully, we came away with the win, but good learning lesson on how important all those details are… knowing timeouts, knowing the situation. It was just an unfortunate sequence right there.”

Moses Moody’s Mom Gives Fan a Shout-Out

After failing to get the big bump in minutes and overall role that many were expecting him to see during the regular season, Moses Moody flashed his potential during the Dubs’ Game 3 win over Sacto on Thursday, scoring 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting in 16 minutes of action and logging a plus-17 on the right side of the plus/minus column.

As big as the effort was for the former No. 14 overall pick, though, it was at least equally as important for his mother, Rona Moody, who was watching from the stands. Moreover, Ma Moody was able to see a fan wearing her son’s jersey just a few rows in front of her, an occurrence that meant a lot to her.

“I’ve worn my son’s jersey every single game for two seasons straight to make sure that there was at least one in the arena every game. Planning to continue until I start to see others wearing it….. well I guess it’s happening,” Rona tweeted, along with a picture of the fan.

The Golden State Warriors officially have a new lease on playoff life, having absorbed blow after blow from a brilliant Sacramento Kings offense on Sunday to prevail in Game 4 of their first-round series, 126-125. In another timeline, though, the Dubs are probably in a 3-1 hole right now.

Stephen Curry logged another MVP-type performance, scoring 32 points, hitting five three-point bombs and adding five boards, four assists and a steal to lead his team to a series-tying win. But he nearly gave the game away down the stretch by making a critical error.

With just over 42 ticks remaining in quarter No. 4 and the Warriors clinging to a five-point lead, Curry called a timeout, presumably to avoid a Kings trap and allow his team a beat to get settled while head coach Steve Kerr drew up a play. The only problem with that — Golden State had no timeouts left.

As a result, the Kings received a technical free throw (which they made) and possession of the ball (which ex-Warrior Harrison Barnes used to sink a 28-footer, making it a one-point game). Flash forward to the final seconds and Barnes had a chance at a game-winner, but his attempt ultimately clanged off of the iron.

The sequence hearkened back to one of the most infamous plays in hoops history; one involving Kings legend — and another former Warrior — Chris Webber, whose name was trending on Twitter immediately following Steph’s slip-up.

The Internet Was Aghast After Warriors’ Stephen Curry Did His Best Chris Webber Impression

While Curry called a timeout he didn’t have and lived to tell the tale, Webber wasn’t so lucky. Thirty years ago this month, the big man was representing the Michigan Wolverines in the NCAA championship game and his team was trailing 73-71 when he called a timeout with just 11 seconds remaining.

As with Steph and the Warriors in Game 4, the Wolverines had no timeouts remaining, so a technical foul was assessed, Michigan ceded possession and the championship win was essentially clinched for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Needless to say, Twitter is currently alight with callbacks to Webber’s epic clutch fail.

“Warriors almost lost because of a tribute to Warriors and Kings legend Chris Webber, I am sick,” read one tweet.

“When you pull a Chris Webber but STILL FIND A WAY TO GET THE W!” another fan raved.

“[Curry] got away there with the ‘Chris Webber’ timeout. Then missed the last late game clutch shot. But great defense and choice to leave [Barnes] open there who could [have] had his moment there against his former team. WHAT. A. GAME,” declared a third commenter.

“I love that they just got done explaining how the Warriors are showcasing how they are the veteran team here with their savvy and then Steph pulls a Chris Webber,” another tweeter mused.

Steve Kerr Takes the Blame for Steph Curry’s Error

In the wake of the win, Kerr made it clear that everyone could use an ally (or a fall guy) like him in their lives. During his postgame media availability, the Dubs play-caller took full responsibility for Steph’s mix-up.

“It was 100% my fault,” Kerr said, via NBC Sports Bay Area.

“I knew we didn’t have any timeouts left. We took the challenge [on a Kevon Looney foul earlier in the quarter] and when the challenge was unsuccessful, as we were exiting the huddle… that’s on me. I’ve got to remind the guys, ‘We’re out of timeouts,’ but I didn’t say that so Steph wasn’t aware.

“That’s on me for not making that clear. And then, on that play, we had all four of the other guys running to the other end and they hit Steph in the backcourt, we didn’t have a trail man. So, we’ve got to handle the pressure better late-game…”

The Golden State Warriors bounced back in Game 3 of their playoff series against the Sacramento Kings, bringing it to 2-1. Golden State managed to get things done even without Draymond Green, who was suspended after his altercation with Domantas Sabonis in Game 2.

When the decision to suspend Green was announced by the NBA, the Warriors were very unhappy, and they voiced their displeasure. Stephen Curry also stated his frustrations with the decision, calling out the league for what he believed to be an incorrect choice.

“Understanding how bad of a decision I think the league made on suspending him, you’re frustrated with that,” Curry said via Kendra Andrews of ESPN. “We have a job to do and there’s nothing we can do about it… We obviously understand the consequences of if we lost tonight, and nobody wanted to feel that.”

Curry led the charge in Game 3, helping the Warriors pick up a win over the Kings without Green available. The superstar point guard dropped 36 points to go along with six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block. He shot 12-of-25 from the field and 6-of-12 from deep.

Green will be back in the lineup for Game 4 against the Kings. The Warriors will be looking to even the series on their home floor–where they have been nothing short of dominant this season. Failing to do so could lead to a disastrous Game 5, as the Warriors will be heading back out on the road–where they have been terrible.

Warriors’ Draymond Green Discusses Suspension

In his first statement since the suspension, Green spoke about the decision on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.” The NBA’s decision was made in part due to Green’s past actions, and Green made it his mission to point out the foolishness of that concept.

“I never knew you could be suspended for a flagrant two that happened seven years ago,” Green said. “And I also didn’t know you could get suspended for interacting with a crowd that’s flipping you double birds and yelling your name and chants that you suck. I didn’t know that either. Saying that, my guys played well… Being suspended from a game at this point in my career, it will never affect me from an emotional standpoint outside of… not being able to participate in that dogfight.”

Warriors Upset With Draymond Green Suspension

In addition to Green’s comments, the team itself made it clear that they were not happy with the NBA’s decision to suspend Green. When the news came out, ESPN’s Zach Lowe unveiled that the Warriors disagreed with the choice. On top of that, they made it clear that they believe Sabonis is playing dirty and using the ball as a weapon.

“There is some anger within the organization toward the league,” Lowe said on the April 19 edition of “The Lowe Post” podcast. “There’s a sense in the organization that Sabonis is shoving people on offensive rebounds and playing with his elbows out and using the ball as a weapon on offense.”