Summer is a slow time for NBA news. So player podcasts are focusing on how hard it is to guard Stephen Curry.
Chef Curry been cooking for a long time pic.twitter.com/7cWKEOQ6qk
— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) August 2, 2023
On "Podcast P with Paul George," former NBA All-Star Kenyon Martin described the first time he faced Curry, as a New York Knick in 2013.
"Steph went crazy on us," Martin told George. "In and out, behind the back, in front of our bench men, and let thang scream."
Curry scored 54 points in that game, including 11-of-13 shooting from three-point range, plus seven assists and six rebounds. While the Knicks couldn't stop Curry, they did win the game.
In 2013, Stephen Curry dropped 54 points on 11-13 from 3 in New York
— Antonin (@antonin_org) February 22, 2021
Warriors will face the Knicks at MSG tomorrow pic.twitter.com/98NR0L52DZ
Martin's son KJ, now George's teammate on the Clippers, shared his own story of Curry going off against his Houston Rockets in 2022.
"He gave us 42," said Martin, but it was actually only 40. "First half he was s-----. We're like, 'Oh, he's taking this night off. Came out in the second half, had like 40." It was only 30, but it probably felt like that after Curry poured in 21 points in the fourth quarter.
George also talked about his own scorching by Chef Curry.
"I thought I was going to lock him up," explained George, a four-time All-Defensive team member. "I'm feeling good, I'm gonna put some length on him. I'm gonna get over those screens." And then Curry went for 50 points.
Steph Curry has scored 50 points against the Clippers, 41 PTS w 0 FTA thru 3 QTRS (3/16/23)
— SplashBrosMuse (@SplashBrosMuse) July 26, 2023
— 12th in his career, has tied Wilt for the most 50-point games after turning 30
— 1 of only 6 players in NBA history to record a 50-point game after turning 35pic.twitter.com/njw3FhpgCC
"Whatever our game plan was, we were scratching that by the middle of the first quarter," George continued.
Jeff Teague also talked about how hard he tried to stop Curry during a preseason game in China, only to have Steph go for 40 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
t34gu3 pic.twitter.com/uxD8yiovhy
— Erick Savage (@ErickSavage13) July 8, 2023
"I swear to God, I played the hardest defense of my life," recounted Teague, who didn't want to get embarrassed in front of the foreign fans. "I've never played this hard. Thibs (Coach Tom Thibodeau) after the game came up and said, 'That's the best defense you've ever played.' Steph Curry had 44."
Although it was actually 40 points, it was still a brutal moment for Teague.
"That's when I was like, I ain't playing defense no more," concluded Teague. "He's still getting 44 and I'm trying? F--- that."
That's Curry's brilliance. He's not just dominating games. Now he's dominating podcasts.
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