Steph Curry Comments on Lionel Messi Comparison, Warriors' Record Streak, More
Although Steph Curry and Lionel Messi are involved in different sports, comparisons are natural between these two superstars at the very top of their game. The former, the talisman of NBA outfit Golden State Warriors, thinks the parallels are fair.
Speaking with Roy Ward of the Age via the Sydney Morning Herald, Curry spoke frankly about what similarities there are between himself and the Barcelona magician, but his response was coy when asked about which of the pair has scaled greater heights:
I don't know—it's a chicken and egg kind of conversation.
We both have a creative style, a feel when you are out on the pitch or the court. I'm trying to do some fancy things out there with both hands, making crossover moves and having a certain flair to my game and that's definitely the style Messi has when he is out there in his matches.
I love watching him play, I'm a big fan and he's the guy you watch play because you never know what he is going to do at any particular moment. When he is on TV everyone is glued in because he can get the touch of the ball and something special can happen. You have to appreciate that kind of talent.
Messi returned to the Barcelona team for the first time since September in last weekend’s 4-0 dismantling of Real Madrid as a substitute. The Argentina skipper made his first start for the Blaugrana in midweek against Roma, helping the team hammer the Italian outfit 6-1 with a pair of fine goals.
As noted here by BT Sport Football, alongside team-mates Luis Suarez and Neymar, Messi has been magnificent in 2015:
Indeed, Barcelona are the dominant force in European football at the moment, as they seek to defend the Copa del Rey, La Liga and Champions League titles they won last season. Not too dissimilar to Curry’s Warriors at the moment, who are on a remarkable 16-game winning run in the NBA’s Western Conference and seeking to defend their league crown.
There are some wondering whether this team has the potential to beat the Chicago Bulls’ regular-season record of 72-10 from 1995-96. However, Curry has confirmed his team are keeping their feet very much on the ground.
“We were in that situation last year, I think we had already eclipsed the 60-win mark by April and we were trying to balance staying sharp and building chemistry with rest,” said Curry per Ward. “Coach Steve Kerr did a great job with managing that and pacing the whole year, keeping minutes down and we had a lot of games where some of the starters didn't play in the fourth quarter.”
If the 27-year-old had been playing throughout the fourth quarters of those games, you do wonder whether the Warriors may have bettered the Bulls’ mark. This season, Curry has been absolutely key to the remarkable standards set by this side, averaging a whopping 32.1 points per game so far.
Here’s a look at some of the best moments from the 2015 MVP, as Golden State extended their start to the season to 16-0 against the Los Angeles Lakers, per the NBA Twitter feed:
Curry also revealed he is looking forward to some challenges away from the NBA, with excitement starting to build ahead of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The Warriors man is adamant he wants to be part of Team USA for the showpiece and has happy memories of the iconic Brazilian city.
"I'm definitely excited to be part of the Olympic team," Curry said. “One, it would be a dream to come to Rio and play at the Olympics and, two, I went to Rio with my family when I was 18, we spent a week down there and had a great time. To go back and represent my country, play with all the other great NBA talent that's going to make up the Team USA roster will be special.”
There’s little doubt that both Curry and Messi are at the forefront of their respective sports currently, and it’s going to be intriguing to track the success of both as the season rolls on. But in terms of being revered in the all-time sporting stakes, the footballer, with four European Cups to his name, currently surpasses the basketball sensation, who has won just one championship.
At the moment, it’s looking like Curry and this Warriors team is well set to add another come the end of this campaign, although plenty can happen throughout a season. Another title followed up by Olympic gold would add plenty to the 27-year-old’s already illustrious legacy. [bleacherreport.com]
