"Trying to do the same things as he's doing": Carlos Alcaraz says he tries emulating Steph Curry in his sport
Carlos Alcaraz had flowers for Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry. The Spaniard heaped praise on the four-time NBA champion in an interview on ESPN during the US Open. Alcaraz opened his tournament with a win against Li Tiu in the first round and now gears up for a second-round skirmish against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.
In the interview, Alcaraz explained he wanted to do what Curry did for basketball, and how it was a tough job to maintain a consistent level of success.
"I've watched Steph Curry play in real life... I'm trying to do the same things as he's doing in the basketball court, but it is difficult. Probably same games, same feelings that we try to put joy on games."
Curry is coming off a successful Team USA debut, winning the gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 36-year-old now gears up for a tough 2024-25 season with a new-look Warriors unit.
Can Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors win the championship this 2024-25 NBA season?
Klay Thompson's departure to the Dallas Mavericks surely serves as bad news for the Golden State Warriors. The four-time NBA champion's exit will add more pressure on Steph Curry to spearhead the team's offense, and with new faces Buddy Hield and Kyle Anderson, there will be an adjustment period that both the star and the team will have to go through.
ESPN's latest win projections see the Warriors at No. 8 with a 45-37 record. In a stacked Western Conference, a 40+ win record doesn't necessarily guarantee a playoff berth. While Golden State's front office has made some moves to fill Thompson's void, none of them guarantee a title run.
Curry and the Warriors had a disappointing 2023-24 season, failing to make the playoffs. The team is already two seasons removed from winning a championship. With the guard entering his final years, the franchise will look to make some midseason moves that will elevate the Warriors to be title contenders.
Earlier, Curry fueled trade rumors when he replaced the Warriors with "Olympics gold medalist" on his Instagram bio, but the speculations fizzled out soon after. At the time of writing, the sharpshooter is expected to suit up for the Dubs.
It remains to be seen if the front office can add the right pieces and, perhaps, a big name alongside its franchise superstar as it guns for another championship.