In a recent interview with GQ Magazine, Steph Curry revealed the day he inherited Kobe Bryant’s killer instinct and the power to become the most deadly offensive force in the NBA. Actually, it’s just a story about a rookie getting scared shitless by a legend who loves to pick on rookies…vets…teammates…and any and everything that breathes.
Skipper: “This being Kobe’s last All-Star game, do you have a favorite Kobe memory?”
Curry: “Our rookie year we were playing at Oracle and they had a 3-point lead down the stretch. He got fouled, going to the free throw line to ice the game with two free throws. As he’s walking from one end of the court to the other, I’m this rookie that’s just kind of living in the moment and I walk up to him as he’s walking to the free throw line: “Hey, man, you nervous about these free throws?” The look he gave me was so just mean and cold. Just like, “What are you talking about? Get out of my face, you dumb rookie.” He obviously made the two free throws and they won. I’ll remember that look he gave me forever.”
Actually, if Curry is referring to the final 10 seconds of the March 15th of 2010 game, Kobe missed 1 of the two free throws. Oh well, the story sounds better with Kobe making both.
Kobe might not have given Curry any love back then but has given Curry a lot of props in the past few years. Sometimes in the form of a pat on the butt.
Or even a riddle on Twitter.
When the shots u take r the shots the defense wants u to take but r the shots ur comfortable taking #curryriddle
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) May 22, 2015
ROOKIE CURRY VS KOBE/LAKERS
So, how did the Chef do during his rookie season against the Lakers?
The first time he got to step on a court with Kobe was on November 28th of 2009. Curry scored 13 points and dished out 8 assists in a 33-point loss. Kobe had 20 points, 5 boards, 5 dimes, and 5 steals.
The next game came on December 29th, 2009. Curry played just 23 minutes and finished with 15 points and 3 assists while Kobe exploded for 44 points and 11 assists as the Lakers won 124-118.
Steph flirted with a triple-double (11/10/8) in his 3rd meeting with the Lakers, but still lost by 10, even though LA played without Kobe.
The 4th and final meeting is when the story Steph told happened. The Lakers won 124-121 despite Curry’s 29 points and 9 assists; Kobe also had 29.
STEPH CURRY’S ROOKIE YEAR
Some random facts and observations about Steph’s first NBA season
- Did not make a three in his NBA debut (14 PTS, 7 AST, 4 STL, 0/1 3PT)
- Made a total of 40 3PTS in the first 3 months of the season (31 games)
- Scored a season-high 42 in the final game of the season
- Career-high 7 STL in the 5th to last game of the season
- First triple-double (36/13/10) in his 51st game
- He only had two games with over 5 3PTS (6 & 7)
- Came off the bench 3 times
- Finished 2nd in Rookie Of The Year voting. Tyreke Evans (63 1st place votes) | Curry (43 1st place votes)
- Salary: $2.7M