This past weekend, both the US Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams took the gold in the Paris Olympics.
There was a time when the US teams were just expected to roll over the competition. But not any more. Professional basketball has expanded to be global, and teams from European countries are filled with NBA and WNBA players.
The men’s team is loaded with outstanding talent–from LeBron James and Kevin Durant to Anthony Davis and Joel Embiid. Yet, the US nearly lost the semi-final game to Serbia, then ran into the same situation in the final gold medal game on Saturday.
What saved them? A Curry flurry.
Steph Curry, playing in his first and perhaps only Olympics, took charge and pushed his team to victory nearly by himself. The holder of the record for most made three-point shots in history hit his stride in the two games that counted, scoring 60 points, while making an incredible 17 of 26 3-pointers. His teammates, the competition, and the crowd were all amazed.
Curry hadn’t shot as well in the first few games of the Olympics. Perhaps that was because the 3-point line is significantly closer in European basketball and this appeared to throw off his shot. But he adjusted and stepped back to sink one shot after another, making it look easy and effortless—and clearly enjoying himself as he did it.
No matter what the competition throws at him, Curry stays calm. When conditions change, he adjusts his game accordingly. And he does it while cheering on his teammates and respecting his competitors.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could throw a little Curry sauce into the rest of our lives?
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