It's Super Whack Steph Curry Wont Play in the Olympics
Steph Curry announced yesterday that he will not participate in this summer's Olympics with team USA so that he can rest his knee for the upcoming NBA season and I think that's bull shit. I don't think Curry's absence will impact team USA's pursuit of Gold (still have Westbrook, Irving - 2014 World Championship MVP, and Lillard) but I do think Steph's making a huge mistake.
Olympic basketball is essentially an international showcase of American basketball dominance. It's pretty much a series of all-star games for the US against foreign challengers - albeit with a bit more defense. In fact, I would respect Steph's decision more if he had said he's sitting out because he just flat out doesn't feel like playing any defense this summer. I don't buy the knee excuse. If the Americans win gold, they will play 8 total games over the course of 3 weeks. Its fair to assume that at least half will be blowouts decided by the middle of the third quarter. Under that pretense, Steph would undoubtedly be pulled early in these games. International basketball is not nearly as physical or grueling as the NBA, plus its only 8 games, so I can't buy Steph's knee excuse.
Steph's going to regret this decision in 4 years. If the Olympics were an every-year event I wouldn't bat an eyelash to this, but they aren't. I understand that Steph is in his prime right now and its almost inconceivable to think in the future that he wont be as dominant as he is now, but a lot can change in 4 years. Don't let Steph's baby face fool you, he his 28 years old. So by the time the next Olympics roll around he will be 32. Less than half of the US's 2012 gold medal winning team are even on the preliminary roster for this summer's games, and of all 30 players in that pool only 2 - Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony - are 32 or older. This isn't to say that Steph won't make the team in 2020, it's just that he is throwing away an opportunity to play Olympic ball in his prime.
I'm shocked his agent and PR team are OK with this. There is no marketing strategy more powerful in the United States than representing your country. Just ask Lebron James, the most polarizing figure in sports, constantly scrutinized and bashed, becomes our infallible hero every 4 years. Steph has become America's sweetheart and I'm fairly confident that he doesn't need help landing endorsement deals, but becoming an American Olympian - and winning a gold medal - solidifies an athlete's place among the gods in our society.
Smh Steph.
