Stephen Curry flatters with his otherwordly shooting in NBA games. But there is also the pre-show. His warmup has become an attraction for fans. Hours before the Golden State Warriors play, his half-court shots, circus creations, and dribbling blitz tend to wow those present. To some though, it was “tangible”. As part of the Team USA select team Nigel Hayes-Davis found an opportunity to debunk the Chef’s methods. And Curry was obliged to share his methods.

In an interview with Tugce Candemir, Hayes-Davis, a forward for Fenerbahçe in Turkey detailed his experience of sharing the floor with  Team USA. He revealed how he would arrive early for his individual workout and later observe the likes of Curry and others prepare. He saw them all. LeBron James’ design was hard to replicate. But with Curry, he found it to be relatable. Likewise, after practice, he approached him, and the four-time champion spoke to him extensively.

“After practice it was just watching everyone. Like okay, practice is over what are you doing? Okay, what are you doing? And then zeroing in on Steph who I said I wanted to be around the most because Steph has and does I feel are more tangible for me to pick up because you know LeBron is 6’9″, one of one player of all time. It’s really hard to replicate that. I sat down with Steph for like an hour and a half two hours after the game and he was you know kind and generous enough to sit there with me. And I asked every question that I had that I could think of,” the 29-year-old said.

Stephen Curry gave him an entire guide in writing. That notebook now is one of his “most prized possessions”. During his time with the team, traveling for exhibitions, Nigel Hayes-Davis did get a chance to play briefly against Canada. It is sure to be an experience the former Laker will carry with him throughout his career.

The small forward had a brief NBA career. He was first picked up by the New York Knicks in 2017 but spent most of his time with their G-League affiliate. During that stint, he scored a career-high 37 points for the Westchester Knicks. In the subsequent months, he would sign with the Lakers, Raptors, and Kings playing a combined 9 games. Since then, he has laid out a successful career internationally, playing for sides such as FC Barcelona and Galatasaray.

Stephen Curry inspired Andreas Obst to eventually outshoot him

Just like Nigel Hayes-Davis, millions from around the world have watched Stephen Curry and been fascinated by his game. In particular, there was Germany’s Andreas Obst. The Germany stalwart first came to prominence when facing Team USA at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. He played a pivotal role in defeating the basketball giants, raining triples all night.

Then a year later, he got the chance to play them again. But this time his excitement was sparking. It was because he was facing the man who inspired him to hone his skills. After playing him, Obst let his feelings known. “I was really looking forward to it. He was my role model since I was growing up”.

Curry too recognised his skill. The Warriors ace spoke highly of his quick release and said he had observed him since last year. Later, the two met after the game, not only sharing a few words but apparently agreeing to shoot against one another in a three-point contest. As someone who has wired his game through Steph Curry’s game, it was the opportunity of a lifetime.

If they do have a three-point contest, who do you think would emerge victorious? Let us know your views in the comments below.