Curry gives girls their shot
NBA star provides guidance, time at free Warriors camp
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. —
Just like Steph, seventh-grader Amanda Kerner stood before a big crowd and knocked down shot after shot from five different spots — 20 makes in 2 1/2 minutes, complete with a buzzer-beater.
For one afternoon, Stephen Curry ensured that 200 girls in his basketball camp had as real a chance as possible to try to be a little bit like him, down to the fancy dribbling work and competitive shooting drills he does daily alongside Kevin Durant.
Curry went nuts for Kerner’s success.
Her summer? Absolutely made. “It was the best thing in my life that ever happened,” the 12-yearold said, recalling her thrilling moment. “He was jumping around afterward. He seemed really excited. He slammed the ball on the floor. He’s the best shooter in the world, and I want to be like him. So to see him supporting girls, it’s really cool.”
For the first time, Curry hosted all girls for a free, Warriors-run camp Monday and Tuesday at Walnut Creek’s Ultimate Fieldhouse. Last week at the same facility that he has also chosen in recent years, the Golden State star held his Under Armour “Stephen Curry Select Camp” with two of the nation’s top high school girls playing mixed right in with the best boys.
The two-time MVP and father of two young daughters has made it his mission to better support the girls’ game. He asked longtime Warriors camp director Jeff Addiego to plan an all-girls session this summer.
That gesture goes a long way with everyone Curry influences as he takes a giving approach off the court in the offseason. After two straight NBA titles and three in four years, Curry easily could be spending more time at home with newborn son, Canon, working on his own skills, or even improving his golf game.
“Anytime you have a guy of Steph’s notoriety, his caliber of play, everything that he has going, to take the time to do this and do it for all girls, it just speaks volumes,” said Olympic gold medalist and former WNBA star Jennifer Azzi, who coached at the University of San Francisco and is now the NBA’S global director of special initiatives.
After Kerner’s remarkable shooting performance, Curry brought her up in front of the other campers to talk about the triumph and then signed a pair of his custom shoes for her. She had been camper of the week at a session two years ago in San Ramon, so Kerner received an invite to this camp based on past participation.
“It was special,” Curry said.
“We had four girls go through the shooting drill. They had to make two in a row from five spots around the court and back. The first three girls, two of them made it to the top of the key on the way back but didn’t make it all the way around. Amanda got up, she made her first four practice shots. I was worried she wasted all her makes in the practice, so when the actual competition started, the timer started, she made it around to the left wing and got a little cold and the time started ticking. It was kind of one of those photo finishes. She made eight in a row to finish off the last four spots and the last one was at the buzzer. So we had one girl finish the competition, which was a perfect way to end my segment, end the day at camp. And for Amanda, I know that’s probably a highlight that she’ll remember for a long time.”
When someone of Curry’s stature insists your shot is top-notch, it means everything.
Kayla Mcbride said Wednesday. “We know that. We’re going to prepare as best we can. … Rest up and go to war.”
The Wings are reeling, to say the least, and figure to be every bit as desperate as the Aces.
They’ve lost nine consecutive games, fired coach Fred Williams on Sunday and will close the regular season at the top-seeded Seattle Storm on Sunday.
Still, Dallas boasts two of the league’s best players in Liz Cambage and Skylar Diggins-smith, and both feasted on the Aces this season.
“We can’t let up,” Wilson said. “We can’t breathe.”
Coach Bill Laimbeer isn’t letting that happen.
Granted, he didn’t know if his team would be any good when he took the job and simply hoped to compete at a high level during its inaugural season in Las Vegas. Maybe play spoiler at year’s end. But here the Aces are.
Win or go home.
“I didn’t know what I had at the start of the season,” Laimbeer said. “I had never coached most of these players before. I really didn’t have any expectations.”
He knows now — a potential playoff team.