Steph Curry shares thoughts on Warriors offseason inactivity at annual basketball camp

MENLO PARK – Standing in front of a backdrop emblazoned with his name and signature logo at his annual “Curry Camp” on the Peninsula, Steph Curry made it very clear on Thursday that he was not bothered by the Warriors’ quiet offseason. 

“It’s different, for sure,” Curry admitted, before adding, “But my confidence is built upon the way we were able to play over the last third of the regular season last year and the playoff journey.”

Before he began coaching some of the best high school basketball players on both the boys and girls side, Curry further explained his rationale. 

“We have a really good team, and we need some pieces to get us to the next level,” Curry continued. “I think with our veteran presence that we have, with Jimmy (Butler) and Draymond Green, we understand how to prepare through that uncertainty and be able to hit the ground running in training camp, knowing we should have some movement by then.”

The Warriors remain the only team in the NBA to not make a single roster move since the start of free agency. The regular season begins on Oct. 21.  

Golden State is still awaiting a resolution to the Jonathan Kuminga situation, something Curry did not discuss during his 15-minute media availability. With the restricted free agent still in limbo after the Warriors tendered a qualifying offer he has until Oct. 1 to accept.   

But Curry, 37, emphasized that what happens – or does not happen – with the roster is outside of his control, and that “you control what you can control.”

So what can Curry control? His effort as he prepares for the start of the season. 

As he approaches 40, the All-NBA guard and future Hall of Famer has changed the way he works out in the summer, doing less on-court work and focusing more on fitness. 

“Most work feels harder, which is kind of fun, because you have to kind of meet that level (of intensity) as you get older, because you’re still trying to play at a high level,” Curry said. 

As Curry’s illustrious career enters its twilight, the bright-eyed and supernaturally athletic high schoolers who donned practice jerseys are just starting theirs. 

Alumni of the camp include rsing Rockets star Amen Thompson, Sparks standout Cam Brink, and current UConn superstar Azzi Fudd, who returned as an assistant coach. 

Among the current crop were top senior boys prospect Baba Oladotun and Ontario Christian sophomore girls sensation Tati Griffin, and all 34 of them (17 boys and girls) hung onto each word Curry and his old college coach Bob McKillop spoke. 

They were taught in the selfless style of Curry, dribbling combos and isolation fadeaways replaced with lessons on how to move without the ball.  

Standing alongside Curry was McKillop, 75, the Davidson icon barking instructions with the vigor of a man 30 years younger. He implored the players to discard the mechanical moves drilled into them by skill trainers, asking them to use ‘imagination’ like the camp’s namesake. 

“Imagination is greater than knowledge, imagination encircles the world, and that’s what he does, because he has great imagination,” McKillop told the Bay Area News Group. “He is always thinking, seeing, hearing, and that’s an incredible capacity to have.”

Back when McKillop met Curry, the guard was just another teenager to be taught. Now, the longtime coach watched with pride as Curry, unbothered by an innactive yet turbulent offseason, took on the role of mentor. 

“You have to be a quick study to continue to get better and elevate your game, and you have to be able to ask questions, learn about the intangibles about what it looks like to be a professional, Curry said. “We hope to give them that small toolkit over these sessions.”