By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Team USA already has a star-laden roster for the 2021 Olympic Games and that group of players could’ve been even stronger with Steph Curry on board.
Curry was called to join the national team, currently preparing for Tokyo in Las Vegas, but declined in a decision that he described as tough but not something he regrets.
“It was a hard decision,” Curry said per ESPN.” “Coming off of this season and the condensed schedule, the protocols and obviously where I’m at in my career, I do value the offseason, and I’m working back on the court, but to try to go and play and there’s just a lot that could happen. I respect every single guy that goes and plays that’s out there in Vegas and I wish them all the success and a gold medal to show for it.”
Curry is currently in Lake Tahoe to participate in the American Championship golf tournament. The NBA season was over for him in May 22 when the Golden State Warriors got eliminated by the Memphis Grizzlies in NBA’s Play-In tournament.
“It just wasn’t right for me. And I’m very confident in that decision. No regrets at all. Obviously being here I’m playing golf, having fun with my family. And that’s a personal thing,” Curry said.”
There were numerous reasons behind Curry’s decision to pass on the Olympics. It would’ve been his first-ever participation in the Games since he skipped 2016 with injury problems.
In 2010 and 2014, Curry was a member of the USA team that won gold medal in World Cup tournaments.
“You take everything into account,” Curry said. “I take how I’m feeling physically, mentally, what’s happening around the league, all those things, it’s not one specific reason or a part of it, but just knowing at the end of the day do I want to play or not? And the answer was no at the end of the day. And getting ready for next season, relatively quick turnaround is important to me and I have a plan of how to do that and get ready for when training camp starts.”