NBA
Kerr backs Curry to make Team USA Olympic debut in 2024
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr admitted he would "be interested" in coaching Team USA at Paris 2024, where Stephen Curry could finally make his Olympic debut.
Stephen Curry could finally make his Olympic debut for Team USA at the Paris Games in 2024, and his Golden State Warriors coach, Steve Kerr, would like to see that happen.
Team USA secured its 16th Olympic gold medal at Tokyo 2020 last week in the absence of Curry, who has - for one reason or another - never represented the USA at the Olympics.
But that could change come 2024, with Curry, who will be 36 by the time the next edition of the Games rolls round, having expressed interest in participating for Team USA in Paris.
Discussing the possibility of his participation at the 2024 Olympics, Warriors coach Kerr said he believes Curry would be motivated by the fact that it is the only achievement left pending for the seven-time All Star to cap off his decorated career.
Kerr: Curry at Paris 2024 “would be great thing”
"I don't think I even need to advise Steph on any of that. Because he's been through the World Cup experience at least once, I think twice, if I'm not mistaken. So he's competed at the highest level internationally," Kerr said (via The Athletic).
"The Olympics is probably the only thing left on his list of basketball accomplishments. He's achieved everything else. I think that would be great if he was interested in '24. I think that'd be a great thing for him to pursue if he wanted to do it."
Curry, LeBron, Harden all sat out Tokyo 2020
Curry is among several all-time NBA greats to have never represented the US at the Olympics, along with 12-time All-Star Isiah Thomas and Chicago Bulls legend Dennis Rodman.
Having not been selected for London 2012, Curry withdrew from the Rio 2016 roster, citing ankle and knee issues as the main factor in his decision.
Ahead of this summer’s Games, the 33-year-old opted to forego the chance of Olympic glory due to the short turnaround time until the start of the new NBA season.
Fellow NBA superstars, the Brooklyn Nets’ James Harden and LeBron James of the LA Lakers, also sat out Tokyo 2020.
Kerr "interested" in coaching Team USA in 2024
Perhaps Harden and Curry (LeBron will be a bigger 'maybe' considering he will be 39) will both be on the roster in 2024, by which time a new head coach will have been drafted in to replace the incumbent Gregg Popovich.
Having served as Popovich's number-two in Tokyo, Kerr admitted he would be honored to be the man to lead Team USA at Paris 2024.
"Of course I'd be interested," Kerr said. "I mean, who wouldn't be? I'll leave it at that. I have no idea how it will all transpire; there are a lot of great candidates out there. And if I were to be considered, that would be an honor."