When the epidemic started last year, Curry, like many parents, tried to play a completely different role, and most of the time it was not very successful.
"I am basically a substitute teacher for my second-grade eldest daughter." Curry said when talking about Riley.
After leading the Warriors to the finals for five consecutive years and winning three championships, he enjoyed his time with his daughter, but Riley was not very enthusiastic.
"I always compare with her friends, when she seldom saw them. Therefore, I don't think I am a good study partner. " Curry said.
However, Curry looked back on that time and was filled with emotion.
"I have nine months to get myself back to my best. So now I am fine, playing on the court and enjoying what I am doing. " Curry said.
In the season when the regular season is becoming less and less important, this recovery energy is infectious and important. Curry's performance is even more important in the absence of many stars due to injury or load management, and the uneven lineup caused by continuous COVID-19 tests.
The Warriors may just be fighting for a playoff spot, but they have participated in half of the top ten NBA games this season. The ratings of their TV partner NBC Bay Area Sports increased 103% compared with last season. Last season, Curry played only five games because of injury.
His recent scoring record is a feast. From March 30th to April 20th, Curry scored more than 30 points in consecutive 1 1 games. On April 30, the Warriors-Celtics game attracted 2.5 million spectators at ABC, which was quite good even before it broke out.
When asked about his responsibility as one of the NBA facades, Curry said: "I am very clear that I am trying to do this."
That's why Curry was interviewed in Minnesota the day after the team beat the lone ranger. That's why Cole arrived at the hotel late at night and found Curry signing autographs for the fans.
"It was midnight and we had just landed from Minneapolis. There are probably 10- 15 fans outside the hotel. He went over and signed some names. He is such a guy. " Cole recalled.
Just a few nights ago, Cole talked about the lack of contact between the NBA and fans this season, playing in an empty arena, few friends and family watching the game, and traveling around the country in a tight schedule. Competition makes people feel lonely, but if you can work with Curry every day, your heart will not be so empty.
"This is the way he treats the game. No matter what happens, he brings happiness to everyone every day. He loves training, competition and process. This set the tone for the team. If the leader sets such a tone and the locker room is full of joy, then even if you have experienced a season like ours, you will feel happy. " Cole said.
Whether physically or psychologically, the experience of five finals exhausted them physically and mentally, even mentally, and paid a great price.
"I can feel the fatigue of the players, but we still want to compete for the championship. This is the stage we want to return to now. " Cole said.
Now I feel that the road is still very long. All-star guard Clay Thompson has been absent for two consecutive seasons due to injury. The role players of the Warriors are still very young and have no playoff experience.
"It's not easy to reach the final. There is no magic deal that can make us regain our competitiveness. The team we have had in the past seven years is one of the greatest lineups in NBA history. " Cole said.
So how did Curry play happily in a team vying for a playoff seat?
I still love basketball. Curry said.
Even if this team is only 1 wins and 7 losses in his absence, if it is a normal season, it may only be1wins and 72 losses in the end. At present, the Warriors still need to stabilize the tenth position in the West.
"Yes, if your career is long enough, you will basically experience everything. No matter what challenges you face, you must find a sense of purpose. " Curry said.
Curry found inspiration in the process of pursuing Excellence, and still looked for ways to break through those technologies that he was already very good at.
After the 20 18 Warriors won the championship, Curry participated in the filming of the documentary Curry vs Competition, in which he talked about his worship of golfer Tiger Woods.
"I've never seen him so killer instinct. He changed his swing, although he won six championships and three Grand Slams in four years, and then he changed his swing because he thought he could be better and more efficient. This is an inspiration that I will never be satisfied with. " Curry said in the movie.
Curry said that he had never met Woods personally, but he communicated with him on the phone. But Woods is still his biggest source of inspiration.
"Whenever you feel excluded, he always seems to find a way to prove you wrong or surprise you-but it's not surprising to him." Curry said, "He won the Masters two years ago, which is the craziest and most surprising story."
On February 23rd, Woods suffered multiple fractures in his leg in a car accident, which made people doubt whether he could continue to play golf. Curry expressed understanding.
"He still has a big mountain to cross, and people may reject him and ignore his reasonable opportunity to be competitive. What we are experiencing now is not as tortuous as what he experienced. But it can certainly be used for reference. When you are defeated at the top, people will really reject you. For me, they question my achievements or my personal abilities. " Curry said.
The last part-my thoughts-is the key to understanding Curry. He never thinks he is weak or not tall enough. He has never been surprised by the recent achievements of the Warriors.
"I know how hard I train and I know who the people around me are." Curry said.
He hopes to be a popular candidate for MVP this year and every year in the future. In this hot spring, Curry is making the final impact for MVP. According to ESPN data, Curry is the first player in history to average at least 35 points per game in a complete month, and has reached 50/40/90 in three shooting percentage. But he admits that it is difficult to surpass Jokic, Embiid and Paul.
"Yes, I think I should win the MVP. But even if you don't win many games, you should be included in the discussion and become the top five in the list. This recognition is a demonstration of my strength, no matter what the situation is every year. This in itself is a reward for the players, because we all know how difficult it is to really win the game and make everything go smoothly in a season. " Curry said.
For warriors such as Curry, they still remember how they won the championship and ruled the league a few years ago. The challenge they face is to find goals and happiness in the process of climbing to the top again.
In this season of losing contact with fans and getting tired easily, regretful losing will make people even more unhappy. So the outside world will think that this year's mediocre warriors are wasting Curry's last MVP season.
"He is really good, and we need to let him play to the extreme during this time. As a fan, you must enjoy what he has done, appreciate what he has done for the team, and then try to build the best team around him. This is not what we owe him, it is more like what we need to do. " Cole said.
When people first met Riley, she was only a two-year-old child, but she stole the show at her father's press conference. She is so lovely and lovable, just like those ambitious warriors. And it seems that this relationship will last for a long time.
But dynasties, like children, will soon grow up. Now that Riley is eight years old, she will choose her friend instead of her father. After the end of this season, Curry will make a major decision for his future in the Warriors. He can choose to renew his contract with the team during the offseason or become a free agent after the 20021-22 season.
Every time he mentions this topic, he will reiterate how important it is to play for the Warriors throughout his career.
"When you are in a championship team and want everyone to unite, it is a strong sense of urgency to continue the game, which is also appropriate. Obviously, if you have seen one last dance, you will find many changes in this alliance. Nothing can be predicted, but that's what makes it interesting. You have to believe in yourself and think that you are good enough and have enough ability to solve problems, "Curry said.
Warrior coach Cole was once one of the key members of the Bull Dynasty. At that time, Bulls coach Phil Jackson called the 1997-98 season "one last dance" of the team. This is a team with Jordan and Pippen as the core, but the reorganized role players have not proved themselves.
Cole often compares Curry with another cornerstone player in history, the legendary Duncan of the Spurs.
"The combination of humility and humor, and complete confidence on the court. This is a magical combination. Many players with a sense of humor and humility are usually players sitting at the end of the bench. " Cole said when comparing Curry and Duncan.
"So when you have a superstar with both qualities, it is very rare and very powerful."
But this season, Cole thinks Curry reminds him of his former teammate Jordan.
"He reminds me of Jordan, because you are used to his talent and Excellence, which has been integrated with all other qualities in him. Curry's performance has become a routine. It's crazy to say that, but because what Curry brings every day seems to come from another planet, you will start to expect him. This may be the purest sign of greatness. " Cole said.
Author: Ramona Shelbourne
Compile: Fontaine