Star Warriors guard Steph Curry wasn’t just an iconic scorer for Team USA men’s basketball during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
He also was a phenomenal teammate and leader — just ask Tyrese Hailburton.
The 25-year-old face of the Indiana Pacers and fellow Team USA guard shared how Curry mentored him during the Olympics in Thursday’s edition of “The Young Man and The Three” podcast with filmmaker Spike Lee.
“He is so unbelievable the way he can like, he remembers people, he cares about people,” Haliburton told Lee. “I mean, I just, I can’t say enough good things about Steph. And then, like, through the Olympic experience, for me, I didn’t play a ton, so a lot of it was for me to learn, and pick guys’ brains, and Steph was just that guy for me.”
As he said himself, Haliburton didn’t play much during Team USA’s successful quest for gold.
But Curry still admirably took the up-and-comer under his wing and showed him what it’s like to dominate on the sport’s biggest international stage.
Curry led the Americans to glory after scoring 60 points over the team’s final two games, sinking eight 3-point shots — including the “Golden Dagger” — in the dramatic gold medal game win over Victor Wembanyama and Team France.
It is no wonder that Haliburton soaked in every moment with Curry.
“After every practice, I’m like, ‘I got to work out with Steph,’” Haliburton said. “I got to do what he’s doing and kind of take things from him, and he was always like, before he would start, if I’m on the other end of the gym, he’ll be like, ‘Come on, Ty, we’re going to work out.’ So for me, I can’t say enough good things about him.”
Haliburton took Curry’s mentorship and ran with it based on his performance during the ensuing 2024-25 NBA season.
He led the underdog Pacers to the NBA Finals, where Indiana lost to the deep-rostered Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games. Haliburton, of course, tore his right Achilles tendon early in Game 7, exiting what always will be remembered as a “what-if.”
Curry’s influence and mentorship clearly have rubbed off on Haliburton. And no one is doubting the Pacer’s ability to recover — after he’ll miss the 2025-26 season — and reassume his role as franchise cornerstone.
Surely Curry, who has dealt with his fair share of injuries over his 16-year Golden State career, has more advice for Haliburton as his journey continues, too.
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