Let’s be honest, preseason basketball is usually about as exciting as watching paint dry. It’s a time for rookies to get their feet wet, for veterans to shake off the rust, and for fans to collectively hold their breath hoping nobody gets injured over a game that means absolutely nothing. But then there’s Stephen Curry. The man who can apparently turn even the most meaningless contest into a must-see event.
In the Golden State Warriors’ recent preseason matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers, Curry decided to remind everyone that he’s not just some aging superstar coasting into his 15th season. No, he’s still the guy who can single-handedly make you question the laws of physics. In just 27 minutes—less time than it takes to get through a season finale of your favorite show—Curry dropped a cool 28 points, snagged 6 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists. You know, just a casual night at the office.
Did Steph Curry Get a Referee Upgrade This Season?
One of the most bewildering stats from the night wasn’t his four three-pointers, which for him is practically a warm-up. It was his free throws. Curry went to the line a staggering 13 times, sinking 12 of them. Let that sink in. Last season, he had only one game where he shot 13 or more free throws. Suddenly, in a preseason game, the refs decided to start calling fouls? The NBA world just about lost its mind.
Social media exploded with a mix of shock and pure, unadulterated joy. One user on X (formerly Twitter) screamed, “STEPH GOT 9 FREE THROWS AT HALFTIME FINALLY GETTING FOUL CALLS 😭🙏”. Another pointed out the absurdity: “Steph Curry all last season: One game of 13+ free throws. Steph Curry tonight: 12 of 13 on free throws.” It felt like seeing a unicorn. A very, very good free-throw-shooting unicorn. Is this a sign of things to come, or just a beautiful, fleeting preseason mirage? We can only pray it’s the former.
Still a Walking Highlight Reel
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Steph Curry show without at least one play that makes you rewind your screen a dozen times. He pulled off one of his signature, ridiculously slick behind-the-back moves that went viral almost instantly. It’s the kind of move that reminds you why people pay good money to watch this man play. As one fan perfectly put it, “Only Steph Curry can make a meaningless preseason first quarter fun.” He wasn’t just playing basketball; he was cheffin’, as ClutchPoints so eloquently described it.
He wasn’t just putting on a show for the sake of it, either. His performance was ruthlessly efficient. He was clearly the best player on the court—shocker, I know—and showcased some promising chemistry with rookie Quinten Post. It seems Curry is already in mid-season form, which should send a shiver down the spine of every other team in the league. While everyone else is still figuring out their rotations, Curry is out here playing like it’s Game 7 of the Finals.
So, while we all try to temper our expectations because, again, it’s just preseason, it’s hard not to get a little hyped. If this is what a “hot start” to his 15th season looks like, the league is officially on notice. The Chef is back in the kitchen, and it looks like he’s ready to cook up something special this year. Everyone else is just an ingredient.
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