Stephen Curry and Warriors media day: Behind the scenes of the famous person’s ‘marathon’

SAN FRANCISCO — It was after a make-up artist dabbed him with pretend sweat however earlier than a director requested him to bark like a seal that Stephen Curry sustained a minor damage that just about lower his marathon media day duties quick Monday.

Of all issues, an overhead digital camera conked the famous person on the top throughout filming of a promo that was alleged to air on the Golden State Warriors scoreboard this season. Curry suffered what a crew spokesman later described as a “kink” in his neck.

Curry was wonderful by dusk and prepared for the primary follow by the point coaching camp opened Tuesday in Hawaii. However the damage was sufficient to require the eye of a Warriors coach and knocked out essentially the most sought-after attraction at media day for practically half-hour.

The unhealthy neck put a kink in Curry’s schedule too. He misplaced time he didn’t need to spare. By the point he returned to the insanity, Curry hustled from a radio station interview to a TV promo shoot to a crew picture op to one thing known as the “Hype Room” as if on a quick break.

Media day is only a tad completely different than it was in 2010.

“It’s developed loopy from my rookie yr to now,” Curry, a 16-year-veteran stated as he navigated a Chase Heart flooring. “You realize you’re in for a marathon.”

To offer an concept of what this annual ritual is like, the Warriors organized for The Athletic to tag together with Curry throughout what turned out to be an eventful morning. His unique itinerary included 22 stops over 4 hours, the utmost time allotted for an NBA media day per the collective bargaining settlement.

Alongside for the experience was Adonal Foyle, a former Warriors heart, who served as The Ghost of Media Days Previous. Foyle debuted in 1997 when essentially the most taxing factor he did was sit round a desk and chat with any reporter who stopped by for a quote.

Foyle reminisced a number of occasions about these bygone days, together with late within the day with Curry at his weariest.

“In my day, we’d be carried out by now. We’d be house,” Foyle stated with amusing.

“I hate these tales,” Curry cracked.

After which the two-time NBA MVP soldiered on, rolling his neck to maintain issues unfastened.

One in all Steph Curry’s stops on media day was the Hype Room to file clips for the scoreboard.

And … motion! pic.twitter.com/92zrV98i76

— Daniel Brown (@BrownieAthletic) October 3, 2024

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Each NBA crew hosts a media day. It’s an opportunity to kill a flock of birds with one stone. Reporters are there, positive, however within the fashionable age, a lot of the demand is inner. The Warriors’ digital groups, game-day operations and broadcast companions all want Curry for a couple of minutes, and it’s time he’ll now not have as soon as the common season is in full swing.

Already among the many most marketable faces within the sport, the 36-year-old in some way raised his profile with his supernova end on the Paris Olympics. Greater than ever his time, like his medal, is value its weight in gold.

Curry’s scheduled stops are mapped out with precision with to-do gadgets like NBA Picture Blue (3 min), NBA TV Dwell (6-8 min) and Social/Digital (10-12 min). These aren’t mere solutions: The timer begins ticking down like a shot clock as quickly as he enters a room.

As Curry begins this odyssey, Warriors public relations supervisor Cole Lawrence offers the famous person some reassurance by holding up a small bag. It’s stuffed with sweet, heavy on Skittles and Starbursts, in case of emergency.

“Good,’’ Curry tells him, “as a result of I’m going to crash about midway by means of.”

There are not any occasions at Chase Heart the day earlier than media day — no video games, no concert events — as a result of it takes 200 workers all day simply to construct the non permanent studios for recording content material. There are units on the principle courtroom, the follow courtroom and the courtside lounges.

“The rise in how media has developed over time is simply insane to me,” Foyle stated.

The primary cease is the NBC Sports activities Bay Space sales space, which handles native broadcasts. The affiliate wants Curry to movie a number of quick promotional spots, and first takes are suggested. “You could have 12 minutes, beginning now,” Lawrence stated.

This proves a leisurely strategy to start. Curry’s first act is sitting quietly whereas a producer performs “Roundball Rock,” the classic basketball ditty written by John Tesh that may return as NBC’s foremost theme track when the NBA begins airing video games once more on the community in 2025.

Curry’s job is to soak within the beats for just a few moments and share no matter recollections wash over him.

Pause.

“Yeah, I really like that track,” Curry stated for starters, bobbing his head to the music. “I’m considering of Michael Jordan proper now.”

NBC Sports activities Bay Space continued to faucet into Curry’s appearing skill by having him learn a scripted monologue aloud. Then an off-stage producer learn those self same traces whereas cameras captured Curry reacting to every phrase as in the event that they have been his inside ideas. He stroked his chin pensively, furrowed his forehead and nodded with understanding. On the final line — “The place am I? What is that this room?!” — Curry seemed round with large eyes, each startled and bewildered.

Lower!

“That’s nice vary,” the director stated.

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In a fast cease, Curry information a welcome again message for a sure notable former Warriors participant who will return with a brand new crew later this season. No spoilers, however what’s candy right here is that there is no such thing as a script. Curry merely seems into the digital camera and speaks from the center for 30 seconds or so.

As with most all the things Curry does on at the present time, there’s no must do it once more. He nails all the things with misleading ease, simply as he does with off-balance 3-pointers.

“Precisely,” Foyle stated, marveling at Curry’s appearing chops. “These should not straightforward issues when you don’t have the ability set. I keep in mind in faculty, one of many first issues I did was attempt some theater. I noticed that it is a ability you want. Now I inform each man, ‘You wish to play sports activities? Higher do some theater when you can. It doesn’t harm!’”

“However Steph, he’s nice at it. And you’ll inform he’s acted some, however most of it’s simply pure instincts.”

Curry’s effectivity at every station helps as a result of, even over 4 hours, there are not any timeouts. The schedule is so tight that Lawrence squirms at any time when somebody squanders just a few treasured seconds with chit-chat. “If individuals wish to take their time saying hello and getting caught up, that’s on them,” he stated.

So it’s a little bit of a intestine punch when, barely a half-hour into the proceedings, Curry was summoned again to the beginning line. There have been nonetheless some containers to test on his preseason bodily examination, which is in some way extra necessary than soundbites.

Curry was again in motion about 25 minutes later, though “motion” is an overstatement right here. He camped out in a chair the place a Hollywood make-up artist named Marta utilized pretend sweat to Curry’s face and arms. The concoction was made up largely of child oil gel. “It’s moisturizing,” Marta tells him.

The Ghost of Media Day Previous beheld this scene with amazement.

“We didn’t have this,” Foyle stated with amusing. “In the event that they wanted sweat, they’d inform us to run just a few sprints.”

Alas, that is the place the day takes a flip. Curry dribbled the ball on digital camera in entrance of a inexperienced display with out incident. However from behind the studio curtains, one thing went fallacious. Curry emerged from that station making an attempt to stretch his shoulder space, wincing as he prolonged his arms and craned his neck backward and forward.

“These are stuff you do if you’re warmed up,” Foyle stated. “I pulled three muscle tissue simply watching that.”

One in all these Media Day itineraries was for Adonal Foyle in 2003 and the opposite was for Steph Curry in 2024. See when you can spot the distinction. pic.twitter.com/FopA9OC8uV

— Daniel Brown (@BrownieAthletic) October 2, 2024

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Since blocked photographs grew to become an official stat for the 1973-74 season, Foyle is the Warriors’ all-time chief in blocked photographs by a large margin. The 6-foot-10 heart swatted away 1,140 photographs to tower above Joe Barry Carroll (836) and Draymond Inexperienced (818 and counting).

His historical past helps cross the time whereas Curry vanishes into the coach’s room for therapy. As a result of earlier on at the present time, Foyle heard the information that Dikembe Mutombo had died at 58.

“I wished to be that sort of shot blocker, so I revered him a lot,” Foyle stated.

Foyle additionally feared him. Extra particularly, he feared Mutombo’s signature celebration. “I simply didn’t need him to dam my shot as a result of he’s going to be wagging if he blocks your shot.”

Did he get you?

“Not that I keep in mind,” Foyle stated. “However there have been no cameras to show it.”

The “no cameras” joke appears unthinkable on at the present time, simply as Curry emerges with tons of of media members ready for him. “I’m good,” he stated, as we resumed our stroll across the labyrinth.

There’s a 10-minute cease labeled “Hype Room,” the place Curry largely wanders round beneath shiny, futuristic lights as a director shouts directions like a photographer at a mannequin shoot.

Perhaps a bit jersey shake … This seems nice … Perhaps sway backwards and forwards … a bit extra sway … I adore it. That is sick! … Now give me a double-point into the digital camera. … Can I get a night-night?”

It does look marvelous. Even higher, Curry escapes the Hype Room unscathed.

As we stroll away, Foyle, nearly beneath his breath, provides: “Are you sufficiently hyped?”

‘Yeah … that’s sick … love that.’

Steph Curry strikes a pose on Warriors media day. pic.twitter.com/PEOS6oIbeC

— Daniel Brown (@BrownieAthletic) October 3, 2024

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The time period media day is a little bit of a misnomer, as a lot of the press will get taken care of in a single fell swoop. Curry steps into the interview room for a 10-15 minute session that represents the one interview alternative for a lot of the 35 credentialed reporters on website. Media day is nearer to a media second.

The questions come like curveballs.

The primary query, from a France-based reporter asks, “You endorsed Kamala Harris on the DNC in August. What’s your thought on the marketing campaign?”

The second asks about the A’s baseball crew leaving Oakland “and what it means going ahead for the town?”

Later, “What did you consider (Steve) Kerr doing the ‘night-night’ on the DNC?”

Heck, there are even just a few basketball questions concerning the roster, his Olympic expertise, his contract extension and extra.

GO DEEPER

Stephen Curry sees a window of alternative for the Warriors: ‘It is nonetheless about successful’

Regardless of the matter, Curry solutions with grace and erudition and never a touch of the ums and ers or you is aware of that plague mere mortals when caught off guard on the dais.

Foyle is blown away once more. He labored for a number of years as a Warriors group ambassador and is aware of diplomacy when he sees it.

“It’s an unattainable street,” Foyle stated. “One mistake on this social media panorama can land you in an entire lot of bother. I feel it’s a must to be a lot extra conscious and a lot extra conscious. It simply will get tougher and tougher. Are you able to think about somebody watching all the things you say on a regular basis?”

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With the heavy lifting over, Curry bought again to the frivolity. To know the priorities of the day, contemplate that one in every of his subsequent stops — Recreation Expertise Inexperienced Display screen — is 27 minutes, one of many longest of the day.

Day 1, Yr 16, by no means a uninteresting second….Let’s get it! pic.twitter.com/VaBSe1eKQz

— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) October 1, 2024

Throughout this session, Curry information dozens of light-hearted clips that may seem on the Chase Heart video board through the season.

For instance, he’s requested to rattle off as many former teammates as he can in 20 seconds. (He sneaks in Marreese Speights on the wire.) He does the identical factor with pizza toppings (pesto on the buzzer). He’s requested to mimic the noise of a cable automobile bell, a barking seal and, in an interpretive efficiency, the sound of fog.

Suppose George Mikan ever did this?

Right here, Curry additionally echoes traces offered by a producer, phrases designed to work Chase Heart right into a frenzy when the season begins. This half looks like a call-and-response vibe at church.

We want your fourth-quarter power!
We want your fourth-quarter power!

That is Warriors Floor. Defend house courtroom!
That is Warriors Floor. Defend house courtroom!

Dub Nation, let ’em hear you! Warfare-riors!
Dub Nation, let ’em hear you! Warfare-riors!

As Curry headed down the hallway towards one more cease, The Athletic requested Curry how he’s discovered to tempo himself over time.As a result of because the hours dragged on, that sweat was now not pretend.

“You realize you’re in for a marathon of some enjoyable stuff and a few not-so-fun stuff,” he stated. “Loads of the photographs and movies and reads and all that sort of stuff. However the extra you’re round it, the extra you perceive what they use this for all year long. That makes it a bit bit higher.”

Then he was on the go once more. A digital camera someplace wanted a snap. A digital producer wanted an Instagram submit.

“It’s a check of endurance for positive, simply ’trigger, it’s quite a bit,” Curry stated. “I imply, we love to simply play basketball. That’s why we’re right here. However we all know the leisure worth of all this.”

Simply be careful for these cameras.

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Required Studying

(Prime picture of Stephen Curry: Ezra Shaw / Getty Photos)