As the United States men's national basketball team prepares for the upcoming Olympics at its training camp in Las Vegas, veteran point guard Stephen Curry, 36, of the Golden State Warriors, spoke about a surprising skill he has yet to master in his illustrious career.
“In all my years of playing this game, I’ve learned how to do a lot of things with a basketball,” Curry said during a media availability. “But the one thing that’s always eluded me, the one thing I can’t figure out … is how to spin a ball on my finger.”
The four-time NBA champion and two-time MVP demonstrated his struggles, trying in vain to spin the ball smoothly on his fingertip. "Look at this, it's just embarrassing. I've tried and tried, but no matter what, I can't get used to it," he lamented with a laugh.
Despite his unmatched ball-handling prowess, elite shooting touch and mastery of every other basketball skill, the inability to perform the classic "finger spin" remained a humiliating shortcoming for the future Hall of Famer.
“You see all these young guys out here doing it with ease, making it look effortless. Meanwhile, I’m out here looking like a complete novice,” Curry said. “It’s just one of those things that’s always bothered me, you know? I can drain three-pointers from 30 feet, but ask me to spin a ball on my finger and I’m basically a traffic cone.”
His teammates, including fellow Olympic team members Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum, have tried in vain to teach Curry the technique over the years. "They're always giving me a hard time, trying to motivate me. But no matter how much advice and tips they give me, I can't get that muscle memory down," Curry admitted.
Despite his basketball genius and unmatched skill set, finger spin remains a persistent weakness in Curry’s game. “Honestly, it’s a little embarrassing. I’m supposed to be one of the most talented players in the world, but I can’t do something as simple as spin a ball on my finger. Maybe I’ll just have to accept that it’s not in the cards for me,” he said with a rueful laugh.
As Team USA prepares for its Olympic campaign, Curry remains hopeful that he can finally overcome this lingering basketball deficiency. “Who knows, maybe the competition will show up and I’ll figure it out in training camp. But for now, I’m just going to focus on my shooting, my passing and anything I can do really well. The finger rotation can wait.”
