Stephen Curry‘s unmatched skill on the basketball court has earned him accolades, admiration, and, unsurprisingly, a fair share of frustration from his opponents.
Former NBA player Austin Rivers recently opened up about how facing Curry’s dominance left him seething during their matchups, even admitting that Curry‘s on-court antics once made him want to “slap the sh*t out of him.”
In a conversation on the Ringer NBA podcast, Rivers reflected on years of going head-to-head with Curry, recalling iconic moments that still sting.
“I was on the Clippers when he did the thing, where he dribbled through the whole team and turned around, shot the three,” Rivers shared. “I was at the game where he did the behind the back, and Chris [Paul] fell.”
While Rivers found those experiences frustrating as a player, he has since developed an appreciation for Curry‘s magic.
“I don’t like when he’s doing his little dancing sht,” he said, laughing. “I wanted to slap the sht out of him when he was doing that sh*t. Now that I’m watching it [as a fan], I love it.”
Rivers‘ frustration wasn’t just about Curry‘s moves but also the way he changed the game. His uncanny ability to hit shots from impossible distances has redefined modern basketball.
Rivers‘ father, legendary coach Doc Rivers, acknowledged Curry‘s transformative impact during an appearance on KG Certified.
“Steph is as much of a game changer as anybody in our lifetime,” Doc said. “You go to an AAU game now, people are shooting from half-court-that’s from one dude.”
Celtics icon Paul Pierce echoed this sentiment, explaining why Curry resonates so deeply with young players.
“Kids look and say, ‘I can be Steph,'” Pierce noted. “6-2, 6-3, can shoot really well and move without the ball. That’s relatable.”
From Rivalry to Family
Austin Rivers‘ complicated relationship with Curry extends off the court, too. The two are now in-laws-Rivers’ sister, Callie, married Curry’s brother, Seth, in 2019.
Despite their intense history on the court, Rivers is glad things never escalated into actual altercations, joking that it would have made family dinners awkward.
Watching Curry’s recent 37-point performance against the Mavericks, Rivers could empathize with Klay Thompson, who faced Curry as an opponent for the first time. “Now he knows how the rest of us feel,” Rivers quipped.
As the Warriors continue their strong start to the season, Curry‘s brilliance keeps inspiring future generations-and reminding former opponents like Rivers why they once dreaded seeing him across the court.