Steph Curry has collected a lot of hardware during his decorated professional basketball career, but he doesn't have an Olympic gold medal, and he has chosen not to pursue it this summer.
NBC Sports Bay Area's Monte Poole confirmed through league sources Monday that Curry has opted against playing for Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics, and that decision isn't one that disappoints Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who will serve on Gregg Popovich's staff in Japan.
The Athletic's Shams Charania and Anthony Slater first reported Monday that Curry wouldn't go to the Olympics.
Kerr spoke to NBC Bay Area's Raj Mathai in an exclusive interview Monday and was asked about Curry choosing not to play in the Olympics, which are set to begin on July 23 and run through Aug. 8.
"Steph and I talked, Draymond [Green] and I talked," Kerr told Mathai. "I think it makes perfect sense, actually. Steph has so many demands on his time. He has to play so hard for so much of the season. He's 180 pounds. He's [33]. He needs rest. I'm happy for Steph that he's going to get plenty of rest and family time this summer and he'll be ready to go come training camp in September."
While Curry won't play in Tokyo, Green reportedly has decided to participate and reportedly will be reunited with former Warriors star Kevin Durant, who also has opted into the event.
As Poole wrote, Curry's decision against playing in the Tokyo Olympics exhibits wisdom.
Curry, who finished third in MVP voting, just exerted a lot energy to try to get the Warriors into the playoffs this past season, and he did it while playing with a tailbone injury that later was revealed to be a hairline fracture. Combine that with the condensed 72-game regular season that will lead to a slightly shorter offseason ahead of the 2021-22 season and all the injuries we are seeing in the NBA playoffs, the two-time NBA MVP is choosing to let his body recover and spend time with his wife Ayesha and their three kids.
And as much as Curry wants a win a gold medal, his No. 1 goal is getting the Warriors back to the NBA mountaintop. He doesn't want to miss the playoffs next season. He expects Golden State, with the return of Klay Thompson and roster tweaks, to contend for the NBA title.
Curry needs to take care of his body in order to achieve that goal.
Kerr understands that, which is why he is on board with Curry's decision not to play in the Tokyo Olympics.
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