Young players in the NBA frequently reach out to veterans for advice on how to improve their game. It's weird to think of superstars asking for help, but before they reached stardom, Golden State Warriors guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were just like any young player. Former Warrior Leandro Barbosa recounted how Curry and Thompson would seek out his advice when he was traded to the team.
“They would just nod their heads and say ‘Thank you”. It’s kind of funny to think about how big they are now.” Barbosa said in an interview with Scott Cacciola of The New York Times.
Barbosa played with the team in the 2014-15 NBA season. The team would go on to post a regular season record of 67-15 and win their first of three championships.
The Brazilian guard was a key bench piece for the Warriors, and he averaged 7.1 points and 1.5 assists in 66 games. He was known for his speed and savviness, frequently blowing by guards that were much younger than him.
Even in that season, Curry and Thompson were great players. They were the team's leading scorers, averaging 23.8 and 21.7 points respectively.
Barbosa's story shows that even though the Splash Brothers were good, they were ready to learn from a vet to get even better.
Now, Curry and Thompson probably don't need to seek advice as much. They will be the players on the Warriors that rookies come to looking to gain some wisdom to perfect their game.