Golden State Warriors star point guard Stephen Curry has been telling his new backcourt mate, D'Angelo Russell, “just be who you are” as the lefty adjusts to the Warriors' system.
Curry wants Russell to play his game and not worry about changing his style of play just because he's on a new team now.
“Just be who you are,” Curry said he’s been telling Russell, via Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “Be the player who has gotten you to this point. Then fine-tune it to work within the system we have.”
Curry said Russell “might’ve felt a little uncomfortable” in the preseason opener. Curry remembered a couple times in which he was dashing around quickly, revving into some pick-and-roll action, passing out into a swing, swing that eventually worked its way to Russell, who slowed the action and almost looked apologetic for doing so.
“He (needs to) play to his strength, being able to size up the defense, figure it out,” Curry said. “I told him: Be you. You don’t got to be anybody else but yourself. However he sees himself impacting the possession, do it. There’s no other D’Angelo but D’Angelo. That’s why he’s here.”
The Warriors are eager to see what Stephen Curry and D’Angelo Russell can do together in the backcourt while All-Star Klay Thompson rehabs his ACL injury.
Russell averaged 21.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists last season while shooting 43.4 percent from the field, 36.9 percent from beyond the arc and 78.0 percent from the free-throw line.
Neither Russell nor Curry are good defenders, but both guards can light it up on offense. The Warriors don't expect the two All-Stars to have perfect chemistry all season, but once Curry and Russell do find some sort of cohesion on the court, the Warriors will once again be a juggernaut on offense.
Follow Us
Subscribe