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PARIS — Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant sat behind a table in front of what was likely the largest press conference of their basketball lives — which is saying something.
Hundreds of reporters and rows of cameras stared back at them inside a Main Press Center ballroom here in Paris. It is the latest example of one of the most enduring traditions of the Summer Olympics — the international star power of the United States Men’s Basketball Team.
From Michael and Larry back in Barcelona to present day, the pre-Games press gathering is always a combination of excited media/fans, Olympic volunteers sneaking in to catch a glimpse and often bizarre, if hysterical, inquiries.
In this case, what if something goes awry during Friday’s Opening Ceremony, where each country’s delegation — USA basketball included — will be on a boat floating down the Seine River in an aquatic parade of nations.
“If something is happening there, have, as a team, have you talked about that?” a reporter asked. “Do you know how to swim, for example?”
Both Curry and Durant — and the rest of the room — began to laugh.
“You’re like a flight attendant giving ‘the exits are over there in case you need it to go down,’” Steph said with a smile. “Nobody is thinking about that.”
“If you are on the boat, you can’t run anywhere,” the reporter pressed.
“You are writing a story on that?” Durant cracked.
“We are all about positivity,” Curry said. “We are going to get on that boat, enjoy it and then get right off that boat.”
Curry is 36. Durant is 35. They are joined by 39-year old LeBron James to bring a veteran bent to the American roster.
They also offer proof of concept on what the Olympics mean. None of them needs to be here. Durant and LeBron are in their fourth Olympics, and while it’s Curry’s first, he joins the others as already outrageously rich, famous, accomplished and busy — from business and family.
Yet they looked and sounded as excited as anyone to be in Paris. An honor Durant kept calling it. LeBron is even the male flag bearer for the Americans during the Opening Ceremony. They know they are…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/paris-2024-nba-starpower-still-hasnt-faded-at-olympics-143445875.html
Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2024-07-25 14:34:45
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