Stephen Curry is arguably the best basketball player in the world right now, so it isn’t surprising that when he wants to do anything soccer-related, he attempts to emulate the best.
Curry’s NBA team, the Golden State Warriors, have outfitted their dynamic point guard with soccer-style, plastic-coated shin guards to protect a bruise that has flared up on contact three times in the past four games. When asked about the new gear, Curry gave a shout out to arguably the best soccer player in the planet, Barcelona forward Lionel Messi.
"I've got to bring out my Messi mindset tonight, so we'll see," Curry said, according to ESPN.
Game respects game right?
It’s interesting that Curry brings up Messi considering the eerie similarities between the two.
Both are players who were considered a bit undersized to play their respective sport. Both are technically proficient players who terrorize defenses with ankle-breaking dribbles and enjoy passing as much as scoring. And both have an athletically superior rival (LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo, respectively) they overcame last season to win a domestic title.
Even Curry is aware of the similarities between both players. In a conference call in November, the reigning NBA MVP praised the Argentine, who is likely on his way to a fifth Ballon D’Or:
"We both have a creative style, a feel when you are out on the pitch or the court," Curry said. "I love watching him play. I'm a big fan, and he's the guy you watch play because you never know what he is going to do at any particular moment."
In early December, Messi gave some props to his NBA admirer by displaying an autographed Curry jersey on Instagram.
Can someone please make a skills competition between Messi and Curry happen immediately?
