In the provided passage, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry discusses his decision to play in the Olympics and his excitement about the upcoming Paris Games. Curry acknowledges that he is later in his career and believes this may be his last opportunity to compete in the Olympics. He and his wife, Ayesha, planned for the timing of their fourth child’s birth to ensure that he would be available for the Olympic months of July and August.

Curry expresses his desire to play in previous Olympics, specifically mentioning the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games and the Tokyo Games, which were postponed to 2021 due to the pаndemic. He mentions watching his peers and teammates win gold medals in past Olympics and wanting to have that experience himself.

While it might be expected that Curry’s coach with the Golden State Warriors, Steve Kerr, played a role in recruiting him for the Olympic team, Curry reveals that it wasn’t a significant factor. He had conversations with players like Kevin Durant and LeBron James about teaming up for the Olympics but was not pushed by Kerr to participate.

Curry’s decision to play in the Olympics aligns well with his career goals. He has achieved numerous accolades in the NBA, including holding the all-time 3-point record, winning multiple championships, being named an All-Star, and receiving MVP honors. However, winning a gold medal at the Olympics remаins a significant achievement that he wants to add to his legacy.

The passage also mentions that the Golden State Warriors did not make the NBA playoffs in the current season, so Curry’s next competitive play will be in July when he joins the U.S. national team for training camp in Las Vegas. The Olympics are set to begin on July 23, and Curry and the U.S. team will face Serbia in their first game on July 28.

Curry has previously represented the United States in international competition and has had a successful record, winning gold at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. He expresses his eagerness for the Olympic experience, acknowledging that the timing is right for him and that this may be his last opportunity to play in the Games. He also mentions his conversations with other interested players, indicating his belief that the team has the potential to be strong.