Training camp is just around the corner, but before the Warriors reconvene for the upcoming 2018-19 NBA regular season, Stephen Curry is getting in one final trip.
Since last Friday, Curry has been traveling internationally as part of the 2018 Stephen Curry Asia Tour Powered by Under Armour, during which he has released new colorways for his signature Curry 5 shoe and visited UA 3-on-3 basketball tournaments hosted in Manila, Philippines, Wuhan, China and Tokyo, Japan.
In Manila, Curry absorbed the culture and made sure to taste the local fare. At the Under Armour Southeast Asia 3x3 Finals, he prevailed over his father Dell in a friendly on-court shooting contest in front of adoring fans.
The next day, Curry headed to Wuhan, China, making his way to the capital of the Hubei province for the first time. It was in Wuhan that Curry put man versus machine to the test when he participated in a 3-point shootout against a robot. Not even artificial intelligence could top Curry, who defeated the robot by a score of 22 to 16.
Then it was on to Tokyo, Japan for the final stop of the 2018 Stephen Curry Asia Tour Powered by Under Armour. In Tokyo, Curry led a training session at the Toyo-Eiwa Girls’ School for 40 students from the U-15 and B-League Jr. teams. Then it was time to play the role of a tourist, as Curry traveled to the famous Shibuya Crossing for a meet-and-greet with more than 600 students at Ariake West Academy. Curry’s Tokyo experience continued with visits to CH Harajuku, Tokyo Tower, the Ginza District and Kabuki-za, taking in all the sights and sounds the bustling city has to offer.
Before his time in Tokyo came to an end, Curry got an opportunity to put his special athletic talents on display, but not in the way you might expect. He was given the esteemed honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the Yomiuri Giants baseball game, and let’s just say, he looked like a natural.
With the 2018 Stephen Curry Asia Tour Powered by Under Armour completed, Curry continued his international trip by making his way over to Paris to meet up with fellow Under Armour athlete Teddy Riner and spread the gospel of three-point shooting in France.
“The French connection to basketball is an enduring symbol of the relationship between France and the US, and I'm thrilled to be here as a part of that,” said Curry upon his arrival. “Paris is a booming market and there is a lot of excitement and passion for the game-the French representation in the NBA is a testament to the widespread talent here in France. The crowd was really into it, the kids had some unreal talent and there is a real flair to their game that makes it unique and incredibly inspiring to be a part of."
Before leaving Paris, Curry got in a little fun with another man of supreme athletic talent – that being, Neymar of Paris Saint-Germain F.C. The world famous basketball and soccer stars played a game of H-O-R-S-E at the oldest basketball court in the world while sharing stories and discussing a variety of topics, including their childhoods and their rise to becoming champions.
The next and final stop on Curry’s international trip took him to London, England, where the three-time NBA champion put on a shooting exhibition on the banks of the River Thames and hosted a shooting masterclass at the Shacklewell Street courts in East London.
The following day, Curry wrapped up his London visit with a trip to Wembley Stadium to take in the match between Liverpool and Tottenham of the English Premier League. Following the match, Curry met up with fellow Under Armour athlete Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool and the English National Team to share their training styles and exchange some footwear gifts.