Although this season will be Seth Curry's third stint with the Dallas Mavericks, things are much different for him this time around. On Media Day, Curry noted that the team has a new front office, a new practice facility, and the roster is mostly different from his last experience in Dallas. However, there is one key element that has stayed the same.
"I can make shots, and Luka can still pass," Curry said when asked if he still had chemistry with Doncic.
Curry also has some chemistry with Doncic's co-star, Kyrie Irving, as the two were teammates on the Brooklyn Nets over the last two seasons. In 61 games for Brooklyn last season, Curry averaged 9.2 points while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from deep in 19.9 minutes per game. Curry is the sixth-best 3-point shooter in league history, but Irving is just as excited for the locker-room leadership he'll bring to the Mavs as well.
“I’m excited," Irving said. "He’s an incredible shooter and leader to have in the locker room. It’s gonna be interesting to see him out there with myself and Luka, and [also] the second unit at times. He has a great work ethic.”
Although Curry has some disadvantages on the defensive end of the floor, his elite shooting can help neutralize that at times. The last time he was in Dallas during the 2019-20 season – his only season played with Doncic – he shot a career-high 45.2 percent from deep. Curry knows he will have an opportunity to do similar damage this season, now that he's playing with both Doncic and Irving.
“Yeah. You gotta put two on the ball to stop [Luka and Kyrie] from scoring," Curry said when asked if he expected to get a lot of open looks this year. "Both those guys are really unselfish, that’s one of the reasons why you want to come over here [in free agency]. As a shooter, as a scorer, you know you’re gonna get a lot of opportunities to knock down open shots.
"It’s just about going out there and doing your job, being ready when your number is called and when they find you. So I’m trying to continue to just do what I do, knock down shots, do anything to help those guys out, and do anything it takes to win.”
Curry returned to the Mavs over the summer on a two-year, $8 million contract, which has been considered by many as being one of the bigger steals of the summer. The Mavs are excited about potentially having a more defensively-sound roster with the additions of Dereck Lively II, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Grant Williams and others, but they're just as excited to see No. 30 splash in some wide-open 3s as well.
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