Curry realizes his dream of winning a gold medal, Booker, the best supporting player of the US men's basketball team, performs brilliantly, and the Rockets prepare for trading chips
Curry finally realized his Olympic dream and won the gold medal with his teammates. Previously, Curry said that he missed three Olympic opportunities and was very excited this time and hoped to win the gold medal. At this stage of his career, this gives him the opportunity to live in the present and enjoy the fun of basketball. He said: "We all want to win, and this is really cool." Although Curry's three-point shooting percentage was only 25% at the beginning of this Olympics, he still adjusted his state and finally scored a total of 60 points in the semifinals and finals, averaging 14.8 points per game to become the team's scoring leader. Curry mentioned: "Stay confident, live in the present, and don't be scared by this moment. Accept those shots you think you should take." Curry once advised Rockets star Jalen Green to continue shooting when he encounters a shooting slump. Although Jalen Green had an outstanding performance last season, his overall performance disappointed fans. Now, Houston's new favorite Sheppard has attracted attention, and some people think he will be the next Curry. Sheppard not only shoots accurately, but also hopes to improve his mid-range shooting skills and learn from Kentucky's Booker. Booker played the best supporting role in this year's US men's basketball team. He played 27 minutes in the final, made 6 of 10 shots, scored 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, and had a plus-minus value of +18, second only to Curry.
After the game, the head coach of the US men's basketball team, Kerr, praised Booker: "Booker is an incredible basketball player. He is our unsung MVP." Udoka and Stone also appreciate Booker, and the Rockets have prepared trading chips for him. Booker is 1.98 meters tall and 27 years old. He averaged 27.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.9 assists in the regular season last season, with a shooting percentage of 49.2%, a three-point shooting percentage of 36.4%, and a free throw shooting percentage of 88.6%. In the playoffs, Booker averaged 27.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6 assists, with a shooting percentage of 49.2%, a three-point shooting percentage of 35%, and a free throw shooting percentage of 95.1%. He can attack independently, attack without the ball, organize offense and defend, which is exactly the ideal shooting guard in Udoka's mind.
Last season, Udoka hoped that Jalen Green would switch between the ball and the ball, improve his game reading and defensive abilities, but Jalen Green did not perform well in Udoka's system. Only a crazy March could not change the Rockets' view of him, and Stone was unwilling to meet his maximum salary requirements. Many NBA reporters predicted that Jalen Green might become one of the Rockets' bargaining chips. In addition to young players, the Rockets can also offer multiple first-round picks as bargaining chips. ESPN reporter WOJ revealed that the Rockets showed interest in Booker and had the Suns' future draft picks and swap rights. If the Suns decide to trade Booker, the Rockets will have a competitive advantage. Although the Suns' owner claims to continue to compete for the championship, the team's total salary and luxury tax exceeds $400 million, and the prospects for winning the championship are bleak. The Rockets are closely following the Suns' dynamics, waiting for an opportunity to make a move.