Ex-Warriors Finding Success Abroad Recall Early Days of Stephen Curry

The NBA's first unanimous MVP, Stephen Curry, was a draft sandwich between the Golden State Warriors' 2008 first-round selection, Anthony Randolph, and 2010 sixth overall pick, Ekpe Udoh.

While Curry and the Golden State Warriors are on a quest for back-to-back runs at the Larry O'Brien hardware, Randolph and Udoh each played 96 games for the Warriors before bouncing around the NBA, then overseas, each suddenly in demand as ex-NBA free agents.

Udoh came to Europe last summer on a one-season deal with Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahce Ulker of which he learned via YouTube videos. "I didn't know anything about the situation but the crazy fans and the coach who was yelling and screaming all the time on the videos. I was looking forward to the challenge."

His coach, Zeljko Obradovic, dubbed "ZelGOD," is a glorified European legend with multiple Euroleague trophies, known mostly for his steaming temper and sideline shenanigans.

None of that frightened Udoh.

"Everyone respects him, but it got to a point where players were scared to make eye contact when he was yelling. I never seen that before. Sometimes he yells just to see how we react—I can't make jokes or speak my mind all the time, but I need to keep the mood around the team light, so I crack a lot of jokes. I'd go crazy being quiet for 10 months, but Coach allows me to be me on and off the court.

"People said they have no idea how I got on his good side, but we built a bond. He is the right coach for my career."

JOHN MACDOUGALL/Getty Images

Udoh has been a monster this year, setting the Euroleague record for most blocks in a season with 53. He's on a star-loaded team with former NBAers Pero Antic, Jan Vesely and Luigi Datome, Phoenix Suns-bound Bogdan Bogdanovic and Euroleague ring-holder Ricky Hickman.

Yet he led his team in scoring with 12.4 points per game, earned an All-Euroleague Second-Team selection and posted an impressive double-double of 16 points and 11 boards in a nail-biting overtime loss to CSKA Moscow 101-96 during the Euroleague finals.

Sources told Bleacher Report that Fenerbahce are pushing to lock up Udoh with a long-term extension deal, but he won't commit before exploring NBA interest. "It's been a good season with Fenerbahce, and the love has been amazing, but I'd like to be back in the NBA. I haven't had time to sit back and think about the future; it's something I'll address after the season."

Randolph, a one-and-done product of Louisiana State University, has also had success in Europe. His Russian club, Lokomotiv Kuban, recently knocked off Spanish favorites Barcelona, 3-2, during the playoffs, thanks in large part to Randolph's dominant performance during a Game 4 overtime win in which he single-handedly outscored the opposition, 10-4, guiding his team to Kuban's first-ever Euroleague Final Four appearance.

Randolph was selected All-Euroleague Second Team—he ranked sixth in league scoring with 14.5 points per game, led his team in both steals (1.3) and blocks (0.9) and finished second in rebounds (5.8) per game. He has emerged as a lucrative recruit this offseason, drawing NBA attention and has been linked to a handful of the top clubs overseas with a price tag of more than $2 million per season.

Bleacher Report caught up with Randolph and Udoh for a Q&A about their past at Golden State and the time when Stephen Curry was still human.

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Bleacher Report: What were your first impressions of Steph Curry? Do you remember the first time you watched him play?

AR: He was a good guy all around. You could see he was an incredible talent that worked hard. First time I saw him hoop was a pickup game after he was drafted; he came in with confidence and looked great. He wasn't taking those types of shots that he buries from half court in the NBA. He didn't do none of that, but he always had a great jump shot.

Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images

EU: He was a humble dude. First time I watched him was actually in college at Davidson making the run in the tournament. I think I even played against him at Michigan, but he was always under the radar. Look at him then and now. It's not the same player because he gets buckets from half court, but it's similar because he takes the game by storm in the NBA just like he did in college when he burst onto the scene. LeBron James is still in the NBA, but Steph Curry is arguably the top dog in the league.

B/R: Was there a moment when you recall saying to yourself, "Whoa, this guy's gonna be an All-Star someday." Or was there doubt about his potential?

AR: I didn't have any doubts about who Steph would become. From day one when he came in, his skills and work ethic screamed All-Star.

EU: Once he got healthy, that's when I knew he would be great. I don't remember the year, but once he overcame the injuries, it was a preseason game he killed, and I even tweeted about it. He showed signs of greatness but had injuries. I'm glad he figured it out; it was all worth it. It made him who he is today.

B/R: What was the NBA dream team you wished would have drafted you?

AR: Growing up in Los Angeles, I always wanted to be with the Lakers. I was hooked up on them, but it didn't really matter to me as long as I got drafted and lived out my NBA dream.

EU: It didn't matter to me. I just wanted to be in the NBA.

B/R: What was your "welcome to the NBA" moment?

AR: Probably in the green room, the first time I met [then-commissioner] David Stern. Shaking his hand was a big moment for me.

Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images

EU: I got off to a slow start with injuries, so I didn't play until the second half of the season. But just being on the bench, watching the guys that I've seen on TV. Like I'm here, I made it. Going up against Kobe Bryant—that says it all.

B/R: What were your high and low NBA moments?

AR: The high moment was probably with the T-Wolves in Dallas [during 2011; Mavericks won, 104-96]. I started [filling in for an injured Kevin Love] and scored 31 points in front of my home crowd. That was special. Low moments? Probably getting dunked on by Kobe or LeBron. I don't remember, but I'm sure there were quite a few.

EU: My high moment would be watching the Clippers eliminate the Spurs in the playoffs because we were written off, but we won the best first-round series ever. The low moment was probably not playing at all for the Clippers. Just going through that season was tough.

Also leaving the NBA was tough. I finally accepted where I was in January. I came to Turkey in September, but all the other players except Pero Antic were on national team duties, so we're going through practices and conditioning training alone.

It was tough not having family around, coming back to an empty home—that's all I knew.

David Pick is a veteran pro basketball reporter covering overseas hoops and American players abroad since 2010. His work can also be found at Basketball Insiders. Follow him on Twitter at @IAmDPick.