Steph Curry Hails 'Creative Genius' Lionel Messi, Inspiring Next Generation

Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry has opened up on the similarities he and "creative genius" Lionel Messi share despite playing different sports, as well as the impact they have on developing the next generation.

NBA icon Curry compared his own creative process to that of the Barcelona man, per MailOnline's Luke Augustus:

"I think it's the creative genius to what he does and a flair, but also there is a fundamental aspect to the flair. 

"The work that he puts in, I'm assuming, based on the talent that he has, and combining that with the talent that he has and how that kind of shows when he's out there on the pitch."

There's no doubting Curry and Messi are considered elite in their respective fields, with the former a two-time NBA champion and Most Valuable Player winner, while the latter has won a joint-record five Ballon d'Or awards. 

Curry added: "So I think there's a lot of comparison, really, around the creativity and the innovation that we bring to our respective sports and trying to, I guess, impact—I would say influence the next generation to try to push themselves as well."

NBA legends such as Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant are known fans of football, and Mark Medina of the Mercury News recently provided footage to suggest Curry takes interest in the sport, too:

Both players are pioneers in that they push the boundaries of what's possible in their given disciplines, with Curry's accuracy from range arguably the best basketball has ever seen.

Messi, on the other hand, is more famed for his close control and ability to beat opponents in close proximity, although he can also score from long distance, as shown by La Liga:

Curry recently helped cement his place as one of the sport's greats, too, as noted by ESPN Stats & Info:

For all the natural talent both athletes possess, Curry falls back to the premise that fundamentals and training allow those abilities to flourish in a game, which is the real inspiration admirers should take.