Stephen Curry: I'd Have Gotten Away with Stepback If I Was 'Somebody Different'

In what is clearly an act of clever gamesmanship, Stephen Curry continued to throw shade at James Harden and NBA officials after being called for a travel on a Harden-esque stepback jumper in Saturday's win over the Sacramento Kings.

"I’ve seen that once or twice," Curry told reporters after the game, alluding to Harden. "I tried it myself, and obviously they got confused. They knew it was somebody different, so they called it...it was nothing premeditated. The first stepback didn't really create enough space, so tried a little quick one and got called for it.”

While it may not have been "premeditated," Curry and coach Steve Kerr were instantly ready with their complaints when the whistle blew. Curry signaled a "one" and "three" with his hands immediately after the call, mimicking Harden's number and ostensibly saying he wouldn't have gotten called if he were Harden. 

Kerr was also incredulous on the sideline. 

The move may not have been planned, but it's clear the Warriors have Harden on their mind. The Houston Rockets guard is on a scoring tear we have not seen since 2005-06 Kobe Bryant, ripping off a run of 10 straight games with at least 35 points. Harden has taken some level of criticism for his style of play and became a meme after a laughable travel on a stepback jumper last month.

"He's very unique," Kerr told reporters before Thursday's matchup between the Rockets and Warriors. "Certain players change the game. Allen Iverson changed the game, changed the way players dribble. They change the way young players watch them, other players watch them, like Iverson. Harden is one of those guys. He has changed the way people draw fouls and he's gotten really good at it. He's the best in the league at it.

"It takes somebody really unique and special to literally change the way the whole league is playing and the way they look at the game and James has done that with his ability to draw contact and get to the line. If you think you can reach in there and get the ball from him, you are crazy. You are not going to do it. You are just going to foul him."

The foresight here is clear. The Warriors want officials to begin taking a closer look at Harden's stepbacks, ostensibly preparing for another playoff matchup. Kerr spent years playing under Phil Jackson, a master manipulator of officials. If this ploy winds up getting Harden called for a couple more travels, then it's worth whatever fine Curry will receive for his public comments.