Stephen Curry agrees that limiting 3s in youth basketball might be a good idea

USA Basketball issued new guidelines discouraging 3-point shooting in youth basketball leagues. The greatest shooter of all time, Stephen Curry, agrees.

USA basketball recently issued new guidelines for youth basketball. Among them was one which says there should be “no 3-point shooting or zone defenses for ages 7-8 and 9-11.” While Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors might not be all that concerned with zone defenses, he is on track to shatter just about every 3-point record ever.

So it made sense that in an interview with SI Now, he weighed in on the decision, but his answer might come as a bit of a surprise (h/t Chirs Chavez for the transcription)

"“My dad had the same kind of mentality of development as I got stronger and bigger,” Curry explained. “He wanted me to make sure I didn’t sacrifice form and mechanics just to be able to shoot an NBA three before I was ready. I hope there’s a principle and importance on the fundamentals of what that means and the work that goes into it. You can’t just step into a gym and start jacking them up and feel like you’re getting better. I guess I commend the perspective on player development especially at an early age. Hopefully, that’s able to build the confidence of those guys who want to be great shooters as they get older.”"

Asked if he thinks his game may have affected kids, Curry didn’t run from the question:

“Most definitely. So hopefully, as much influence as what they see on the court. As much influence as that’s had on them, hopefully, the idea of the work that went into that has on them as well.”

You may recall a few years ago a game in which Mark Jackson suggested that Curry might be unintentionally ”ruining” the game. 

"“Steph Curry’s great,” Jackson said. “Steph Curry is the MVP. He’s a champion. Understand what I’m saying when I say this: To a degree, he’s hurt the game. And what I mean by that is that I go into these high school gyms, I watch these kids and the first thing they do is they run to the 3-point line. You are not Steph Curry. Work on the other aspects of your game. People think that he’s just a knockdown shooter. That’s not why he’s the MVP. He’s a complete basketball player.”"

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While the age here is younger than high school, though, the notion that both the player and his former coach have appears to be the same, that the work and the fundamentals of shooting are needed before kids can just start chucking up shots.

The rule changes will encourage them to develop along those lines.