USA - A more experienced Curry aims to contribute more

OAKLAND (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Night after night, game after game, Stephen Curry shoots the lights out in NBA arenas.

There is the occasional sub-par performance, like Wednesday's contest against Chicago when he made just two of 10 shots from the field.

Usually, Curry usually puts the ball in the basket.

The Golden State Warrior is averaging 23.8 points per game this season while burying 41.6% of his attempts from beyond the arc.

An NBA All-Star, Curry is the biggest reason why the Warriors are in the thick of the playoff hunt, winners of 35 games and losers of 23.

Curry has another team, too.

The 25-year-old plays for the United States.

He helped the Americans capture the Naismith Trophy in at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey and stands an excellent chance of being on the plane to Spain when the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup is held this summer (30 August-14 September).

In the Preliminary Round, the USA will play in Bilbao against Finland, Turkey, Ukraine, the Dominican Republic and New Zealand.

He wants to be in Spain because of what happened four years ago.

"I hope so," he said in an interview with FIBA.

"Good memories about 2010 in Istanbul, Turkey.

"I was fortunate enough to be on Team USA and to win gold at the World Championship so definitely great memories."

Curry has had a lot of special moments in the sport, from watching his father, Dell, play for the Charlotte Hornets to suiting up for Davidson College and playing for Bob McKillop, a member of the USA Basketball coaching fraternity.

His dazzling performances with Golden State, who selected him with the seventh pick of the 2009 NBA Draft, have given Curry and Warriors fans plenty of thrills, too.

He had just one year of professional basketball under his belt when the USA included him in their squad for FIBA's flagship event in Turkey.

While Curry was good, he's at an entirely different level now.

A far higher level.

"I'm a better player than I was back then," he said, "a little more mature, a little more experienced.

"So hopefully that will help me impact the team more and provide what I can on the court to help us win the championship."

So what has it meant for Curry to don the USA shirt?

"It's an amazing feeling," he said.

"Anytime you wear the USA (jersey) and represent your country playing basketball, that's the utmost honor.

"Having gone over there and been successful on our mission to win gold makes all the sacrifice that everyone put into it worth it."

To play international basketball, Curry says, has given him a broader perspective on the game.

"It helps a lot because you're opened up to a lot of different styles of play, different players that you don’t normally see in the NBA," he said.

"But they're still talented, they're the top in their country and they come out ready to play so you have to be on your best to beat the best in the world."

FIBA