NBL22: Sydney Kings import Ian Clark reveals ‘secret’ to Steph Curry’s success

Sydney Kings import Ian Clark, who won an NBA championship alongside Steph Curry, delivers some insights about the world’s greatest three-point shooter.

New Sydney Kings import guard Ian Clark won an NBA championship alongside Steph Curry at the Golden State Warriors in 2017.

Steph Curry’s on-court party tricks no longer surprise Sydney Kings import guard Ian Clark.

“Because I’ve seen it too many times before,” says Clark, who won an NBA championship alongside Curry at the Golden State Warriors in 2017.

“After training Steph would regularly challenge everyone to a halfcourt shootout, and he’d always nail the shot – often multiple times.”

Curry’s consistent shooting spanning years is why Clark just shook his head and smiled when the Warriors superstar put on a show to win the MVP in last week’s NBA All-Star game.

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Stephen Curry knocks down his 7th and 8th threes on TNT & TBS 🥵

No one has made that many in an #NBAAllStar half. pic.twitter.com/iFjygGDxh7

— NBA (@NBA) February 21, 2022

The gifted guard dropped a whopping 50 points, including a record 16 threes, one with his back turned while he celebrated with the crowd.

“Oh, that is Steph for you, and he is always going to hit crazy shots,” he said.

“He is the greatest shooter of all-time and he has fun out there, but he also puts in the work every day, and I’ve seen it in the gym and at training.”

Clark says it’s easy to let the NBA’s bright lights result in a big head, but Curry has always remained grounded.

New Sydney Kings import guard Ian Clark won an NBA championship alongside Steph Curry at the Golden State Warriors in 2017.

He believes this humble and hardworking nature is why the Warriors guard will finish his career as one of the NBA’s greatest players.

“People will constantly tell you how great you are, and you can be relaxed and content, but I never saw that with Steph,” he said.

“He is someone that a lot of people look up to, but he isn’t the 6’9, 200-pound guy slam dunking on everybody.

“He looks like a guy walking down the street, so to see someone like that put the work in to be great is so inspiring.

“It makes you want to work even harder.”

CHAMPIONSHIP DNA

Clark remembers the excitement around the Bay Arena when All-Star Kevin Durant announced he was joining an already loaded Warriors side featuring future Hall of Famers in Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green in 2016.

“There was a huge buzz,” he said.

“We blew a 3-1 lead in the finals the year before, so the mindset once KD arrived was to win and put our heads down and get to work and see if we can get this thing done.

“We were connected on and off the court and championship teams all have the same type of DNA.

“All the players want to see everyone in the team succeed, no matter where they sit down the line.”

Former NBA champion Ian Clark has made an immediate impact at the Sydney Kings. Photo: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images.

Clark can see similar winning traits in a young yet hugely talented Sydney Kings side, featuring former NBA players and rising Aussie stars.

“For sure, and it starts in the lockeroom,” he said.

“The culture, starting with the coaching staff in how they get us prepared and ready, and then players are buying in.

“When you have everyone on the same page and willing to do whatever it takes to win and you don’t care who gets the credit. That is the start of a championship DNA.

“I’ve only been at the Kings for two games, but I can see guys standing and cheering on the bench for every play, guys are hustling and getting on the floor and doing the dirty and little things.

“All of that plays a part in getting to where every team wants to get to be the last team standing.”

ENERGY MAN

Clark hadn’t played a basketball game in 10 months before last week’s debut for the Kings.

Throw in 38 days of quarantine in China before arriving in Australia, and it’s easy to understand why the veteran guard looked like an excitable dog let off his leash in his maiden NBL appearance.

Clark scored 13 points, including three of four from range, as he celebrated every basket as though it was his first.

“To be able to play minutes and build a connection with my new teammates – it was just pure joy – and some of that came out,” he said.

“I hadn’t played for a long time, so I was happy to be back on the court and competing again.”

Ian Clark (L) has enjoyed playing alongside Kings star guard Jaylen Adams. Photo: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

Clark also had a front-row seat to witness one of the NBL’s best point guard battles between Kings star Jaylen Adams and Perth maestro Bryce Cotton.

“It was special,” he said.

“They are two totally different players, but at the same time they bring the same mentality.

“They want to compete; they know what they are good at, and they put it on display every night knowing that the defence is staked on them every night, but they still get the job done.

“I’ve enjoyed playing alongside Jaylen just knowing that he is someone with the same competitive fire as me.”

Originally published as NBL22: Sydney Kings import Ian Clark reveals ‘secret’ to Steph Curry’s success