Steph Curry has revealed one of the core secrets behind the success of the Golden State Warriors in the NBA.
Curry is widely regarded as one of the greatest shooters in basketball history, known for his ability to hit three-pointers from all over the court. Since he was drafted by the Warriors in 2009, he has won four championships with the franchise and been named the league's MVP twice.
In his new book Shot Ready, Curry shared what he believes drives the team, giving credit to the fanbase. He praised the 'Dub Nation' supporters, who are the most passionate Warriors fans.
Curry wrote: "With all due respect to other fan bases, Warriors fans are genuises in the art of cheering. There's nothing like it.
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"It starts with their understanding of the flow of the game. They set the tone early - before the game even starts - so the other team feels the home-court energy as soon as they walk into the place.
"As a player, you don't want your home crowd to be waiting silently for something to happen before they erupt. Dub Nation is intentional about creating that energy right away.
"And then they come through with oceanic waves of cheering in the big moments and after the great shots - but there's something deeper about the relationship between this crowd and the team."
Curry has built a reputation for his ability to score three-pointers, becoming the first NBA player to reach 4,000 career three-pointers last year. But even a player of his calibre can face confidence struggles during games.
"There are times when you've missed three possessions in a row," he added.
"You're feeling a little demoralised and frustrated. A whistle. Maybe a timeout. There's a deadball. And the fans get it.
"They get up and they let you know they're here. It's not just a loud arena responding to good plays. It's a home crowd."
Curry and the Warriors are currently preparing for the new NBA season.
Their pre-season begins in just over two weeks, before their league campaign gets underway against the Los Angeles Lakers on 21 October.
Last year was a disappointment for the Warriors, who were eliminated in the conference semi finals.
They are not considered favourites to reach the NBA Finals this year, but with Curry on the side, they are rarely written off.
If Curry's praise for Warriors fans proves to be accurate, then their home advantage could prove to be decisive.
Topics: Basketball, NBA, Steph Curry
James Taylor