Stephen Curry and co. have returned to the USA after an incredible campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Steph essentially spearheaded the team in the final two games of the competition.
Despite going off from the 3-point line in the semifinals and the gold medal contests, Curry was snubbed from winning the MVP award. Instead, his USAB teammate, LeBron James , took home the honor.
Since the announcement, many have pleaded a case in favor of Curry. At the end of the day, most have now accepted James as the Olympics MVP. However, NBA analyst Brian Windhorst recently unearthed the real reason why Steph missed out on the award.
Windhorst reveals the unique voting system
In almost every sports league, the MVP award is given after the season or the competition has concluded. For example, the regular season MVP is unveiled once all 82 games are finished.
But as per ESPN’s Windhorst, the voting for Olympics MVP was allegedly held two days before Team USA’s semifinal matchup versus Serbia. Now, that’s an astounding revelation.
“The Olympics MVP is so new, this is only the second time they have done it in the modern era that it’s not something that the people even think about really,” Windhorst said . “I’m not even sure there’s a trophy. I asked, ‘How is the MVP chosen?’ Then I was told that it’s media voting, which the media could vote on, there was a QR code allegedly on the wall. They opened the voting like two days before the end of the semifinals. But I was told, ‘Media voting and FIBA experts.’”
This is genuinely an unheard-of method of voting for the MVP award. After all, it simply doesn’t make sense to cast a vote before the competition has concluded.
Related: "I am more disappointed today than I was back when I was not selected" -Isiah Thomas on handshake snub as the reason he didn't make the Dream Team
Did Steph get robbed?
Curry was having a forgettable run at the Olympics prior to the final two games. He went off in the semifinals with 36 points to his name and followed it with a 24-point performance in the gold medal game.
The Baby-Faced Assassin shot a combined 17 three-pointers in the above-mentioned contests. Considering Curry’s performances, even NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith said that the Warriors superstar deserved the MVP award .
The 4x NBA champion averaged 14.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in the Olympics. These averages are certainly worthy of winning the prestigious award. However, if Windhorst’s report is correct, Steph lost the MVP even before the semifinal game. Hopefully, the process will be changed in the future for fair voting ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
Related: "He didn't earn it this time" - Stephon Marbury said Stephen Curry should've been Olympics MVP over LeBron James
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