Playing against the top superstars in the NBA is a double-edged sword for most athletes. On one hand, it can give them amazing exposure, but on the other, it is a Herculean task to match their steps.
Former Denver Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo experienced this first-hand when he got the chance to defend Stephen Curry in the absence of Jamal Murray during the 2022 playoffs.
While Campazzo did his best to contain the Baby-Faced Assassin, it was simply a task above his pay grade. Moreover, Facu had to deal with a lot of hecklers on the sidelines.
Rappers dissed Campazzo on the sidelines
Chef Curry is a fan favorite. Evidently, when a non-starter guards the four-time NBA champion, the entire stadium supports Curry's dominance of the aforementioned player.
“I had to defend Stephen Curry and Trae Young… there were these rappers sitting in the front row,” Campazzo detailed his experience, as translated by the Basket News . “They were saying to him, ‘Attack him, he can't defend you! Look, look, he doesn't know how to defend!’ And you hear them because they are there in the front row. I was thinking, 'Please don't attack me!' Or I would hope that I don't fall so I don't end up in the top 10 of the week.”
Despite being an elite player for Real Madrid in the Euro League, the Argentinian was no match for Steph in the 2022 playoffs. After a forgettable stint with the Nuggets, he played half a season with the Dallas Mavericks. However, Facu failed to shine with the Mavs as well and ultimately decided to return to Real Madrid for the 2023-24 season.
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Draymond Green gave a reality check to the small guard
Draymond has spent his entire career alongside the greatest shooter in NBA history. He knows how vicious Steph can be on the offensive end of the floor. In fact, even LeBron James admits Curry is a difficult player to guard .
Coming back to Campazzo’s experience, the former NBA guard also revealed Green’s trash-talking "advice" to him during those matchups with Curry.
“Draymond Green would come up to me and say, 'No matter how you defend him, he's going to score 30 points on you, so ask your coach for a change so that you could defend someone else,'” Campazzo said.
There is no embarrassment in accepting defeat versus someone as great as the Dubs sharpshooter. It can become a hellish task for even the best of the best. Curry also proved it recently at the 2024 Paris Olympics, when he took over the final two matchups and helped Team USA win its fifth consecutive gold medal in this international tournament.
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