HOUSTON – Once a prolific high school basketball player, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud remains a sharp outside shooter known for his skills on the hardwood.
Stroud once competed in the NBA celebrity basketball game, and he’s a huge fan of the game. That includes Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry.
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Stroud and Curry interacted warmly after the Rockets’ 95-85 loss at Toyota Center. Curry also greeted Texans players Joe Mixon and Tank Dell. After the game, Curry said on television he’s a big fan of Stroud, a former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
“He’s had an unbelievable start to his career,” Curry said. “I saw him before the draft and wished him luck. Just chopping it up like two athletes do.”
It’s a case of mutual respect between Stroud and Curry, one of the top players in NBA history.
“My heart sunk,” Stroud said. “It’s crazy because I met Steph before my rookie season, before the draft. Actually, I met him at a restaurant in LA and I talked to him for over an hour. He was giving me game and just really pouring into me, as probably a vet did him. And just for him to take out that time, it meant a lot.”
Stroud and his brother previously attended the Warriors’ playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers. This was significant for Stroud, especially given how accomplished and respected Curry is on and off the court.
“It was cool,” Stroud said. “I think, for him to hear that too that people just are in awe of what he does, but for him to even recognize me or just to show love was amazing and it’s crazy to just see in person how good he is.
“It’s another person that takes what the talent that God has given him and has really developed that through training and through skill development and things like that and working on his body. He’s swole. It was dope to kind of just talk to him after the game. I’m definitely trying to get back in the building, for sure.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
