Stephen Curry Olympics timeline: Why Paris 2024 is Warriors star's first Olympic Games with Team USA

Few trophy cases rival the one of Stephen Curry, a four-time NBA champion, two-time league MVP and one-time NBA Finals MVP. And while the accolades have piled up throughout his 15-year NBA career, the all-time great has yet to check one significant box.

At 36, Curry is set to make his Olympics debut in Paris, returning to the international stage to represent USA Basketball for the first time in a decade. Curry played a key role as the team won gold at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

So, while this year isn't Curry's first time playing for Team USA, the Olympics stage comes with a different spotlight than before. As Curry sets his sights on his first-ever Olympic gold, many have wondered what took him so long. Here's why the Paris Games are Curry's first Olympic outing.

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Stephen Curry Olympics timeline

Curry, who cemented his arrival as an NBA superstar with his first MVP season, has been one of America's best players for over a decade. While his standing made him an ideal candidate for Team USA's 12-man rosters for the Olympics in 2016 and 2020, Curry did not participate.

Why Stephen Curry did not play in 2016 Olympics

After unanimously winning MVP of the 2015-16 NBA season, Curry cited health as the reason for withdrawing from Olympic consideration in 2016. Here is part of Curry's statement, which he released during the 2016 NBA Finals:

After a great deal of internal thought and several discussions with my family, the Warriors and my representatives, I've elected to withdraw my name from the list of eligible players on Team USA's preliminary roster for the 2016 Summer Games in Brazil …

… Due to several factors — including recent ankle and knee injuries — I believe this is the best decision for me at this stage of my career. It's an incredible honor to represent your country and wear 'USA' on your chest, but my primary basketball-related objective this summer needs to focus on my body and getting ready for the 2016-17 NBA season.

A knee injury held Curry out of four games during the 2016 NBA Playoffs and the Finals series went seven games, adding on to Curry's workload and making for what would have been a quick turnaround for a hobbled player.

Why Stephen Curry did not play in 2020 Olympics

The 2020 Olympics were postponed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the Olympic games were rescheduled for 2021, Curry elected not to participate, instead opting to focus on the upcoming NBA season.

“It just wasn’t right for me,” Curry told The Athletic in 2021. “Very confident in that decision. No regrets at all. …  But there’s always that itch to play and play on the biggest stage, like the Olympics. But it just wasn’t the right thing for me and the right time.”

Curry acknowledged that Golden State's loss in the 2021 Play-In Tournament had a hand, as did the health and safety protocols that existed at the time. He was also eligible for a lucrative contract extension and going to compete could have threatened his health.

As it turned out, the decision paid off in more ways than one. Curry finalized a four-year $215 million contract extension with the Warriors in August 2021 and led the franchise to the 2022 NBA title 10 months later.

Stephen Curry Team USA timeline

Curry first represented Team USA at 19, representing the country's Under-19 National Team after his freshman year at Davidson College. After losing in the 2007 U-19 championship game, Curry represented the Senior Men's National Team in 2010 and 2014, winning gold in both tournaments.