The timing of recent visits to the Far East by Warriors G Stephen Curry and Cavaliers G Kyrie Irving may have been coincidental, but the trips "shared a common goal" in promoting "basketball and their respective sports brands," according to Jeff Barker of the Baltimore SUN. Curry was in Beijing on July 22-23, while Irving was there the next day. This marks Curry's "third Asian trip" for UA, which included his "first-ever stop in South Korea." Meanwhile, Irving was on his "first global tour" for Nike, which included stops in Japan, Taiwan and China (Baltimore SUN, 7/27). Curry was in Seoul on Thursday, and in Korea, Ko Dong-hwan noted the appearance "went off with a bang." A crowd of more than 2,000 saw Curry chest bump "with an audience member who excitedly ran around the court after scoring in a half-court shooting challenge." He also gave a "pair of new basketball shoes, with his name brand ... to the half-court shooting challenge winner." Curry took off the winner's shoes, "threw them off the court and put the new shoes on him." The moments of fun at the event "seemed definitely not just for show but were genuinely shared by Curry." The main events "included a basketball clinic for young aspirants, an obstacle challenge and the mini-game joined" by Curry and his brother, Mavericks G Seth Curry (KOREATIMES.co.kr, 7/27).
