The timing of recent visits to the Far East by NBA Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry
and Cleveland Cavaliers guard 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 from July 22-23, while Irving was there the next day. This
marked Curry's "third Asian trip" for Under Armour, 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). The KOREA TIMES' Ko Dong-hwan reported Curry's first fan meeting in Seoul "went off with a bang" on Thursday. 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 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 a mini-game joined by Curry and
his brother, Dallas Mavericks guard Seth Curry (KOREA TIMES, 7/27).
