The Curry effect: How Kentucky's Kam Williams' offseason with an NBA icon could shape his future

How one of the Wildcats' newest players could learn from a 3-point assassin

In the modern era of college basketball, offseason player development is the currency of champions. For the Kentucky Wildcats, that investment is already being made at the highest possible level. Incoming transfer Kameron "Kam" Williams was recently seen in a private workout with none other than four-time NBA Champion and undisputed greatest shooter of all time, Steph Curry.

For a young player like Williams, this is the equivalent of a budding artist getting a private lesson from Rembrandt, or a pianist learning under Chopin. The opportunity to share the court with Curry provides an invaluable education that extends far beyond simply improving a jump shot. It's a firsthand look at the meticulous preparation, relentless work ethic, and elite mindset required to perform at a legendary level.

What Williams can absorb from this experience is transformative. Curry's greatness isn't just in his near-perfect shooting mechanics; it's in his legendary conditioning and, most importantly, his revolutionary off-ball movement. He has built a Hall of Fame career by constantly relocating, using screens, and reading defenses to create a sliver of space—a skill that will be paramount in Coach Mark Pope’s modern, pace-and-space offense at Kentucky. Williams is learning how to be a threat even without the ball in his hands, a lesson that can earn a young player immediate trust from the coaching staff.

We’ve seen the "Curry Effect" on other players before. Look no further than his former Golden State teammate Jordan Poole. Under Curry’s tutelage, Poole evolved from a raw talent into a dynamic scorer, mastering the art of the quick release and developing a supreme confidence that led to a $140 million contract. While Williams is at a different stage in his career, the principles remain the same: proximity to greatness is a powerful catalyst for growth.

This workout is also a significant signal about the culture Pope is building in Lexington. It demonstrates a program where every single player, from the five-star recruit to the preferred walk-on, is expected to pursue excellence and leverage every opportunity for improvement.

Will this single workout turn Kam Williams into an All-SEC performer overnight? Probably not. But the technical skills, professional habits, and unwavering confidence gained from training with an icon like Steph Curry are assets that will benefit him for his entire career. It’s an investment in his future and a testament to the high standard being set under Mark Pope.