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The conventional wisdom goes something like this: Veterans are more likely to get the benefit of the doubt from referees. If you're a rookie, you need to build your reputation.

If you're a superstar, you're given even more leeway. As your star rises, so should your free-throw rate, especially when you control the ball.

This doesn't apply to Stephen Curry. The Golden State Warriors point guard has earned the past two Most Valuable Player Awards and is one of the most feared and explosive offensive threats in the game today.

While his game is largely predicated on his ability to knock down shots from long range, he's not a one-dimensional offensive threat. His knack for running out of the pick-and-roll, driving the lane and either dishing off to a teammate or going to the rim for a layup or floater means he's often initiating contact.

Curry's free-throw rate, however, has stagnated over the years, even as his offensive efficiency has skyrocketed, and even as more of his shot selection occurs closer to the rim.

Among 22 All-Stars this season who are averaging 20 points or more, Curry ranks 19th in free-throw rate, better than only Kemba Walker, Kyrie Irving and teammate Klay Thompson.

Compared to the other active MVPs—and let's throw in Kobe Bryant's numbers from last season as well—Curry's free-throw rate is only better than that of Dirk Nowitzki, who has taken a staggeringly low 7.4 percent of his shots this season within five feet of the rim.

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When looking at usage rate, the numbers are even starker. Entering Thursday's game against the Orlando Magic, Curry's usage rate stands at 29.8, the second-highest seasonal mark of his career. Of the 16 players in the league with usage rates at 29 or higher, Curry's free-throw rate ranks 15th, better than only Irving's.

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Any increase in Curry free-throw output has been solely as a result of volume; taking more shots overall invariably leads to more free throws:

Pct. of shots within 5 feet of rim Free-throw rate Free throws/game 2012-13 13.5% .210 3.4 2013-14 17.8% .252 3.9 2014-15 22.9% .251 3.9 2015-16 27.6% .250 4.6 2016-17 24.7% .252 4.2

When you compare Curry's drive stats to other superstars—specifically by isolating the number of drives to the rim, the number of free-throw attempts that resulted from such drives and the percentage of drives that resulted in the defender being called for a foul—the differences are notable:

Drives Free-throw attempts FTA per drive Foul pct. LeBron James 566 176 .311 20.1% James Harden 713 166 .233 13.6% Russell Westbrook 764 230 .301 18.2% Stephen Curry 409 76 .186 11.7%

This has been a pattern throughout Curry's rise. Even though he earned the distinction of becoming the only unanimous MVP in league history and is on pace for his highest number of career drives (around 500), he's drawing fewer fouls than ever before:

Drives Free-throw attempts FTA per drive Foul pct. 2013-14 480 108 .225 13.3% 2014-15 456 89 .195 12.1% 2015-16 497 113 .227 14.3% 2016-17 409 76 .186 11.7%

To be clear, evidence of referee bias in favor of superstars is flimsy at best, but either the above table is a testament to how Curry (more than any other superstar) can avoid contact or it's something more innate and unexplainable.

Hall of Famer Jerry West, the Logo himself, has noticed: "He [Curry] doesn't get any calls at all," he told the media before Game 2 of last June's Finals. "He gets no calls."

It was a phenomenon on display during the Warriors' 103-102 road loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves last Friday. In the waning moments of the first quarter, Ricky Rubio—knowing the Wolves had a foul to give—tried to intentionally foul Curry before he could get a shot off.

Two swipes at Curry's body, and neither was called. Sure, the Warriors benefitted in this case, but letting opposing defenders get away with such clear physicality can set a precedent.

Curry was also shortchanged later in the game in a loose-ball, 50/50 situation that also centered on Rubio's physical play. With 55 seconds left, the Wolves up by one and a deflected ball careening right toward Curry's waiting arms, Rubio dove headfirst at both the ball and Curry's knees.

Rubio came away the ball, and Minnesota ended up holding on to win by that same slim margin. The next day, the league said Rubio should've been called for a loose-ball foul.

Head coach Steve Kerr was no doubt relieved the play didn't result in a serious injury for his point guard. He spoke with Bleacher Report before the game about the idea of Curry not receiving calls at a rate commensurate with his usage.

"A big part of the league now is that guys really are incredible at fooling the refs," Kerr said. "They really are. Guys are making an art of going up for a shot and actually grabbing the offender. Jump into them, grab his arm. It's an acting class."

That's not Curry's forte.

It could be due to his smaller frame—a player built like, say, James Harden can better withstand the physicality of such a method—or how rhythm and confidence are so important to his overall production. As the final seconds of the shot clock tick down, Curry is more likely to look for an open space to shoot rather than thinking how he's going to lure a flailing defender into committing a bailout foul.

Some coaches are more vociferous about such things during the course of a game. Kerr has been known to break a whiteboard or two, but there's a deeper meaning at play.

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"I don't think, as coaches, we influence calls by refs. I think you better back up your players," Kerr said. "When you feel like your guy's not getting a good deal, that's part of your job is to back him up and take a technical now and then and take a fine. The players know you've got their back."

Kerr also noted that team officials need to be in contact with the league if they feel their players are being denied legitimate foul calls.

"I think there are times where it's important to point that out in between games," Kerr said. "You can send stuff to the league. I don't think you're directly influencing calls, but I think you've got to make the league aware when there's something that you don't like."

That's about all Kerr can do, and all that Curry can do is keep playing his game. He remains one of the game's singular scoring threats, even if his free-throw rate lags.

The reason why remains anyone's guess.

Warriors Insider's Notebook

Home Sweet Home

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The locker room scene after Friday's loss in Minneapolis was as desultory as any the Warriors have produced during this interesting and inconsistent season.

It was whisper-quiet until Andre Iguodala put down his plate of postgame buffet and uttered the comments that would soon cost him $10,000. The only sure source of joy came courtesy of former teammate (and current T-Wolve) Brandon Rush, who stopped by with his young son to offer a quick hello.

After Saturday night's loss in San Antonio, the mood was still somewhat depressed, although the outcome (given that Curry, Thompson, Iguodala and Draymond Green all sat) wasn't surprising.

After his 0-of-12 performance from the floor, rookie Patrick McCaw looked catatonic, sitting in front of his locker stall, staring at his phone as various team members walked by to offer encouragement. Assistant coach Willie Green, who played 12 years in the NBA, was first up. Matt Barnes, who is now in his 14th season, offered the same kind of encouragement.

But now the Warriors have emerged through the most taxing part of their schedule. They lost Kevin Durant to a sprained MCL that will likely sideline him until the playoffs and at one point had given up the No. 1 seed to the the San Antonio Spurs, but they are otherwise no worse for the wear.

Even Durant himself, doing some light shooting sans knee brace, was a welcome sight at the team practice facility Tuesday. Now the players can get back to their families, sleep in their own beds and not have to meander unfamiliar locker rooms as much.

Golden State responded in its first test Tuesday night. Behind a historically significant performance from Green, 28 points from Thompson and 29 from Curry, the Warriors came back from down 12 heading into the fourth quarter to beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 106-104.

With 10 of their final 15 games at Oracle Arena, the Warriors have every chance to overtake the Spurs during these last four weeks and secure a path to the conference finals that goes through Denver and Utah as opposed to, say, Memphis and Houston.

"Just want to get back to the routine here at home, with our practice/game schedule," Curry said after Tuesday's shootaround. "Rejuvenating the mind and body as much as you can."

Clark Can

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The solitary bright spot in Saturday's loss to San Antonio was the shooting of Ian Clark, who's played his way in and out of the rotation at a couple of points this season.

For now, his stock is on the upswing. Clark poured in 36 points on 15-of-21 shooting against the Spurs. Over the past nine games, Clark is making shots at a robust 60.9 percent clip—tops of anyone on the team during that stretch.

After the game, Clark talked about how simply being prepared to have his number called has been his M.O. for as long as he can remember.

"Making sure I pay attention to the game plan and just being a good teammate," Clark said. "You do all those things, and good things will happen to you."

Erik Malinowski is the Golden State Warriors lead writer for B/R. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. You can follow him on Twitter: @erikmal. All stats via NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com.