Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd Name Their Favorite NBA Player Without Hesitation

Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd Name Their Favorite NBA Player Without Hesitation originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers and UConn Huskies star Azzi Fudd didn’t hesitate when asked about their favorite NBA players during the latest episode of Instagram’s “Close Friends Only” podcast. 

The two basketball standouts, who first met as teenagers and went on to play together at UConn, revealed their picks without second thoughts.

Azzi Fudd Goes Straight for Steph Curry

When Bueckers asked, “Who’s your favorite NBA player?” Fudd immediately replied, “Steph Curry. You already knew that.”

She praised the Golden State Warriors star for his movement without the ball. “The way he moves out the ball, I think is incredible,” Fudd said.

Curry’s skill in creating space and his ability to score from anywhere on the floor has inspired countless young players, including Fudd. 

Bueckers agreed on Curry’s brilliance, calling him “must watch TV every single time” but added another name: Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving.

“They pull out something new every single game, so it’s fun to watch,” she said.

Bueckers’ mention of Irving points to her appreciation for players with exceptional ball-handling skills and flair for the dramatic, the same traits she’s known for in her own game.

Fudd’s choice of Curry comes as the Warriors star enters his 17th NBA season, still inspiring the next generation. Off the court, Curry continues to run his annual Curry Camp.

The 11-time NBA All-Star and four-time champion has interacted with both Bueckers and Fudd through his training program. The camp, hosted in partnership with Under Armour, has featured top young basketball talents, including current NBA and WNBA players.

The podcast episode also included other topics, such as the players’ friendship, basketball player “red flags” and their use of social media to connect.

Paige Bueckers’ Recent WNBA Milestone

Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, is currently in her rookie season with the Wings. On Tuesday, she played a central role in an 81-80 win over the Indiana Fever, which snapped a five-game losing skid for Dallas.

In that game, Bueckers scored 16 points on 6-of-19 shooting, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out eight assists. The Wings star rookie now has 12 games with at least 15 points and five assists this season, putting her in a second-place tie with former Houston Comets guard Cynthia Cooper-Dyke. Only Indiana’s Caitlin Clark has more, tallying the same numbers 30 times in her debut season.

With the victory, the Wings improved to 9-24 on the season. The team has 11 games remaining, including a four-game road stretch from Aug. 29 to Sept. 7.

Related: Paige Bueckers Names the Greatest Women’s Basketball Player of All Time

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 14, 2025, where it first appeared.