When Stephen Curry entered the 2009 NBA Draft, he worked out with Chris Paul who served as a mentor.

"He was a great mentor when it came to understanding how a guy on his level prepared over the summer for an NBA season," Curry said after practice Friday. "How disciplined he was, his work ethic, and I got to see that firsthand after summer league through the beginning of the season. And obviously, we got a Carolina connection."

Paul was 24 at that time and also played collegiately in North Carolina at Wake Forest.

"I just told him to be aggressive, as aggressive as possible," Paul said then, almost nine years ago. "And as you watch games, because you're not sure if you're going to start when you come in as a rookie, I told him when you watch, learn different things. The best thing you can do coming in as a rookie is to watch. Watch basketball. When your team's not playing, watch another team play, because that's how you learn."

Curry and Paul are no longer as close but a mutual respect remains.