Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors is optimistic about the Lakers’ prospects in the in-season tournament.

Steph Curry, a star for the Golden State Warriors, was asked which team he saw as the Wild Card in the Western Conference and responded, “The Lakers,” referring to the upcoming NBA’s first-ever in-season tournament. For those who are not familiar with the format of the in-season tournament, this does not imply that Curry selected Los Angeles to defeat Golden State; rather, he selected them as the Western Conference’s Wild Card.

The team that finishes with the best record in group play among the teams that did not win their group will be the Wild Card team for each conference. Curry believes that the Lakers are this.

Both supporters and detractors of the Lakers have been taken aback by this response. The believers, of course, believe Los Angeles will advance out of their group without requiring a Wild Card spot. Naturally, the doubters believe the Lakers won’t advance past group play at all.

Though it’s difficult to predict what will happen because no one has seen the in-season tournament before, it should be a fun change of pace from the regular season games. The anticipation of witnessing the NBA’s novel concept in action is almost gone, as the tournament draws near.

Steph Curry of the Warriors is fond of the Lakers as a wild-card team for the time being.