Warriors' Stephen Curry captivating crowds in playoff run the way he did in NCAA tournament

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) reacts after scoring against the Denver Nuggets during the second half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series on Sunday, April 28, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) (The Associated Press)

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry lays up a shot during the second half of Game 6 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, May 2, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) (The Associated Press)

OAKLAND, Calif. – Stephen Curry can captivate almost any audience in a way almost nobody else can.

Curry's connection to the crowd at ear-splitting Oracle Arena has been must-see TV in the NBA playoffs, leading the Golden State Warriors to the second round against the Spurs starting Monday night in San Antonio. Hall of Famers and celebrities tweet about his games. Even opponents marvel at his record-breaking shooting stroke.

If his stardom continues to rise, the Warriors hope Curry can also make a franchise that has remained remarkably popular in the Bay Area an appealing place for marquee free agents.

The diminutive guard who dazzled during Davidson's run to the regional finals of the 2008 NCAA tournament has suddenly stolen the NBA spotlight the way he so often did in college.