His spirit is electrifying. His passion is contagious. He is the breath of fresh air that the NBA so desperately needed to awaken its fans and renew people's love for the game. During the past two NBA seasons, Stephen Curry has skyrocketed to global stardom as if overnight. He has captured the attention, as well as the hearts, of people all over the world. Where did this kid come from? And why is he so beloved? As a Bay Area native and long-time Golden State Warriors fan I am biased; however, it's not just Warriors fans like myself that are speaking about Steph as if he is some sort of superhero. These days I meet people who are inspired by Curry wherever I go, from East Coast to West Coast and everywhere in between. It doesn't matter whether you are a basketball fan or not, from the Golden State or not. It's impossible not to appreciate the way Steph has overcome and completely obliterated every obstacle in his way, the poised and assertive manner with which he carries himself on and off the court, and, of course, the pure joy that flows out of him when he plays. Here are four reasons why you should love Steph Curry:
1. He is THE baby-faced assassin.
Don't be misled by his sweet, child-like facial features... Curry is as ruthless a competitor as one can be. It's the main reason behind his success. Standing at a slight six foot three inches, Curry is able to dominate the league by knocking down shots from WAY beyond the arc, blowing by anyone who dares to contest his shot AND finishing near the rim where he is a mere fern among redwoods. As ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith loves to point out, Curry is a true "marksman," which is a fitting title as he is arguably the GREATEST SHOOTER the game of basketball has ever seen.
2. He elevates the play of everyone around him.
The sign of a truly great player is that he or she brings his or her teammates and competitors to a higher level of play along with him or her. Curry does this without even trying! The entire 2015-16 regular season for the Golden State Warriors was full of entertainment and excitement because of the way that each opponent brought its A-game when facing the Warriors, creating a PLAYOFF ATMOSPHERE at almost every game. Players and coaches have tried EVERYTHING in the books to try to stop the hurricane that is Steph Curry and so far have found themselves frustrated and out of ideas. And... don't forget the way that every player on the Warriors team upped his game with Curry at the lead, culminating in the team with the BEST single-season record in NBA history (73-9.) Steph not only leads with the unbelievable, and so often clutch, plays he makes the court, but he is humble, always hungry and "coachable" (a rare characteristic to find in an NBA superstar nowadays, but one that has clearly paid off.)
3. His work ethic and non-complacency.
Even after winning the 2015 NBA Finals along with the 2014-15 regular season Most Valuable Player Award, Steph worked harder on his game than ever during the off-season and came back markedly better, scoring an average six points more PER GAME this season! He led the league in steals and joined an elite group of players from NBA history to shoot 50-40-90 (50.4 percent from the field, 45.4 percent from three-point range, and 91 percent from the free throw line.) Amazingly, he BEAT THE THREE-POINT RECORD WHICH HE SET LAST SEASON BY A WHOPPING 116, sinking a total of 402 three-pointers during the 2015-16 regular season!!!!!! Many believe Curry should be the unanimous MVP of the 2015-16 season, but how about Most Improved? It was recently announced that Curry had the fourth most votes for the award becoming the first ever MVP to be in the top 10 of Most Improved Player voting in the following season. He easily could have won the award. Seriously, how can someone who was THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER one season, be THAT much better the next?!?! Unheard of! If Stephen Curry's 2015-16 season isn't proof that hard work and dedication can make the impossible happen, I don't know what is...
4. His underdog story.
Coming out of high school, Stephen Curry was recruited by zero major Division I schools. However, one school did go hard after him. That school was Davidson College, a small university located in North Carolina, not well known in the world of basketball. That was until after the 2008 NCAA Tournament when Steph and the 10-seed Davidson Wildcats pulled off upset after upset, ultimately losing to the eventual National Champion Kansas Jayhawks in the fourth round. Steph's incredible shooting performance during the tournament that year put himself and his school on the map. Then, entering the NBA, many, if not most people doubted his ability to compete in the league because of his size. Unfortunately, his weak and injury-prone ankles didn't allow him to flourish in his first few seasons. That Steph Curry and those doubters (although some hardheadedly persist) seem long-gone now, however. Steph has never stopped improving his game and today he is being compared to the GREATEST PLAYERS OF ALL TIME! Only time will tell where he belongs in that category. For now, I will continue to be dazzled by the magic he creates on the court (along with his incredible teammates and coaching staff) and watch intently as history is being made in front of us...
Photo by Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group.
