Anyone who watches basketball, and people who don’t for that matter, know that Steph Curry is not only a force to be reckoned with, but will go down in history as one of the greatest to ever step foot on a professional court. I’m not here to list out every Steph Curry stat over the past year or so because we all know his stats are insane. Instead, I want to give people what they don’t already know – a snapshot of Curry’s life and to showcase that he didn’t receive this fame and success overnight.
Most people didn’t even know his name until about a couple of years ago. Curry’s rise to the top came from hard work, dedication, perseverance and a little luck on his side.
Out of high school, Curry did not even receive a Division-1 college offer. He instead attended Davidson College, a private liberal arts school. Following his three-year college career, Curry was drafted No. 7 overall, by the Golden State Warriors.
Curry made his NBA Debut on October 28, 2009 – probably shocking to most people who are fans of his, believing his career started later than that. On top of that, he was among the starting five and finished with 14 points. In the 2009-2010 season, Curry averaged 17.5 points per game. He was also named to the NBA All-Rookie Team.
The following year, Curry broke the Warriors’ single-season record by shooting 93.4 percent along with receiving the "Sportsmanship Award."
In a league surrounded by future Hall of Famers, Curry stands out to anyone and everyone – and talk of him being overrated can be quickly thrown out by simply glancing at his accomplishments over the years, or turning on the TV and watching just a minute of a Warriors game.
LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis… the list goes on when talking about unbelievable talent in the NBA today. But, somehow Curry is always the one on top, his consistency and fluency throughout every game, even the losses, prove to the league, the fans, and himself, that he deserves the praise he is getting today.
Not to mention that Curry is lucky enough to be on a team that only makes him better. His teammates are able to match up to his playing style and success, highlighting the best aspects of him and his team.
Every coach he was placed with only had great things to say about his strategy and work ethic. Steve Kerr even mentions that at the professional level, you are not done yet and that Curry is always the first one in and the last one out in practice.
“His vision isn’t just the vision of being one step ahead in terms of the action on the court,” explained Bob McKillop, Curry’s coach at Davidson. “His vision is also his ability to see what’s in front of him.”
I’m not writing this to be on Curry’s ginormous bandwagon, even if I am a Golden State fan. I don’t idolize him, however, I do give credit where credit is due. Curry is a hell of a player and we are witnessing history through him. His work should teach others as it has taught me, that nothing is handed to you, you have to earn everything you seek. Curry exemplifies everything it means to be a true warrior.
