Stephen Curry (Part 1)

Wardell Stephen Curry II, commonly known as Stephen Curry, born on March 14, 1988, is a renowned American professional basketball player currently serving as the point guard for the Golden State Warriors in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, Curry's exceptional shooting skills have transformed basketball, inspiring teams and players worldwide to adopt a more three-point-oriented style of play. He boasts an impressive list of achievements, including four NBA championships, two NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, an NBA Finals MVP award, and numerous All-Star appearances.


Curry's basketball lineage is notable, being the son of former NBA player Dell Curry and the elder brother of Seth Curry, who is also an active NBA player. During his college career with the Davidson Wildcats, Curry left an indelible mark by setting scoring records for both Davidson and the Southern Conference. Notably, he propelled the Wildcats to the Elite Eight in 2008 and earned Conference Player of the Year honors twice. Additionally, Curry set the NCAA single-season record for three-pointers made during his sophomore year.
Selected as the seventh overall pick by the Warriors in the 2009 NBA draft, Curry quickly asserted himself as a dominant force in the league. In the 2014–15 season, he clinched his first league MVP award and led the Warriors to their first championship in four decades. The subsequent season saw Curry achieve an unprecedented unanimous MVP selection while also leading the league in scoring with remarkable efficiency.


Curry's impact on the court extends beyond individual accolades. He played a pivotal role in the Warriors' historic 2015–16 campaign, where they secured a record-breaking 73 wins in the regular season. Despite falling short in the NBA Finals that year, Curry's influence remained profound as he continued to guide the Warriors to further championship success in the following years.
Throughout his career, Curry has shattered numerous records, particularly in three-point shooting. He holds the NBA record for the most three-pointers made in a regular season, surpassing his own record multiple times. In addition, Curry boasts the highest career free-throw percentage in NBA history and has led the league in three-pointers made on multiple occasions.
In 2022, Curry added to his legacy by capturing his fourth NBA championship with the Warriors, earning his first Finals MVP award in the process. Notably, he also surpassed Ray Allen to become the all-time leader in three-pointers made in NBA history, solidifying his status as a transcendent figure in the sport.


Curry was born to Sonya and Dell Curry in Akron, Ohio, at Summa Akron City Hospital, while his father was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, he spent his formative years in Charlotte, North Carolina, where his father played the majority of his NBA career with the Charlotte Hornets. Dell often brought Curry and his younger brother Seth to his games, providing them with the opportunity to shoot around during warm-ups. The family temporarily relocated to Toronto when Dell joined the Raptors towards the end of his career. During this period, Curry showcased his basketball talents playing for the Queensway Christian College boys' basketball team, leading them to an undefeated season. He also competed for Toronto 5–0, a club team that competed across Ontario, facing off against future NBA players Cory Joseph and Kelly Olynyk, among others, and securing a provincial championship with an impressive 33–4 record.


Following Dell's retirement, the family returned to Charlotte, where Curry attended Charlotte Christian School. During his time there, he excelled on the basketball court, earning all-conference and all-state honors while leading his team to three conference titles and three state playoff appearances. Despite Curry's desire to follow in his father's footsteps and play college basketball for Virginia Tech, he received only a walk-on offer due to concerns about his slender 160-pound physique. Ultimately, Curry opted to attend Davidson College, where he had been extensively recruited since his tenth grade year.


Even before Curry stepped onto the court for his first game with the Wildcats, head coach Bob McKillop expressed high praise for him at a Davidson alumni event, confidently declaring, "Wait 'til you see Steph Curry. He is something special." Curry's collegiate debut against Eastern Michigan saw him tallying 15 points, albeit with 13 turnovers. However, he quickly rebounded in the subsequent game against Michigan, showcasing his scoring prowess with a remarkable 32-point performance alongside four assists and nine rebounds. By the end of his freshman season, Curry had established himself as a standout performer, leading the Southern Conference in scoring with an average of 21.5 points per game. His scoring contributions played a pivotal role in the Wildcats' impressive 29–5 overall record and clinching the Southern Conference regular-season title.


On March 2, 2007, in the Southern Conference tournament semi-finals against Furman, Curry set a milestone by making his 113th three-point field goal of the year, surpassing Keydren Clark's NCAA freshman season record for three-pointers. He further cemented his place in Davidson's record books by eclipsing the school's freshman scoring record with his 502nd point against Chattanooga on February 6, 2007. Despite Curry's stellar performance, Davidson fell short in the NCAA tournament as a 13th seed against Maryland, with Curry scoring a game-high 30 points in the 82–70 loss.
Despite the disappointment in the NCAA tournament, Curry's individual achievements were duly recognized. He was named the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, SoCon Tournament MVP, and selected to the SoCon All-tournament team, All-freshman team, and All-SoCon First Team. Additionally, he received an honorable mention in Sports Illustrated's All-Mid-Major team. Following his standout freshman season, Curry was chosen to represent the USA team at the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championships, where he contributed 9.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game in helping Team USA secure a silver medal finish.

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