Stephen Curry, having established his status as a superstar in the NBA, continues to captivate fans around the world with his top-notch play, even as a veteran.He has become a representative player from being the face of the Golden State Warriors. I would like to untangle his career so far, incorporating the content of the documentary film "Stephen Curry: Underrated", which is currently available on Apple TV+.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, an NBA team supported by Rakuten, is a point guard with an official height of 188 cm and weight of 84 kg.The average height of the players who participated in the NBA’s 2022-23 regular season is 201 cm, and their average weight is about 98 kg. Although their size is below average, they have continued to excel for 14 seasons.

Curry’s father, Dell, was a former NBA player and an active shooter. From an early age, Curry practiced shooting together with his younger brother, Seth (NBA Dallas Mavericks), at the training facilities of the team his father belonged to. He gained valuable experience, including playing one-on-one with NBA players.

However, the world isn’t so kind that one can join the NBA simply because their father was a former player.The majority of NBA players are elites who excelled as top-class players in their school teams, states, or regions during their student days.Curry’s career has not always been smooth sailing.

In the documentary “Stephen Curry: Underrated”, currently airing on Apple TV+, Curry reflects in this way.

“When I was 9 years old, I was with the Charlotte Stars’ U10 AAU (Amateur Athletic Union).Everyone seemed taller and stronger than me.I thought about how I, being petite and thin, could make a difference.That’s when I first realized, “I’m different from everyone else.”Though I often find myself thinking about the things I can’t do, I was always good at shooting.”And that’s how I contributed to the team.”

Curry, who was adept at making shots from a position far from the basketball ring, was also scoring points at Charlotte Christian High School by utilizing his inherent shooting skills.

However, when Curry entered high school, he was about 180 cm tall and used to shoot from around his waist level.Therefore, Dell, the father, decided to work on reforming his son’s shooting form during the summer after his first year.The first week was just days of shooting from under the goal, and as Curry revealed in the movie, “I couldn’t shoot from outside the paint area for three months,” the special training was tough.

Indeed, thanks to the results of rigorous training, he gradually became a well-known player in Charlotte, North Carolina.When he advanced to Davidson College, where Bob McKillop served as the head coach, he became the team’s leading scorer from his first year, averaging 21.5 points.

In 2008, Davidson College, with second-year student Curry at the center, defeated Gonzaga University in the first round of the NCAA tournament, and then won against Georgetown University in the following second round.Furthermore, they defeated the University of Wisconsin to advance to the Elite 8 (quarterfinals).

Despite suffering a close loss to the University of Kansas in the pursuit of reaching the Final Four (semi-finals) and concluding their second NCAA tournament, the remarkable charge led by Curry at Davidson University this year was so powerful it made him an instant center of attention.In 2008, the university achieved its first round breakthrough since 1969, and Curry mentioned in a documentary film, “That’s still the best moment in my player’s life.”

Although the team couldn’t participate in the tournament the following year in 2009, Curry, in his third year, scored an average of 28.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists, demonstrating his prowess.He announced that he would make an early entry into the 2009 NBA Draft without waiting for his fourth year of university.

Curry, who was selected 7th overall by the Warriors in the 2009 draft, was accumulating points in the NBA by making full use of his inherent shooting ability.Although he struggled with an ankle injury early in his career, he had a breakout in the 2012-13 season, his fourth year in the career, averaging 22.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 1.6 steals.

In the following 2013-14 season, he made it to the All-Star and All-NBA Second Team, and in the 2014-15 season, he led the Warriors to the top of the league with 67 wins and 15 losses, was chosen as the MVP, and the team stood at the pinnacle of the NBA for the first time in 40 years.

The Warriors broke the NBA’s all-time win record in the following 2015-16 season with 73 wins and 9 losses. Curry, who showcased a grand performance with an average of 30.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 2.1 steals, was selected as MVP for the second consecutive season, the first unanimous selection in history.

The Warriors, to which Curry belongs, missed out on a second consecutive victory in the 2016 NBA Finals, but achieved the team’s first ever back-to-back victories in 2017 and 2018.In 2019, they demonstrated unmatched strength by advancing to the finals.

Although they were far from the playoffs in the 2019-20 season and 2020-21 season, they made a stunning comeback in the 2021-22 season.In December 2021, during a New York Knicks game with 7 minutes and 33 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Curry made a brilliant 3-point shot from 45 degrees to the right. This surpassed Ray Allen’s (formerly of the Seattle Supersonics and others) record of 2973 career 3-pointers, propelling Curry to the top spot in NBA history.In the 2022 playoffs, he led the Warriors to their 7th league victory in four years with a superhuman performance.

Curry, who won his fourth championship and was selected as the MVP of the finals for the first time, reflected in the documentary film, “I’ve been overlooked and underestimated, but that has become the driving force to push me forward.”

The photo was taken during the “NBA JAPAN GAMES” in 2022.Curry, amidst his hectic schedule, also managed to visit the basketball court at the Ikesei Youth Exchange Center. This facility is developed by Rakuten Group in collaboration with Setagaya Ward.

The summer this year when the documentary film was released.Curry spent a busy offseason playing golf, singing at a concert by the popular rock band “Paramore” held at his home arena, the Chase Center, and organizing camps with aspiring NBA players.

On the other hand, Curry recently told the American media outlet “PBS,” “I feel like I’m still in the prime of my career.”At the age of 35, which is considered older in the NBA, Curry managed to record an average of 29.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in the most recent 2022-23 season.Despite being guarded by the opposing team, he was able to make an impressive 42.7% of his three-point shots, averaging 4.9 successful shots. This could certainly be said to place him at the top level.

Moreover, Curry charms his fans with his smile, both on and off the court, and interacts with the children who come to the game venue, providing them with courage and an experience that is second to none.In addition, he is a flawless entertainer who amuses the audience by mixing playful expressions during pre-match warm-ups and in the middle of games.

Of course, behind that lies a love for Basketball, and the motivation to change the Underrated that has been held up to now, and the accumulation of efforts to overturn that evaluation.In addition to shooting skills, he has developed a robust physique that enables him to make shots even under the goal, and has improved his stamina to keep running on the court, continuing to evolve even after joining the NBA.

However, in the NBA, where player turnover is extremely high, even when becoming a globally recognized superstar, Curry never becomes complacent.

“I remember where my journey started from.I’m aware of that every day.The right things happen in life.The same thing happens on the court.That’s why I try not to be conceited.”That’s my life,” (source)

From being underrated to becoming an undeniable presence, Curry is also a game changer who brought a new trend to the basketball world with his three-point shooting.In the future, there will likely be many players aiming to join the NBA like Curry.

However, a player like Curry, who makes a strong impact on the court while maintaining humility in his pursuit of becoming a superstar and is loved all over the world, may never appear again, so I would really like you to watch Curry’s play.

TEXT: Hiroyuki Akiyama