When Stephen Curry was drafted by the Golden State Warriors seventh overall in 2009, nobody knew what his career would look like. There were doubts about how his score-first game and size would fare in the NBA. Now, he’s in the conversation as one of the best point guards of all time and cemented himself as the greatest shooter ever. Why is Stephen Curry famous, and what is so special about him?

What is Stephen Curry Best Known For?

Coming out of Davidson College, Stephen Curry’s shooting and scoring prowess was always on full display. He averaged 21.5 points as a freshman, 25.9 as a sophomore, and 28.6 as a junior. He made 40% of his three-point tries in a college, at a whopping 9.7 attempts a game!

From these stats alone, a casual fan could probably envision what Steph would look like in the pros. The biggest detriments were his size (6-foot-1, 180 pounds soaking wet) and the fact that he was a subpar playmaker (3.7 assists per game in college). Amidst these questions, the Warriors took a flyer on Curry, and boy, the game paid off handsomely.

After a slow start due to various ankle issues, Curry has become an all-time best. The Warriors built the team around him, and by Curry’s sixth season, he was already a champion. The North Carolina native then engineered the most recent NBA championship dynasties, winning three of the four championships from 2015 to 2018 and appearing in six of the last nine NBA Finals.

Needless to say, Stephen Curry was an exceptional basketball player. Here are some of his personal achievements and some interesting facts about Stephen Curry:

• Curry is widely considered to have blown the NBA’s three-point revolution wide open. By his fourth year, he was attempting almost eight treys a game. His three-point attempts reached double figures in six of the last eight seasons, and he is making 43% of his downtown tries for his career.
• Stephen Curry is the only unanimous NBA MVP in history. He achieved the feat in 2016 after averaging 30.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 2.1 steals per game on 50/40/90 shooting splits!
• Curry holds the record for most three-pointers made in a season (402) and all-time (3,390 and counting).
• He is one of 12 NBA greats to win back-to-back MVPs. The others were Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic.
• Curry put the Under Armour brand on the basketball sneaker map. He has already released 10 signature shoes and counting.
• Steph had 38 games (and counting) where he made at least nine three-pointers. That’s the most in NBA history. The next on the list is Damian Lillard, with 11.
• Speaking of shooting, Curry holds the distinction as the player with the highest accuracy mark from the free throw line (90.9%).
• He led the Warriors to finish with the all-time best record in both regular season (73-9 in 2015-16) and playoffs (16-1 in 2017).

The craziest thing about all this is the fact that Curry is far from done. Even though he is on the wrong side of 30, he just came off his third-best scoring season in terms of averages and field goal shooting. After all, he captured his first NBA Finals MVP and fourth title fairly recently, in 2022.

How Did Stephen Curry Get So Famous?

Before he became a perennial All-Star and the most feared shooter to ever exist, Curry made waves on the national basketball scene as a 20-year-old sophomore at Davidson. He led the school’s Cinderella run to the Elite Eight as a 10th seed. 

They beat No. 7 Gonzaga, No. 2 Georgetown, and No. 3 Wisconsin. They ran into the eventual champions, Kansas, whose lineup was full of future NBA players. The Jayhawks were headlined by Darell Arthur, Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush, Sasha Kaun, and Cole Aldrich. However, it was too late; the name “Stephen Curry” was already out there.

Over four tournament games, Curry averaged 32.0 points and made 5.8 3-pointers per game while shooting 44.2 percent from three-point distance. Davidson failed to replicate their amazing run in Curry’s junior year, but it was a portent of things to come.

Curry made an immediate impact in the NBA, averaging 17.5 points in his first year. However, since the league was still not mentally open to the volume three-point shooting as it is now, Curry was somewhat still limited. 

It wasn’t until Steve Kerr took over coaching duties that the stars lined up for Steph and Golden State. Kerr allowed Curry to shoot to fire over eight threes a game. Meanwhile, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, and Draymond Green began to develop as players. Andrew Bogut provided leadership and playmaking at the center position, while other veterans like Leandro Barbosa and Shaun Livingston stabilized the bench.

Since that championship run in 2015, Curry’s star began to rise with no signs of wavering. He became the franchise leader in points, assists, field goals, and three-pointers (among others) in the playoffs and regular season. In Golden State’s 2022 championship quest, Curry averaged 30.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.1 assists while making over four treys a game.

What is So Special About Stephen Curry?

At 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, Curry is four inches below the height of NBA players and nearly 40 pounds lighter than average. Physically, he is nothing special. But go beyond the appearance, and you’ll see what makes Steph extraordinary. 

What is special about Stephen Curry? Consider some.

• Stephen Curry’s shooting form is actually pretty remarkable. Contrary to what coaches and trainers say, Curry is a palm shooter. This means that he grips the ball in his entire hand while resting the ball’s weight on his palm. He releases the ball off his finger pads as he flicks the wrist.
• Curry’s conditioning is second to none. Because of the attention he receives from opposing defenses, he had to move non-stop to get open. There was a story of one NBA player who joined Steph in one of his conditioning workouts and threw up five minutes into the drill. According to tracking data, Curry travels a total of 2.5 miles every game, but he’s just as fresh in the fourth quarter as he is in the first.
• People say Stephen Curry only shoots threes, but that’s far from the truth. Curry has worked hard enough to become one of the league’s elite finishers at the rim. In fact, in 2022-23, Curry made 72.9% of his 170 shots at the rim. If anything, he’s even better at attacking the paint than shooting threes!
• As far as NBA fans are concerned, Curry’s handles are among the top 2 or 3 in the league, depending on who you ask. This insane ballhandling ability makes the court open for him, whether he is looking for a deep shot, a midrange J, or an inside incursion.
• If his shooting, conditioning, ballhandling, and finishing skills are second to none, his impact on the game is up there. The three-point revolution wouldn’t have happened without Curry. If you’re watching kids and 20-somethings play in the park, shooting half-court shots in a game, that’s the influence Curry brought to the game.

How Stephen Curry Inspires Young Players

Why is Stephen Curry inspirational? Contrary to what casual fans may think, Curry is not a one-trick pony. As already mentioned, his skills and work ethic are among the best for any athlete. Because he displays a high level of skills, young players strive for that same level of dedication.

Here are other Steph Curry traits worthy of imitation from the younger generation:

• Curry remains close to his family and has a great relationship with his mom and dad. This underscores the importance of family support and maintaining solid connections.
• He is known for his sportsmanship and positive attitude. Curry’s team-first mindset demonstrates the importance of being a good teammate and contributing positively to team dynamics.
• Curry’s accessibility to fans through social media and public appearances helps young players connect to him, making his journey relatable. He is second to LeBron James in Instagram followers and easily the most-viewed basketball player on the Internet in 2022.
• Despite his fame, Curry remains humble and down-to-earth, teaching young players that staying grounded is essential, no matter their success.
• Curry’s journey from being doubted and overlooked in his early career due to his size to becoming an NBA superstar showcases that hard work, determination, and self-belief can lead to success. Youngsters can learn a thing or two from Steph in that regard.
• As a team leader, Curry showcases leadership qualities on and off the court. Young players learn the value of leading by example, motivating their teammates, and improving everyone.
• Curry’s resilience in overcoming injuries and setbacks exemplifies the importance of facing challenges and never giving up.
• As a father, Curry serves as a role model for aspiring athletes by showing how to balance family, career, and personal growth.

Wrapping Things Up: Why is Stephen Curry Famous?

Stephen Curry is one of the most recognizable, if not the most recognizable, athletes in the world. Take note of that: Not just basketball players, but athletes. His impact on and off the court is immense. Curry is credited with spearheading the modern three-point revolution while staying involved in the community.

Why is Stephen Curry famous? His game is really something else. Besides being the best shooter basketball has seen, he also has elite handles and finishes in the rim with the best of them. Curry’s basketball skills also translated to success. He led Davidson to an improbable berth in the NCAA Tournament Elite 8 in his sophomore season and was the driving force behind Golden State’s four titles. Stephen Curry is still at the top of his game 13 seasons in, so fans still have many things to look out for from him.

If you’re interested in learning Stephen Curry‘s story, check out this basketball biography book.

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