Stephen the curry, just 10 3 seconds after breaking Ray Allen’s all-time 3-point record, together forged a historic career over 12 seasons every young player dreams of.
In a generation defined by shooting, Curry is considered the best.
“I think people have compared him to me and to Reggie [Miller] and as for other ADCs in the past, great shooters in the NBA, but he’s really operated somewhat in a lane of his own,” Allen said recently.
However, that’s not always the case. Curry was once the 180-pound rookie — still better known as the baby-faced guard from Davidson College, who burst onto the national stage with a smooth leap and confidence. surpass his years – compete in his first 3 points. compete with some of the best in the NBA, including Boston Celtics swinger Paul Pierce and Denver Nuggets keeper Chauncey Billups, who are currently 9th and 18th on the all-time 3-pointer list.
“I’ve watched the three-point competition all my life,” Curry told ESPN. “My father has been there many times. So many people that I admire, Reggie [Miller], Ray [Allen], Rex [Chapman], a lot of guys I know have been through that and I was so excited when I got my first chance. “
As a commentator for Turner Sports, Miller knew he was seeing the future of basketball flash before him during the 2010 All-Star Weekend in Dallas.
“Come here, my boy is here!” Miller exclaimed as Curry started the first round.
It didn’t take long for Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith to see what Miller saw in Golden Empire Warriors protection point.
“Reggie, he shoots like you,” Barkley said. “Even if he misses, it looks good.”
Curry closed the night just behind Pierce after missing three of his five shots on the final rack, but he knew in that moment he was in for the biggest stretch the game has to offer. .
“I lost, runner-up, but the talk around the sidelines, like all the men, all the stars, all the people who showed up there [was] ‘Ahh, I’m betting on you! It’s about to happen! “” Curry said.
“I didn’t even shoot that well in my rookie year, I just had a reputation before me because of my dad, because of the way I played at Davidson. It was the first time I really did – and that’s it. So did Paul Pierce, in ’09. That was like Paul Pierce – and it was like, ‘This is dope.’ People think I can hit the ball as well as I do, so that’s cool. “
Eleven years later, Miller didn’t hesitate to be asked if Curry would surpass him and Allen to become the greatest shooter in NBA history.
“Yes,” Miller said. “That’s what he is.”
The 2010 All-Star weekend became a pivotal moment for a young shooter on his way to superstardom. Twelve seasons later, before a performance that officially established him as the greatest shooter in NBA history, the players and coaches who shared the field with Curry recalled moments when they knew they were playing. witnessed a generation of talent.
Davidson College, 2006-2009
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At the Jimmy V Classic on December 9, 2008, Steph Curry caught fire in the second half to put Davidson back in victory over West Virginia.
Bob McKillop, Davidson University head coach: “We played Eastern Michigan in his first college game. He’s got nine goals in the first half and we’re down 18 points and he’s not even playing the point guard. So I reflected back to our coaching staff at halftime and said, ‘Should we take him out of the squad?’ And then we just said, ‘Well, he’s living in the moment, he’ll be back in the second half.’ And he’s 15 and 13, I think. 15 points, 13 spins. Not the double you want; However, it was all a result of that experience in Las Vegas, where we saw something special. And we saw his ability to live in the moment, beyond time. Today they talk about the brief anniversary, anyway, he has been completely consistent about that throughout his career for us. “
“Next night he drops 30 on Michigan. “
Dell Curry, former NBA guard: “His first college tournament. I attended that tournament, I was coming back to the airport, and coach McKillop said, ‘Your son is going to make some money playing this game. ‘ So it was just the first college tournament that I saw him… I know he’s a special guy, mentally different because he had a terrible first half. is, he could have had eight rotations. And he came back in the second half and was also very aggressive, didn’t tackle him at all, played great in the second half.”
Doc Rivers, Philadelphia 76ers Head Coach: “I was in the crowd when he played my eldest son, Jeremiah, Davidson-Georgetown, and watch him, what he’s doing there, you just say, ‘That guy’s different.’ “
Klay Thompson, Guardian of the Golden State Warriors: “I watched him bring Davidson to Elite 8 with a bunch of lousy college players… nah they’re good, but none of them make it to the pro. They beat a bunch of teams with pro players, future pro players. I just think that never changed when he got to the NBA. I think he played exactly the same way. You look at how he played at Davidson, his rookie year, which is why it was quite shocking to have 6 draft picks in front of him after he led the nation in the finish. scoring, but hey, I’m not a draftsman. “
Golden State Warriors, 2009-present
Chauncey Billups, Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach: “He’s got that game against the Knicks at the Garden, and I was watching that game, and when I watched that game, I said, ‘Well, good night, Irene. Now it’s over. ‘ Because of the confidence that comes with that, and you’re doing it in that building on that stage, in front of the world, I know it’s over. There hasn’t been any turning back from that and I’m very happy for him. “
Draymond Green, The strength of the Golden State Warriors forward: “The blow to the Clippers. When he crosses the lane, behind, behind, step back, at the top of the pin. That hit. Remember that scene? This is one of those for me where it’s like ‘No, I’m different from all of you. Like many people can shoot, but I am better than everyone. ‘ I think that was the moment where it was like, ‘That’s it.’ “
Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors: “I think that famous scene where I’m holding my head after a shot he took with the Clippers where he dribbles in the back and throws four people – that shot is really a beautiful moment. And for that That’s when I realized I just had to forget everything I ever learned about good and bad. Because with Steph, the old rules don’t count. You have to set up. a new standard in my mind about what a good shot is and a bad shot, so I think that shot is the ultimate expression of confidence and bravery. In the beginning I had all the Hall of Fame coaches, Phil Jackson and Pop and Lenny Wilkens, and Lute Olson, Cotton Fitzsimmons, all of them saying to me, “That’s a bad shot! That’s a bad blow!” I had to get all those voices out of my head and realize this guy – he’s different. He’s built differently. And I don’t just have to allow him. doing that and I still need to embrace it. Because he gives us a dimension of terror for teams. So I don’t remember the last time I said to Steph, ‘Hey, that’s it. A bad shot, there can be a better shot.’ He’s gone.”
Kevon Looney, Golden State Warriors Center: “My rookie year was the year we won 73 games and he performed every night. I think the first time I really realized it was probably when we play in New Orleans. And he liked 50 something and it could have been three quarters. He’s shooting from half way across the field, he’s doing all these crazy things, he’s falling and he’s shaking his shoulders. I thought, ‘This has to be the best show ever.’ I’m about to graduate from college, a year after graduating from high school, like I’ve never seen anything like this. So then I started to realize that he had something special, he did it every night.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks power forward: “Play in OKC. I think there were only 10 seconds left and he got up from about two steps after the end of the first half. That is, like, 2016? I’m young. I said, “That guy is nice.”
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers front: “I mean, first of all, the fact that the other night when they were playing we were actually watching him to see if he’d make 16 3s in a game, that just goes to you. I mean, if there’s ever been a guy in NBA history who can make 16 3s, it’s Steph Curry. I’m sitting there literally and I am. doing the math in my head, I thought, ’16 3s… OK. I know he’s hit 12 a few times Well, if anyone can do that, it’ll be he’s… ‘He’s hit a lot of big shots against us. He’s obviously been phenomenal his whole career, and more importantly, just a great guy. And I wish I could have been there if he broke the record… We are all witnesses to what Steph Curry has done in his career and how he changed the game and he is one of the – bridge lifelong basketball player.”
Steve Nash, brooklyn network Head Coach: “I thought when I first started playing against him, maybe there was a little bit of a big brother, little brother, where I felt I had the upper hand. And then when I was knocked out of the tournament, it’s like me there’s no point in being on the field with him… This guy always produces amazing shots What, he took a shot the other day from the driveway out in the arena?”
Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns point protection: “I also think for me, to be involved in junior basketball, AAU basketball, and know Trae Young When he was young and playing AAU and saw Trae half way across the field, pull up, shoot, that was all Steph. That’s all of those things. Look how the kids shoot the ball now, too deep and things like that, that’s the influence he definitely has. “
Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs Head Coach: “I think he’s still, for some reason, at the beginning. look at him and say, ‘Hey, he’s going to do this.’ But when the years go by and you realize he’s one of the greatest shooters you’ll ever see, it’s clear that everything, the record, will be available to him… Because of his movement him, along with his shooting ability, the handling of the ball with it created a lot of space for him to hit shots.He put in a lot of effort and I don’t think everyone understand that.”
Jerry West, executive director of LA Clippers: “Looking at the stars attracts people, okay? He just has something different. He doesn’t fool people, he’s very smart and keeps people away, the way he completes his shots. Shots around the basket Everyone talks about his long range – long shot; forget that. Hardest shots in the world, he’ll do them, around the basket. He’s smart and dedicated to her profession.”
– Israel Gutierrez and Dave McMenamin of ESPN contributed to this report.
