Kaitlyn Duling - Stephen Curry: NBA Sharpshooter

Opposite: Stephen Curry has perfected his jump shot at the three-point line.

Introduction

Meet Stephen Curry

B asketball is full of greats. From legends Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird to superstars Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and even relative newcomers like LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has a long history of amazing players. These world-class ballers know how to shoot. They know how to make plays. Theyre the experts when it comes to making a splash on the court, and through it all, theyve made history, too. There were 494 players on the 20182019 NBA opening-day roster list, but only a few of those athletes have what it takes to be standout, even legendary, players. In 1988, a child was born who would one day redefine what it means to be a great professional (pro) basketball player. His name? Stephen Curry, though you might just know him as Steph.

Pursuing Greatness

As a child, Steph didnt know he would one day wind up as an NBA champion and MVP in addition to holding numerous pro basketball records. He just loved playing the game! He grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, but he moved around during his childhood and adolescence. Why? Stephs dad had a special job. He played for the NBA! Today, Steph honors his father by wearing the number 30 on the back of his jersey, because his dad, Dell Curry, wore it when he played for the Charlotte Hornets.

Throughout his many seasons of both success and hardship, Steph has kept family front and center in his life. He knows that he could not have reached the top levels of basketball and fame without his loved ones, and today, he works hard to support his own children in the same way.

When he was growing up, Steph would play basketball in the backyard with his brother, Seth. Little did the brothers know that one day they would both be playing in the NBA. The road to greatness, however, has been long. While the Baby-Faced Assassin (one of Stephs nicknames) practices hard, wins championships, and leads his team, he has also encountered countless roadblocks in his quest for greatness.

Overcoming Challenges

Even when he was young, Steph knew that getting to the top level in basketball wouldnt be a piece of cake, even for the son of an NBA player. He sometimes had to move to follow his dad to different cities as he played for different teams, and on top of the challenge of having to fit in at different schools, Steph was somewhat short for a basketball player. His small stature would be an issue for Steph as he tried to get recruited for college and again as he worked his way toward the NBA draft.

If NBA players know anything, though, its not to count out this small-but-mighty player. He knows how to persevere, pick himself back up after tough losses, and come through in the fourth quarter, right when his team needs him most. Steph has hustle, and that can make up for a lot when it comes to basketball. He has fought through persistent ankle injuries, difficult on-court relationships with his teammates, and an NBA lockout that put his playing on hold. Somehow, he has figured out how to balance eighty-two regular-season NBA games per year with three children, his wifes busy career, and all the business outside of basketball: endorsements, charitable giving, and designing his own sneakers. This Golden Boy, as many call him, has figured out a way to make it all work.

Rise to the Top

Stephs life has played out like a highlight reel full of big moments, from the moment in 2009 when he was drafted by the Golden State Warriors to the buzzer that ended the last game of the 2015 NBA Finals, putting Currys Warriors on top of the Cleveland Cavaliers to give them their first championship in forty years. As the leader of a championship team, a record-breaker in basketball, and one of the greatest three-point shooters of all time, Steph has truly left his mark on the sport.

Still, to so many people, this NBA star is known as a down-to-earth, relatable guy. Fans love how much Steph shares through social media, especially when it comes to his life at home and on the road with his family. His daughter Riley has even made some memorable appearances during his postgame press conferences! To be a true Steph Curry fan, though, is to know and appreciate his whole storynot just the charmed life of a champion, but the long, messy, challenging, and relatable journey of a young man who, despite the pressures of celebrity and high-powered sports, has maintained his deep integrity, winning personality, and love for the game. This is the true story of Stephen Currythe lows, the highs, and every moment in between.

Stephen Curry is known for putting his family first. Hes shown here with his family in 2016.