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Every young player dreams about a career like that of Stephen Curry, who is just 10 3s away from breaking Ray Allen's all-time 3-point record.
Curry is seen as the best in a generation defined by shooting.
Allen said that people have compared him to Reggie Miller and other great shooting guards in the NBA, but he really operates in a lane of his own.
It wasn't always that way. Curry was once a 180-pound freshman who was known as the baby-faced guard from Davidson College who had burst onto the national stage thanks to a smooth jump shot and a confidence beyond his years, competing in his first 3-point contest alongside some of the NBA's best, including Boston
Curry said that he'd watched the three-point contest his entire life. My dad had been in it many times. A lot of guys that I looked up to, Reggie Miller, Ray Allen, Rex, and a lot of guys that I know that experienced that and I was so excited to have the first opportunity.
During the 2010 All-Star Weekend in Dallas, Miller was a commentator for Turner Sports.
"Here comes my guy!" Curry was set for the first round.
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In his first season, Curry nearly knocked off Paul Pierce in the final round of the 3-point contest.
It didn't take long for Charles and Kenny to see what Miller saw.
"Reggie, he shoots the same way as you do," he said. It looks good even when he misses.
Curry missed three of his five shots in the final rack, but he knew that he belonged in the biggest stages of the game.
"I lost, finished second, but the talk around the sidelines was all about the guys who showed up and the guys who didn't." It's about to happen! Curry said something.
I had a reputation because of how I played at Davidson and I wasn't shooting that well my freshman year. It was the first time that I really thought about it, and it was Paul Pierce. It was like that of Paul Pierce. It's cool that people think I can shoot the ball as well as I do.
Miller doesn't hesitate when asked if Curry has surpassed him and Allen as the greatest shooter in NBA history.
Miller said yes. He is. He is.
The 2010 All-Star weekend was a defining moment for a young sharpshooter on his way to superstardom. Ahead of the performance that will officially cement him as the greatest shooter in NBA history, players and coaches who have shared the court with Curry recall the moments they knew they were witnessing a talent.
Davidson College was founded in 2006
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Davidson defeated West Virginia in the Jimmy V Classic on December 9, 2008, when Curry came back in the second half.
Davidson College played Eastern Michigan in Bob's first college game. He had nine turnovers in the first half and we were down 18 points and he wasn't even playing the point guard. I asked the coaching staff at halftime if he should be out of the lineup. He's going to come back in the second half, we said. I think he got 15 and 13 15 points and 13 turnovers. We saw something special in Las Vegas and that's what led to the double double. He was able to live in the moment and not be stuck in time. He was consistent in his short memory throughout his career for us.
He dropped 30 on Michigan the next night.
Dell Curry is a former NBA guard. I was coming back from the tournament, and my son was going to make some money playing the game. I saw him in the first college tournament. I knew he was special because he had a bad first half. He might have had eight turnovers. He came back in the second half and was just as aggressive and played great.
Davidson made the Elite 8 in 2008 after upsetting Georgetown and Wisconsin.
Doc Rivers was in the crowd when his oldest son played for the 76ers.
Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors guard, said that he watched him lead Davidson to the Elite 8 with a bunch of marginal college players. They beat teams with professional players. I think that never wavered when he got to the NBA. I think he did the same thing. I'm not a drafter, but it's pretty shocking that there were six draft picks in front of him after he led the country in scoring, but I'm not a drafter.
The Golden State Warriors from 2009 to present.
When Chauncey Billups saw the Knicks game at the Garden, he said, "Goodnight, Irene." It's over. I knew it was over because of the confidence that comes with that, and you're doing it in front of the world. I'm happy for him because there was no turning back from that.
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In a loss to the Knicks, Curry went off for 54 points with 11 3-pointers.
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors power forward, said "The shot against the Clippers". He came across the lane behind the back and step back at the top of the key. That shot. Do you remember that shot? This is the one where I felt like I was different than everyone else. A lot of guys can shoot, but I'm better at it. I think that was the moment when it was time to say goodbye.
Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors head coach: "I think that famous shot of me holding my hands on my head after the shot he took against the Clippers, where he dribbled behind his back and threw four guys, was kind of a seminal moment." I realized that I need to forget everything I've ever learned about what's a good shot and what's a bad shot. The old rules don't count. You have to establish a new standard for what's a good shot and what's a bad one. I think that shot was the best example of confidence and swagger. Even though I have all my Hall of Fame coaches, they're telling me that it's a bad shot. That's a bad shot! I had to get rid of all the voices in my head and realize that this guy is different. He's built differently. I need to allow him to do it and embrace it. He gives us a terrifying aspect to our personality. I don't remember the last time I told him, "Hey, that's a bad shot, maybe get a better one." He just goes.
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Steve Kerr can't believe that Stephen Curry dribbles through the Clippers' defense and sinks an off-balance 3.
He put on a show every night in his first year and we won 73 games. I think the first time I realized it was in New Orleans was when we played there. It might have been in three quarters. He's shooting from half court, he's doing crazy things, he's falling down, and he's shaking his shoulders. I think this has to be the greatest show ever. I'm coming from college, a year out of high school, and I've never seen anything like this before. He does that every night and I started to realize that he's something special.
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Stephen Curry scored 53 points with eight 3-pointers in the Warriors' win over the Pelicans.
The play in OKC was made by the Milwaukee Bucks power forward, Giannis Antetokounmpo. He pulled up from two steps after the half court line. That was last year? I was young. I was like, "That guy is good."
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Check out one of the most memorable 3-pointers in the history of Curry's career.
The Los Angeles Lakers were tracking him to see if he would make 16 3s in a game, and it just shows how amazing he is. If there's one guy in NBA history that can make 16 3s, it would be Curry. I'm sitting there and I'm doing the calculations in my head. Okay. He's made 12 a few times. It would be him if there was someone that could do it. He has hit many big-time shots against us. He's been a great dude and has been for his whole career. If he's breaking the record, I wish I could be there. We're all aware of what Curry has done in his career and how he's changed the game.
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In the Warriors' win, Curry knocked down six 3-pointers, putting him nine behind Ray Allen.
When I first started playing against him, I felt like I had the upper hand because I had a little brother. By the time I left the league, it was obvious that I didn't want to be on the court with him. The guy makes amazing shots. What did he do the other day to get out of the arena?
Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns point guard: "I think for me too, being involved in grassroots basketball, AAU basketball, and knowing Trae Young when he was younger, pulling up, shooting, that's all Steph." That's all that. He definitely had an influence on the way kids shoot the ball.
Chris Paul says Trae Young's success is a result of Curry's impact on the game.
"I think he was still under the radar in the beginning, for some reason," Popovich said. At the time, he wasn't that strong. He looks like he's about 17 or 18 years old. You didn't say, "Hey, he's gonna do this." As the years went by, it became apparent that everything, record-wise, would be available to him. His ball-handling along with his shooting ability creates a lot of space for him to get shots off. I don't think people understand that he has put in a lot of work.
Jerry West, LA Clippers executive: "Look at the stars that attract people." He has something different. He's clever and to get away from people, he finishes his shots around the basket. Everyone talks about his shooting. He's going to make the toughest shots in the world. He's dedicated to his craft.
Dave McMenamin and Israel Gutierrez contributed to the report.
