Curry was born on March 14, 1988,[10] at theAkron General Medical Center inAkron, Ohio, toSonya (née Adams) andDell Curry.[11][12] He grew up inCharlotte, North Carolina, where his father spent most of his NBA career with theCharlotte Hornets.[13] He played with his younger brotherSeth on their backyard basketball court in Charlotte.[14] The family briefly moved toToronto, where Dell finished out his career as a member of theRaptors.[13] During this time, Curry played for the Queensway Christian College boys' basketball team, leading them to an undefeated season.[15][16] He was also a member of Toronto 5–0, a club team that plays acrossOntario,[17][18] pitting him against fellow future NBA playersCory Joseph andKelly Olynyk.[18] Curry led the team to a 33–4 record, en route to winning the provincial championship.[19]
After Dell's retirement, the family moved back to Charlotte and Curry enrolled atCharlotte Christian School, where he was named all-conference and all-state, and led his team to three conference titles and three state playoff appearances.[20] Because of his father's storied career atVirginia Tech, Curry wanted to playcollege basketball for the Hokies, but was only offered awalk-on spot due in part to his slender 160-pound frame.[21] He ultimately chose to attendDavidson College, who had aggressively recruited him from the tenth grade.[22]
College career
Freshman season
Before Curry even played in his first game for the Wildcats, head coachBob McKillop praised him at a Davidson alumni event, saying: "Wait 'til you see Steph Curry. He is something special."[23] In his second collegiate game, he recorded a season-high 32 points and nine rebounds againstMichigan.[24] He had 30 points and a season-high 11 rebounds againstChattanooga on December 18, 2006, for his first career double-double.[24] On February 6, 2007, also against Chattanooga, Curry broke the school's 500-point freshman record. He went on to finish with 730 points. He also broke Davidson's single-season record for three-pointers held byBrendan Winters (2004–05).[24] He led theSouthern Conference in scoring at 21.5 points per game, ranking him ninth nationally and second nationally among freshman behind onlyKevin Durant ofTexas.[24]
At the end of hisfreshman season, Curry was named Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, SoCon Tournament MVP, and selected to the SoCon All-tournament team, All-freshman team, and All-SoCon First Team.[27] He was also an honorable mention inSports Illustrated's All-Mid-Major.[24]
Sophomore season
Curry at the 2008 NCAA tournament
In his sophomore season in2007–08, Curry helped the Wildcats to a 26–6 regular-season record, a 20–0 conference record, and a trip to the2008 NCAA tournament.[28]
On March 21, 2008, Davidson matched up with seventh-seededGonzaga. Gonzaga led by 11 points early in the second half but Curry went on to score 30 points in the half[29] to push Davidson to their first NCAA tournament win since 1969 with a score of 82–76. Curry ended the game with 40 points while also going 8-of-10 from three-point range.[30] On March 23, Davidson played second-seededGeorgetown in the second round, with Curry scoring just five points in the first half of the game as Davidson trailed by as many as 17 points. His 25 second-half points led Davidson to a 74–70 comeback victory.[29] On March 28, Curry led Davidson to another win, against third-seededWisconsin. He scored 33 points as Davidson won 73–56 to advance to theElite 8.[31] Curry joinedClyde Lovellette,Jerry Chambers, andGlenn Robinson as the only college players to score over 30 points in their first four career NCAA tournament games.[31] Curry also tiedDarrin Fitzgerald ofButler for the single-season record for most three-pointers with 158.[32][33] On March 30, he set the record, against the top-seededKansas Jayhawks, with his 159th three-pointer of the season. Curry scored 25 points in the game but Davidson lost 59–57, and the Jayhawks went on to win the championship.[34]
Curry finished the season averaging 25.9 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. He was named to theAssociated Press'All-America Second Team on March 31, 2008.[35] He also was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Midwest Region of the NCAA tournament, becoming the first player from a team not making theFinal Four to do so sinceJuwan Howard ofMichigan in 1994.[36] Curry was nominated for an ESPY in the Breakthrough Player of the Year category.[37]
Junior season
Following Davidson's loss in the NCAA Regional Finals, Curry announced that he would return for his junior year.[32] On November 18, 2008, he scored a career-high 44 points in Davidson's 82–78 loss toOklahoma.[38] He extended a career-long streak by scoring at least 25 points for the seventh straight game.[38] On November 21, Curry registered a career-high 13 assists to go along with 30 points in Davidson's 97–70 win overWinthrop.[39] On November 25, against Loyola, Curry was held scoreless as Loyola constantly double-teamed him. It was Curry's only scoreless collegiate game and only his second without double-digit points. He finished 0-of-3 from the field as Davidson won the game 78–48.[40] In Davidson's next game 11 days later, Curry matched his career high of 44 in a 72–67 win overNorth Carolina State.[41]
Curry surpassed the 2000-point mark for his career on January 3, 2009, as he scored 21 points againstSamford.[42] On February 14, 2009, Curry rolled his ankle in the second half of a win over Furman. The injury caused Curry to miss the February 18 game againstThe Citadel, the first and only game he missed in his college career.[43] On February 28, 2009, Curry became Davidson's all-time leading scorer with 34 points in a 99–56 win againstGeorgia Southern. That gave Curry 2,488 points for his career, surpassing previous school leader John Gerdy.[44] Davidson won the 2008–09 Southern Conference regular season championship for the South Division, finishing 18–2 in the conference.[45][46]
In the2009 Southern Conference tournament, Davidson playedAppalachian State in the quarterfinals and won 84–68. Curry scored 43 points, which is the third most points in Southern Conference tournament history.[47] In the semifinals, against theCollege of Charleston, Curry had 20 points but Davidson lost 52–59. Despite lobbying from Davidson head coachBob McKillop and Charleston coachBobby Cremins,[48] the Wildcats failed to get an NCAA tournament bid. Instead, they received the sixth seed in the2009 NIT. Davidson played the third seed,South Carolina, on the road in the first round. Curry scored 32 points as the Wildcats beat the Gamecocks 70–63.[49] Davidson then lost 80–68 to theSaint Mary's Gaels in the second round. Curry registered 26 points, nine rebounds, and five assists in what was his final game for the Wildcats.[50]
In his final season at Davidson, Curry averaged 28.6 points, 5.6 assists, and 2.5 steals. He was theNCAA scoring champion and was named a consensus first team All-American.[51] Curry opted out of his senior year at Davidson to enter the2009 NBA draft, but expressed his intention to complete his degree.[52]
In March 2025, Davidson announced that Curry would serve as assistant general manager for basketball programs, alongside alum Matt Berman in an advisory role.[56] They will share insights with student-athletes and create the eight-figure "Curry-Berman Fund" to support both men's and women's basketball, with contributions from Curry, his wife Ayesha, Berman, his sister Erica, and father Don.[57]
On June 25, 2009, his father's 45th birthday, Curry was selected as the seventh overall pick in the2009 NBA draft by theGolden State Warriors.[58] Although the Warriors already had another lean, 6-foot-3, offensive-minded guard inMonta Ellis, coachDon Nelson had a penchant for using small lineups in hisNellie Ball system, and had warmed to the idea of selecting Curry.[59][60] However, Ellis announced at a media session that he and Curry were too small to play together.[61] Curry appeared in 80 games (77 starts) during the2009–10 season, averaging 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.90 steals in 36.2 minutes.[62] His second half of the season vaulted him into the rookie of the year race.[63] He was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for January, March, and April, finishing as the only Western Conference rookie to win the award three times.[62] He finished runner-up for theNBA Rookie of the Year behindTyreke Evans[63] and was a unanimousNBA All-Rookie First Team selection, becoming the first Warriors player sinceJason Richardson in 2001–02 to earn All-Rookie First Team honors.[62] He scored 30-plus points eight times, setting the most 30-point games by any rookie in 2009–10 and the most sinceLeBron James had 13 andCarmelo Anthony had 10 in 2003–04. Curry had five 30-point/10-assist games, which tiedMichael Jordan for the second-most 30-point/10-assist games by a rookie (Oscar Robertson is first with 25). He became just the sixth rookie in NBA history to post a 35-point, 10-assist, 10-rebound game when he registered his first career triple-double with 36 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds against theLos Angeles Clippers on February 10. In the Warriors' season finale against thePortland Trail Blazers on April 14, Curry recorded a then- career-high 42 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, becoming the first rookie since Robertson in February 1961 to register at least those numbers in each category in the same game. Curry finished his rookie season with 166 three-pointers, which were, at the time, the most ever by a rookie in NBA history.[62]
Curry in March 2011
In2010–11, Curry appeared in 74 games (all starts), averaging 18.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.47 steals in 33.6 minutes per contest.[62] Hisfree throw percentage of .934 (212–227 FT) set a new Warriors single-season record, surpassing the previous mark of .924 set byRick Barry in 1977–78. He also became the first Warriors player to lead the NBA in free throw percentage sinceMark Price in 1996–97.[62] Curry registered 20-or-more points 35 times, including seven 30-plus performances. He posted a season-high 39 points and a then- career-high 14 made field goals (on 20 attempts) against theOklahoma City Thunder on December 5. In February 2011, duringAll-Star Weekend, Curry won theSkills Challenge[64] and registered 13 points, eight assists, and six rebounds in 28 minutes as a member of the Sophomore squad in theRookie Challenge.[62] In May 2011, he was named the recipient of theNBA Sportsmanship Award,[65] and underwent surgery on his right ankle.[66]
In thelockout-shortened2011–12 season, Curry appeared in 26 games (23 starts), averaging 14.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.50 steals in 28.2 minutes per contest. He missed 40 games due to right ankle and foot injuries,[62] including the last 28 games with a sprained right ankle and subsequent surgery on the ankle, which was performed on April 25.[67] In 2012, Golden State included Curry in a trade offer to theMilwaukee Bucks forAndrew Bogut, which the Bucks rejected due to Curry's history with bad ankles. Ellis was traded instead.[68][69][70] According to then- Warriors general managerLarry Riley, they offered Curry with the intention of steering the deal to Ellis.[69] The deal opened an opportunity for Curry to lead the team.[61]
First All-Star and playoff appearances (2012–2014)
Prior to the start of the2012–13 season, Curry signed a four-year, $44 million contract extension with the Warriors.[71][72] At the time, many basketball writers considered the move risky for Golden State because of Curry's injury history.[73] Over the course of the year, Curry and backcourt teammateKlay Thompson gained a reputation for their perimeter scoring, earning them the nickname the "Splash Brothers".[74] In 2012–13, Curry appeared in 78 games (all starts), averaging then- career highs of 22.9 points (seventh in NBA) and 6.9 assists to go with 4.0 rebounds and 1.62 steals in 38.2 minutes.[62] He set a new NBA single-season three-point record with 272 three-pointers, eclipsing the previous mark set byRay Allen (269 in 2005–06), doing so on 53 less attempts than Allen did with Seattle.[62]
Curry earned Western Conference Player of the Month honors for the month of April. During this time he averaged 25.4 points, 8.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.13 steals in eight games in the final month of the season to become the third Warrior to win the award, joiningChris Mullin (November 1990 and January 1989) andBernard King (January 1981). He tallied two of the NBA's top six scoring games with 54 points on February 27 at New York and 47 on April 12 at Los Angeles, becoming the first Warrior to score 45-plus at New York and Los Angeles in the same season since Rick Barry in 1966, joining Barry,Guy Rodgers, andWilt Chamberlain as the only four Warriors to do so. Curry's 54 points against the Knicks included a then- career-best and then- franchise-record 11 three-pointers, becoming the first player in NBA history to score 50-plus points while hitting 10-plus three-pointers in a game. It was the most scored by a Warrior sincePurvis Short tallied 59 points in 1984. In 2013, he appeared in the playoffs for the first time in his career, with the Warriors earning the sixth seed in the Western Conference. In 12 playoff games (all starts), he averaged 23.4 points, 8.1 assists, and 3.8 rebounds. He set a new franchise record with 42 playoff three-pointers, eclipsing the Warriors' career playoff mark of 29 previously held by Jason Richardson, giving him a total of 314 three-pointers for the season to become the first player in NBA history to make at least 300 three-pointers in a single season.[62]
Curry in April 2014
In2013–14, Curry appeared in 78 games (all starts), averaging career highs of 24.0 points (seventh in the NBA) and 8.5 assists (fifth in the NBA) to go with 4.3 rebounds and 1.63 steals, becoming the first player in Warriors franchise history to average 24 points and eight assists in a single season (ninth player in NBA history). He led the league in three-pointers made for a second consecutive season with 261, becoming the first player since Ray Allen in 2001–02 and 2002–03 to lead the league in three-pointers in back-to-back seasons. He was named Western Conference Player of the Month for April and earnedAll-NBA Second Team honors, becoming the first Warriors player named to the First or Second Team since 1993–94.[62] On December 7 against theMemphis Grizzlies, Curry eclipsed Jason Richardson (700) as the franchise's leader in career three-pointers.[75] In February, he made his firstAll-Star appearance,[76] becoming the Warriors' first All-Star starter sinceLatrell Sprewell in 1995.[62] He scored a season-high 47 points on April 13 against thePortland Trail Blazers for his third 40-point game of the year. He finished the regular season tied for second in the NBA in triple-doubles with four, the most by a Warrior in a single season since Chamberlain had five in 1963–64.[62] Seeded sixth for the second consecutivepostseason, the Warriors were defeated in seven games by theLos Angeles Clippers.[77]
NBA championship and MVP (2014–2015)
Curry attempting a pass while being guarded byJohn Wall andNenê. Curry averaged 7.7 assists per game during the 2014–15 regular season, the sixth-highest in the league.[78]
Prior to the start of the2014–15 season, the Warriors hired former NBA player and general managerSteve Kerr as their new head coach.[79] Kerr implemented significant changes to Golden State's schemes, including playing at a faster pace and giving Curry more freedom to shoot, helping the team evolve into a title contender.[80] On February 4, Curry scored a season-high 51 points in a win over theDallas Mavericks.[81] He was the leading vote-getter for theAll-Star Game and won theThree-Point Contest on All-Star Saturday night.[82][83] On April 9, he broke his own league record for three-pointers made in a season during a game against thePortland Trail Blazers.[84] The Warriors finished the year with 67 wins and Curry was voted theNBA Most Valuable Player after posting averages of 23.8 points, 7.7 assists, and 2 steals per game.[85] Over the course of the season, he sat out 17 fourth quarters due to Golden State's wide margins of victory.[86]
In Game 5 of the Conference Semifinals against theMemphis Grizzlies, Curry became the first player in league history to register six three-pointers and six steals in a game.[87] In Game 6, he made a playoff career-high 8 three-pointers en route to a series-clinching victory.[88] In Game 3 of the Conference Finals against theHouston Rockets, he broke the NBA record for most three-pointers made in a single postseason.[89][90] The Warriors went on to defeat the Rockets to earn a Finals matchup with theCleveland Cavaliers, where Curry struggled to start the series, converting on only 22 percent of his field goals in Game 2.[91] In Game 5, he scored 37 points,[92] and in Game 6, Golden State closed out the series to win their first championship in 40 years.[93] For the Finals, Curry averaged 26 points and 6.3 assists per game.[92] The Warriors' playoff run was the first in which an All-NBA first team selection eliminated all other first team selections en route to a championship.[94]
Unanimous MVP and historic season (2015–2016)
Curry in February 2016
To start the 2015–16 season, Curry became the first player sinceMichael Jordan in 1989–90 to score 118 points in his team's first three games,[95] including a season-high 53 points against theNew Orleans Pelicans in the third game.[96] The Warriors made NBA history on November 24 when they became the first team ever to start 16–0 with a win over theLos Angeles Lakers,[97] before improving to 24–0 on December 11 with a double-overtime win over theBoston Celtics.[98] Their streak was broken the following day against theMilwaukee Bucks.[99] On December 28, Curry recorded his sixth career triple-double with 23 points, a career-high 14 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 122–103 win over theSacramento Kings. During the game, Curry was guarded by his brotherSeth for the first time in their NBA careers.[100] On January 22, he recorded his second triple-double of the season with 39 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds in a 122–110 win over theIndiana Pacers. He made eight three-pointers in the game to reach 200 for the season, becoming the first player in NBA history to make 200 three-pointers in four straight seasons.[101] On February 3, he made 11 three-pointers (including seven in the first quarter) and scored 51 points (including a career-high 36 points in the first half) to lead the Warriors past theWashington Wizards 134–121. His 51 points tiedGilbert Arenas and Michael Jordan for theVerizon Center record.[102]
During the 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend, Curry competed in his third straight All-Star game for the West, and competed in the Three-Point Contest, where he lost in the final round to teammate Klay Thompson. At 48–4, the Warriors entered the All-Star break with the best record through 52 games in NBA history, one win better than the1995–96 Chicago Bulls and1966–67 Philadelphia 76ers.[103]
On February 25, Curry scored 51 points and made 10 three-pointers to lead the Warriors past theOrlando Magic 130–114, becoming the first player to record at least three 50-point games sinceLeBron James andDwyane Wade in 2008–09. He also became the first player in NBA history to score at least 50 points in a game with only one free throw attempted.[94] Curry surpassedKyle Korver's record of 127 consecutive games with a made three-pointer.[104] In the following game, two days later, the Warriors defeated theOklahoma City Thunder in overtime 121–118, owing to a long-distance game-winning shot made by Curry with 0.6 seconds remaining. In doing so, he tied the then- NBA single-game record (12) withKobe Bryant andDonyell Marshall and finished with 46 points.[105] He also broke his own NBA record for made three-pointers in a season, setting a new mark at 288.[106] In February 2016, Curry averaged over 35 points per game, while shooting at least 50% from both the field and three-point range, becoming the first player in NBA history to achieve this feat in a calendar month.[107] On March 7, in a win over the Magic, Curry scored 41 points and became the first player in NBA history to make 300 regular-season three-pointers.[108] On April 1, Curry missed a three-pointer to tie the game against the Celtics with 5.3 seconds left, as the Warriors suffered their first home defeat since January 27, 2015, snapping an NBA-record 54-game winning streak in the regular season atOracle Arena.[109] On April 7, Curry scored 27 points to help the Warriors become the second team in NBA history to win 70 games in a season with a 112–101 win over theSan Antonio Spurs.[110] Three days later in a rematch against the Spurs, Curry scored 37 points in a 92–86 win, not only tying the 1996 Bulls, but snapping San Antonio's undefeated home streak and also ending a long losing streak in AT&T Center.[111]
In the Warriors' regular-season finale on April 13 against theMemphis Grizzlies, Curry scored 46 points with 10 made three-pointers, finishing with a record 402 three-pointers on the season.[112] With a 125–104 win over the Grizzlies, the Warriors became the first 73-win team in NBA history, surpassing the1995–96 Chicago Bulls' 72–10 record to finish the 2015–16 season with just nine losses.[113] With the conclusion of the regular season, Curry became the seventh player in NBA history to join the50–40–90 club and the first to achieve this feat while averaging over 30 points per game.[114][115] Curry led the league inscoring (30.1 points per game),steals (2.14), andfree throw percentage (90.8), becoming the first player to lead all three statistics in a season.[116] For his record-breaking season, Curry was named the league's first ever unanimousMVP, becoming the 11th player in history to win the award in consecutive seasons and the first guard to do so sinceSteve Nash in 2004–05 and 2005–06.[117] His scoring average increase of 6.3 is the largest ever by a reigning MVP.[114]
In the 2016 playoffs, the Warriors defeated theHouston Rockets in the first round despite Curry only playing in the first half of Games 1 and 4 due to injury.[118][119][120] A rightMCL injury kept him out of the first three games of the second round.[121] In Game 4 of the second-round series against thePortland Trail Blazers, Curry came off the bench to score 40 points in a 132–125 overtime win;[122] 17 of those points came in the extra period, an NBA record for points scored by an individual in overtime.[123] Curry led the Warriors to a 4–1 victory over the Trail Blazers, as they moved on to the Western Conference Finals to face the Oklahoma City Thunder. After going down 3–1, he helped the Warriors rally to win the series 4–3 and advance to their second straightNBA Finals.[124]
In the Finals, Curry's play relative to his regular season performance remained inconsistent, as it had been since he returned from injury against Portland;[125] still, he brokeDanny Green's record of 27 three-pointers made in a Finals.[126] Despite being up 3–1 in the series, the Warriors were defeated by theCleveland Cavaliers in seven games and became the first team in NBA Finals history to lose a series after leading 3–1. In the game seven loss, Curry scored 17 points on 6-of-19 shooting.[127]
On October 28, 2016, Curry hit four three-pointers against theNew Orleans Pelicans to reach 1,600 for his career, becoming the 19th player to do so, as well as the fastest to reach the mark.[128] On November 4, Curry's NBA-record streak of 157 straight games with at least one made three-pointer was snapped during the Warriors' 117–97 loss to theLos Angeles Lakers after he went 0-of-10 from three-point range. He had hit a three-pointer in every regular-season game since November 11, 2014.[129] Three days later, he hit 13 three-pointers against New Orleans, becoming the first player in NBA history to make as many three-pointers in a regular-season game.[130] Curry shot 16-of-26 overall against the Pelicans for his first 40-point game of the season, finishing with 46 in a 116–106 win.[131] On December 11, Curry hit 2 three-pointers against theMinnesota Timberwolves to passSteve Nash for 17th on the NBA's career three-pointers list.[132]
With 14 points against theDallas Mavericks on December 30, Curry (11,903) passedPurvis Short (11,894) for seventh place on the Warriors' all-time scoring list.[133] In a loss to theMemphis Grizzlies on January 6, 2017, Curry had his second 40-point game of the season and reached the 12,000-point threshold, becoming the seventh player in Warriors franchise history to score 12,000 career points.[134] On January 19, Curry was named a starter on the Western Conference All-Star team for the2017 NBA All-Star Game.[135] On February 2, he hit his 200th three-pointer of the season in the Warriors' 133–120 win over theLos Angeles Clippers, making him the first player in NBA history to have 200 or more three-pointers in five consecutive seasons.[136] On March 5, he scored 31 points and moved into the top 10 on the NBA's career three-point list in a 112–105 win over theNew York Knicks. Curry hit 5 three-pointers, passingChauncey Billups for 10th place.[137]
Curry helped the Warriors sweep through the first two rounds of the playoffs.[138] In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against theSan Antonio Spurs, Curry scored 40 points and hit a tying three-pointer with 1:48 remaining to help the Warriors rally from a 25-point deficit to win 113–111; the Warriors overcame their largest halftime deficit ever in the postseason at 20 points.[139] This was the second time in the season that the Warriors came back from a 20-point deficit against the Spurs.[140] In a 120–108 Game 3 win, Curry scored 21 points and became the franchise leader in postseason points, passingRick Barry. They went up 3–0 in the series, becoming the third team in NBA history to win their first 11 playoff games.[141] His 36 points in Game 4 led to a 129–115 victory that saw the Warriors advance to the NBA Finals for a third straight year while becoming the first team in league history to start the playoffs 12–0.[142] In Game 2 of the2017 NBA Finals against theCleveland Cavaliers, Curry recorded his first career postseason triple-double with 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds to help the Warriors go up 2–0 in the series with a 132–113 win.[143] Curry helped the Warriors clinch the series and the championship in Game 5 with 34 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds, as Golden State claimed its second title in three years.[144]
Curry warming up prior to a game in November 2017
On July 1, 2017, Curry agreed to a five-year, $201 million extension with the Warriors, becoming the first NBA player to sign asupermax contract worth over $200 million.[145] He officially signed the contract on July 25.[146] On December 1, he scored 23 points and passedJason Kidd for eighth place on the career three-pointers made list in a 133–112 win over theOrlando Magic.[147] On December 4, in a 125–115 win over theNew Orleans Pelicans, Curry hit 5 three-pointers to become the fastest player in NBA history to eclipse 2,000 career three-pointers, achieving the mark in just 597 games, 227 less than the previous fastest player to do so,Ray Allen.[148][149] In that same game, Curry injured his right ankle and subsequently missed 11 games,[150] returning to action on December 30 and scoring 38 points with a season-high 10 three-pointers in a 141–128 win over theMemphis Grizzlies. Curry shot 13 of 17 and 10 of 13 from deep in 26 minutes for his ninth 30-point game of the season. It also marked Curry's ninth career game with 10 or more 3s, the most by any player in NBA history.[151]
On January 6, in a 121–105 win over theLos Angeles Clippers, Curry scored 45 points in three quarters.[152] On January 25, he scored 25 points in a 126–113 win over theMinnesota Timberwolves. Curry became the fifth player in Warriors franchise history to score 14,000 points, ending the game with 14,023 and joiningWilt Chamberlain (17,783),Rick Barry (16,447),Paul Arizin (16,266), andChris Mullin (16,235) on the franchise list.[153] On January 27, he scored 49 points—with 13 of those over the final 1:42—and hit 8 three-pointers, lifting the Warriors past theBoston Celtics 109–105.[154] On February 22, he had a 44-point effort with 8 three-pointers in a 134–127 win over theLos Angeles Clippers. It was his third 40-point game of the season.[155] On March 2, in a 114–109 win over theAtlanta Hawks, Curry made his 200th three-point field goal of the season, becoming the first player in NBA history with at least 200 three-pointers in six seasons, having reached the mark in every season since 2012–13.[156] Four days later, in a 114–101 win over the Nets, Curry became the seventh player in Warriors franchise history to make 5,000 career field goals, joining Chamberlain, Barry, Mullin, Arizin,Jeff Mullins, andNate Thurmond.[157]
On March 23, against the Hawks, Curry suffered a Grade 2medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain to his left knee.[158] He subsequently missed nearly six weeks, returning to action in Game 2 of the Warriors' second-round playoff series against the Pelicans. He came off the bench to score 28 points in a 121–116 win.[159] In Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, Curry scored 35 points with 5 three-pointers in a 126–85 win over theHouston Rockets. The 41-point victory was the largest in franchise history during the postseason.[160] In Game 6, Curry scored 29 points with 5 three-pointers, as the Warriors rallied from an early 17-point deficit to stave off elimination with a 115–86 victory over the Rockets.[161] In Game 7, Curry recorded 27 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds, as the Warriors earned a fourth straight trip to the NBA Finals by beating the Rockets 101–92.[162]
In Game 2 of theNBA Finals, Curry hit a Finals-record 9 three-pointers and scored 33 points in a 122–103 win over the Cavaliers.[163] In Game 4, Curry led all scorers with 37 points in a 108–85 win that helped the Warriors clinch their second straight championship with a series sweep over the Cavaliers.[164] Many felt that he should have wonFinals MVP.[165] In response, Curry stated: "At the end of the day, I'm not going to let a [Finals] MVP trophy define my career. Three titles ... Wherever that puts us in the conversation in the history of the NBA ... I'm a three-time champ."[166] Rohan Nadkarni ofSports Illustrated argued that "the Golden State dynasty started with Stephen Curry. He, for numerous reasons stretching from his incredible talent to his previous ankle injuries, put the Warriors in place to win their third championship in four seasons."[167]
Fifth consecutive NBA Finals (2018–2019)
On October 21, 2018, Curry had 30 points and 6 three-pointers in a 100–98 loss to theDenver Nuggets, thus moving pastPaul Pierce for sixth place on the NBA's career three-point list.[168] Three days later, he scored 51 points with 11 three-pointers in only three quarters in a 144–122 win over theWashington Wizards. He scored 31 in the first half and finished with his sixth career 50-point game and made 10 or more 3s for the 10th time. Curry's third three-pointer of the night moved him pastJamal Crawford (2,153) for fifth place on the NBA's career three-point list.[169] On October 28, he made seven three-pointers and finished with 35 points in a 120–114 win over theBrooklyn Nets.[170] Over the first seven games of the season, he made at least 5 three-pointers in all seven games, breakingGeorge McCloud's record of six games in a row during the 1995–96 season.[170] The Warriors started the season with a 10–1 record. On November 8 against theMilwaukee Bucks, Curry left the game during the third quarter with a groin injury[171] and the Warriors were unable to recover in a 134–111 loss.[172] Without Curry, the Warriors dropped to 12–7 on November 21 after enduring their first four-game losing streak since March 2013.[173] The Warriors ended November with a 15–8 record, with Curry's strained left groin sidelining him for 11 straight games.[174]
Despite Curry's 27 points in his return to the line-up on December 1, the Warriors were defeated 111–102 by theDetroit Pistons.[175] On December 17, he scored 20 points in a 110–93 win over theMemphis Grizzlies, becoming just the fifth player in Warriors franchise history to score 15,000 points during the regular season, joiningWilt Chamberlain (17,783),Rick Barry (16,447),Paul Arizin (16,266), andChris Mullin (16,235).[176] On December 23, he scored 42 points and made a layup with 0.5 seconds left to lift the Warriors to a 129–127 win over theLos Angeles Clippers.[177] On January 5, he had 10 three-pointers and scored 20 of his 42 points in the fourth quarter of the Warriors' 127–123 win over theSacramento Kings.[178] On January 11, in a 146–109 win over theChicago Bulls, Curry made 5 three-pointers to surpassJason Terry (2,282) and move into third place all-time in NBA history behindRay Allen (2,973) andReggie Miller (2,560).[179] Two days later, he scored 48 points and hit a season high-tying 11 three-pointers in a 119–114 win over theDallas Mavericks.[180] On January 16, he scored 41 points with 9 three-pointers to become the first player in NBA history to make eight or more 3s in three straight games, as the Warriors defeated theNew Orleans Pelicans 147–140.[181] On January 31, he scored 41 points with 10 three-pointers in a 113–104 loss to thePhiladelphia 76ers.[182] On February 21, he scored 36 points with 10 three-pointers in a 125–123 win over the Kings.[183] On March 16 against theOklahoma City Thunder, Curry reached 16,000 career points.[184] On March 29, he made 11 three-pointers and scored 37 points in a 131–130 overtime loss to theMinnesota Timberwolves.[185] On April 2, in a 116–102 win over the Nuggets, Curry made 5 or more three-pointers in a career-best nine straight games and moved past Mullin for fourth place on the Warriors all-time points list.[186] On April 5, he scored 40 points in a 120–114 win over theCleveland Cavaliers, thus moving past Arizin for third place on the Warriors all-time points list.[187]
The Warriors entered the playoffs as the first seed in the Western Conference with a 57–25 record. In Game 1 of the Warriors' first-round playoff series against the Clippers, Curry scored 38 points and made 8 three-pointers to give him the most in postseason history, passing Ray Allen (385). He also had a postseason career-high 15 rebounds and seven assists in a 121–104 win.[188] In Game 6 of the second round, Curry bounced back from the first scoreless first half of his playoff career to score 33 points in the last two quarters to help the Warriors eliminate theHouston Rockets with a 118–113 win and advance to the Western Conference Finals.[189] In Game 1 of the Conference Finals, Curry matched his postseason career high with 9 three-pointers to finish with 36 points in a 116–94 win over thePortland Trail Blazers.[190] Curry faced his brother Seth in that Finals series, making them the first set of brothers to face each other in an NBA playoff series.[191] He averaged a series career-high 36.5 points to help the Warriors sweep the Trail Blazers. It was the highest average by a player in a four-game sweep in NBA history.[192] Curry became the sixth player in NBA history to score 35 or more in the first four games of a series.[b] In Game 4, he had 37 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 119–117 overtime win,[194] as he andDraymond Green became the first teammates in league history to have a triple-double in the same playoff game.[193] In Game 3 of the2019 Finals, Curry scored a playoff career-high 47 points to go with eight rebounds and seven assists in a 123–109 loss to theToronto Raptors.[195] In Game 5, he helped the Warriors stave off elimination with 31 points in a 106–105 win, cutting the Raptors' series lead to 3–2.[196] In Game 6, Curry scored 21 points, but shot just 6 for 17 and went 3 of 11 on three-pointers, including missing a contested three-pointer in the waning moments, as the Warriors lost the game and the series with a 114–110 defeat.[197]
Injury and comeback (2019–2021)
Curry was expected to take on a greater offensive load in the2019–20 season with Thompson out injured andKevin Durant having left the Warriors as a free agent. On October 30, 2019, against thePhoenix Suns in the fourth game of the season, Curry drove to the basket and collided with the Suns'Aron Baynes, who was trying to take acharge. Baynes fell on Curry's left hand, which required surgery to repair his brokensecond metacarpal. He was expected to be out at least three months.[198] On March 5, 2020, Curry returned against theToronto Raptors and recorded 23 points, six rebounds and seven assists in a 121–113 Warriors' loss.[199]
On December 27, 2020, Curry put up 36 points in a 129–128 win over theChicago Bulls, becoming the fastest player in NBA history to reach 2,500 career three-pointers.[200] On January 3, 2021, Curry scored a career-high 62 points on 18-of-31 shooting in a 137–122 win against thePortland Trail Blazers.[201] On January 4, he was named thePlayer of the Week for the Western Conference.[202] On January 23, in a game against theUtah Jazz, Curry hit 5 three-pointers, moving his career total up to 2,562, passing Miller to move up to second in the NBA's career three-pointers list, trailing only Allen.[203] At the2021 All-Star Game, he won his second Three-Point Contest after making his last shot in the final round to edgeMike Conley Jr. 28–27.[204] On March 15, against theLos Angeles Lakers, Curry passedGuy Rodgers (4,855) as the franchise's leader in career assists.[205]
On April 12, Curry scored 53 points in a 116–107 win against theDenver Nuggets, and he surpassedWilt Chamberlain (17,783) to become the franchise's all-time scoring leader.[206][207][208] It was part of an 11-game stretch in April in which Curry scored at least 30 points in each game, surpassingKobe Bryant's previous record (10) for a player age 33 or older. He also made 78 three-pointers during that span, the most in NBA history over 11 regular season games.[209] Curry's play sparked media discussions about his candidacy for theleague MVP award, and went on to become a finalist for the award for the third time in his career.[209][210] He was named the Western Conference Player of the Month for April after averaging 37.3 points on 51.8% shooting and scoring 30 or more points in 13 of his 15 games played. He became the first NBA player to average at least 35 points per game and shoot 50–45–90 in a calendar month and set an NBA record for made three-pointers in a month with 96, breakingJames Harden's mark of 82 set in November 2019.[107] Curry made 46.6% of his three-pointers in that span, including four games in which he made 10 or more three-pointers.[211] He scored 46 points in the regular-season finale against theMemphis Grizzlies, finishing the season with a scoring average of 32.0 and holding offBradley Beal to secure his secondscoring title.[212] He joinedKareem Abdul-Jabbar,Michael Jordan, and Wilt Chamberlain as the fourth player in NBA history to win multiplechampionships, league MVP awards, and scoring titles in a career.[213]
All-time 3-point scoring record, fourth championship and Finals MVP (2021–2022)
On October 19, 2021, in the Warriors' season-opener, Curry recorded his eighth career triple-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 121–114 win against theLos Angeles Lakers.[214] On November 8, Curry scored 50 points, with 10 assists on nine three-pointers made, in a 127–113 win over theAtlanta Hawks.[215] Curry recorded 50 points and 10 assists in the same game for the first time in his career and surpassed Chamberlain as the oldest player in history to achieve this feat.[216] On November 12 against theChicago Bulls, Curry became the NBA's career leader for three-pointers in both regular season and playoffs with 3,366, passingRay Allen (3,358).[217] On December 14 atMadison Square Garden against theNew York Knicks, Curry made his 2,974th career three-pointer to passRay Allen and become theNBA's all-time three-point scoring leader.[9] On January 21, 2022, Curry hit his first careerbuzzer-beating game-winner in a 105–103 win over theHouston Rockets, on a night where he put up 22 points and 12 assists.[218] On January 31, Curry scored 40 points, 21 of which in the fourth quarter, behind seven three-pointers and dished out nine assists to lead Golden State to a 122–108 victory over theHouston Rockets. His 21 fourth-quarter points were the highest of his career until February 2024.[219]
In the2022 NBA All-Star Game held on February 20, Curry's Team LeBron defeated Team Durant 163–160. Curry scored 50 points (just 2 points shy of the All-Star Game record set byAnthony Davis in2017);[220] he also set the record for most three-pointers made in an All-Star quarter (6), half (8), and game (16),[221] and was named theAll-Star Game MVP.[222] On February 24, Curry had a season-high 14 assists with 18 points in a 132–95 blowout win over thePortland Trail Blazers.[223] On March 10, Curry scored 34 points in a 113–102 win over theDenver Nuggets. He became the 49th player in NBA history to rack up 20,000 points.[224] On March 14, his 34th birthday, Curry scored 47 points in a 126–112 win over theWashington Wizards.[225] On March 16, in a 110–88 loss to theBoston Celtics, Curry suffered a sprained ligament in his left foot after having it rolled over by a divingMarcus Smart and was ruled out indefinitely.[226] On April 1, he was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season.[227]
On May 9, in Game 4 of theWestern Conference semifinals against theMemphis Grizzlies, Curry became the first player in NBA history to make 500 career playoff three-pointers.[228] During the Western Conference Finals against theDallas Mavericks, he averaged 23.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game. After the Warriors won the series in five games, Curry was named the unanimous and inaugural winner of theWestern Conference finals MVP award.[229] On June 10, in Game 4 of theNBA Finals, Curry logged 43 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists in a 107–97 victory over theBoston Celtics to even the series at 2–2. He became the first player in Finals history to make 5+ three-pointers in four consecutive games.[230] Curry (at age 34 years, 88 days) also became the second-oldest player in NBA Finals history to record a 40-point, 10-rebound game behind onlyLeBron James in 2020 (at age 35 years, 284 days).[231] In Game 5 of the Finals, Curry passed Boston Celtics legendJohn Havlicek for 10th on the all-time Finals assists list.[232] In Game 6 of the Finals, Curry scored 34 points along with seven rebounds, seven assists, and led the Warriors to a 103–90 victory over the Celtics. He was named theNBA Finals MVP unanimously after averaging 31.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game.[233] He became the first player in Finals history to average at least 30 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 made three-pointers per game in a series.[234]
Back-to-back chase (2022–2023)
On November 2, 2022, Curry logged his 10th career triple-double with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists in a 116–109 loss against theMiami Heat.[235] On November 7, Curry recorded 47 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and zero turnovers as the Golden State Warriors beat theSacramento Kings 116–113 to snap a five-game losing streak.[236] On November 11, Curry scored 40 points on 15–23 shooting from the field in a 106–101 win over theCleveland Cavaliers. He became the first player in NBA history to record at least 40 points, 5 made three-pointers, and shoot over 65% from the field in consecutive games.[237] On November 20, Curry posted a season-high 15 assists along with 33 points on 7-of-14 shooting from three-point range in a 127–120 win over theHouston Rockets.[238] Curry,Klay Thompson, andAndrew Wiggins combined for 23 made three-pointers, the most three-pointers made in a game by a trio in NBA history.[239] On December 10, in a rematch of the2022 NBA Finals, Curry recorded 32 points, six rebounds, and seven assists in a 123–107 win over theBoston Celtics.[240]
On January 25, 2023, in a 122–120 victory against theMemphis Grizzlies, Curry was ejected with 1:14 remaining in the fourth quarter for throwing a mouthpiece on the ground, marking the third time that Curry was ejected during his career.[241][242] Curry left the game with a game-high 34 points.[243] The next day, Curry was named aWestern Conference starter for the2023 NBA All-Star Game, marking his ninth overall selection.[244] On January 30, Curry put up 38 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the field, alongside eight rebounds and 12 assists in a 128–120 win over theOklahoma City Thunder. He also surpassedWilt Chamberlain (7,216) for the most field goals made in Warriors franchise history with 7,222.[245] On March 15, Curry scored 50 points on 8-of-14 shooting from three-point range in a 134–126 loss to theLos Angeles Clippers. He became the first player in NBA history to score at least 10,000 career points off of three-pointers.[246] Curry also surpassedMichael Jordan for the most 50-point games at age 30 or older, tying Chamberlain's then- record of 7 games.[247]
In Game 7 of the Warriors' first round playoff series against theSacramento Kings, Curry scored a playoff career-high 50 points in a 120–100 win. He became the first player to score 50 points in a Game 7 and tiedKarl Malone for the most points in a playoff game at age 35 or older.[248][249] He also became the first player in playoff history to score at least 20 points from behind the arc and in the paint in the same game.[250] Following the series' completion, Curry joined Jordan as the only players in playoff history to record at least 200 points in a series at age 35 or older.[251] His 50 points also set a record for the most points scored in a Game 7.[252][c] In Game 4 of the Conference Semifinals against the Lakers, Curry logged his third postseason career triple-double with 31 points, 10 rebounds, 14 assists, and three steals in a 104–101 loss.[254][255] The Warriors were eliminated in six games, despite Curry's 32-point outing in a 122–101 closeout loss in Game 6.[256]
Clutch Player of the Year (2023–2024)
On November 1, 2023, Curry became the first player in NBA history to make a three-pointer in 250 consecutive regular season games.[257] On November 3, he scored a game-winning layup in a 141–139 win against theOklahoma City Thunder.[258] On December 16, Curry scored 37 points on 14-of-22 shooting, including 6-of-8 from beyond the arc in a 124–120 victory over theBrooklyn Nets.[259] On January 27, 2024, Curry recorded 46 points and nine made three-pointers, in a 145–144 double-overtime loss to theLos Angeles Lakers.[260]
On February 1, Curry was named to his tenthAll-Star Game and his first as a reserve.[261] On February 3, Curry scored a season-high 60 points on 22-of-38 shooting from the field with 10 three-pointers made in a 141–134 overtime loss to theAtlanta Hawks, setting several NBA records; he joinedKobe Bryant as the only players in history to record a 60-point game at age 35 or older; he became the second player afterRick Barry to score at least 60 points with at most six free throws attempted; he joinedDamian Lillard andKarl-Anthony Towns as the only players to record at least 60 points and 10 made three-pointers in a regular season game; he became the first player in history to average over 40 points per game on 50–40–100 splits in a four-game span.[262]
On February 8, Curry scored 42 points on 15-of-22 shooting from the field, including a season-high 11-of-16 shooting from three, in a 131–109 win over theIndiana Pacers.[263] On February 10, Curry put up 30 points and nine rebounds, alongside a game-winning three-pointer in a 113–112 win over thePhoenix Suns.[264]
Second All-Star Game MVP and 4K 3-point club (2024–2025)
On August 30, 2024, Curry signed a one-year, $62.6 million contract extension with the Warriors throughout the 2026–27 season, becoming the first NBA player to earn $60 million in a single season.[266] He also joinedLeBron James andKevin Durant as the only players in history to amass $500 million in career earnings.[267]
On November 10, 2024, Curry recorded 36 points and seven assists in a 127–116 road victory over theOklahoma City Thunder.[268] Two days later, he scored all of Golden State's final twelve points as part of a 37-point, 6-rebound and 9-assist outing in a 120–117 win over theDallas Mavericks inKlay Thompson's first return to the Bay Area after leaving for Dallas in a sign-and-trade during the off-season.[269] On December 25, 2024, Curry recorded a season-high 38-point, 6-assist performance in a 115–113 loss over theLos Angeles Lakers. He shot 8-of-15 from three-point range, tying aChristmas day game record for the most in history.[270] On January 2, 2025, Curry recorded 30 points, 10 assists, and a career-first 8-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc in a 139–105 win over thePhiladelphia 76ers, becoming the first player in NBA history to achieve this stat line.[271] He also surpassedMichael Jordan for the most 30-point games by a guard at age 35 or older.[272] On January 25, Curry was named aWestern Conference starter for the2025 NBA All-Star Game, marking his eleventh overall selection and his tenth selection as a starter.[273]
On February 8, 2025, Curry recorded 34 points, six assists, and eight made three-pointers in a 132–111 road win over theChicago Bulls. He scored 24 points in the third quarter, marking his 41st career 20-point quarter — the most by any player since the NBA began tracking play-by-play data in 1997–98.[274] Two days later, in his 1,000th regular season game, Curry tied his season-high of 38 points and grabbed six rebounds in a 125–111 road win over theMilwaukee Bucks. He joined LeBron James, Michael Jordan, andKarl Malone as the only players in history to record four consecutive 30-point games at age 36 or older.[275] On February 16, Curry won his secondAll-Star MVP award after scoring 20 points and six three-pointers combined in the two games of the exhibition's revamped mini-tournament format.[276] He joined LeBron James,Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan as the only players in history to win at least twoleague MVP awards, two All-Star MVP awards, and aFinals MVP award in a career.[277] On February 27, Curry put up 56 points on 16-of-25 shooting, including 12 made three-pointers, in a 121–115 road win over theOrlando Magic.[278] He outscored the Magic 22–21 in the third quarter and notched his third 50-point game after turning 35 years old, the most in NBA history.[279] He also tied Klay Thompson for the most career games (3) with at least 12 made three-pointers.[280] On March 6, Curry recorded 40 points and seven made three-pointers, including a fadeaway buzzer-beater from the half court logo, in a 121–119 road win over theBrooklyn Nets.[281] Two days later, he scored 32 points in a 115–110 win over theDetroit Pistons and eclipsed 25,000 career points, becoming the 26th player in NBA history to do so.[282] On March 13, Curry eclipsed 4,000 career three-pointers in a 130–104 win over theSacramento Kings, becoming the first player in NBA history to start the 4K club.[283]
In 2010, Curry was selected to the senior squad,[285] playing limited minutes at the2010 FIBA World Championship (later known as the FIBA Basketball World Cup) as the United States won the gold medal in an undefeated tournament.[286] In 2012, Curry was excluded from the list of 20 finalists selected for consideration for the2012 U.S. Olympic team inLondon, which reportedly left him "very disappointed" but motivated to improve his game for future opportunities.[287][288] In 2014, he took on a larger role with the team, helping them to another undefeated tournament at the2014 World Cup and scoring 10 points in the final game.[289] On June 6, 2016, Curry withdrew from consideration for the2016 Summer Olympics inRio de Janeiro, citing ankle and knee ailments as the major reason behind the decision.[290]
Curry made his Olympic debut with the2024 U.S. Olympic team inParis, alongside his longtime head coachSteve Kerr.[291] He initially struggled from the field. In a tightly contested semifinal game againstSerbia, Curry led a 17-point comeback in a 95–91 win, finishing with a tournament-high 36 points, eight rebounds, and 9-of-14 shooting from three-point range.[292] In the final two minutes, Curry made a successfulsteal, layup, and two clutch free throws to maintain a lead of four points.[293] He set a national record for most points scored in an Olympic knockout game and an Olympic record for most three-pointers made in a knockout game, respectively.[294][295] His 36 points are the second-most ever scored in a game by an American, behindCarmelo Anthony's 37-point performance againstNigeria in 2012. In a post-game interview, teammateKevin Durant called Curry's performance "one of the greatest games I've ever seen him play".[293] Curry followed up his performance with another successful outing in the final match againstFrance, tallying 24 points, five assists, two steals, and 8-of-12 shooting from three-point range.[296] He made four consecutive three-pointers in the final 3 minutes to help seal the game and secure the United States' fifth-straight Olympic gold medal and his career-first.[297] Curry finished the tournament as the team's leading scorer, averaging 14.8 points per game, and set an Olympic record for most three-pointers made in a final.[298] For his performances, Curry was named to theOlympics All-Star Five team and honored as the2024 USA Basketball 5-on-5 Male Athlete of the Year.[299] He joinedLeBron James,Magic Johnson, andMichael Jordan as the fourth player in NBA history to win at least fourchampionships, twoleague MVP awards, aFinals MVP award, and an Olympic gold medal in a career.[300]
Player profile
Listed at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) and 185 pounds (86 kg), Curry plays almost exclusively at thepoint guard position combined with the signature play style of an eliteshooting guard. He has career averages of 24.8 points, 6.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game (through the end of the 2023–24 season),[85] His career free throw percentage of 91.0% is thehighest in NBA history, and he has led the league in annual free-throw percentage four times.[301][302] He has been namedleague MVP twice, including the first unanimous selection in league history (2015–16).[85]
Known for histhree-point shooting, athleticism, and play-making, Curry is an offensive threat from underneath the rim to nearhalf-court.[303][304] Using an unorthodoxjump shot, he is capable of releasing the ball in under half a second upon jumping, adding greater arc to his shots and making them difficult to block.[305] Therefore, Curry is able to adjust his release and balance to make shots from virtually anywhere on the court. For his high shooting proficiency and ball-handling, he has been referred to as the "Baby-Faced Assassin" since his collegiate basketball years[306][unreliable NBA source] and "Chef Curry" while playing in the NBA.[307] For their shooting abilities, Curry and former teammateKlay Thompson are often referred to as theSplash Brothers. In the2013–14 season, they set the record for combined three-pointers made in a season with 484, a record they broke the following season (525), and again in the 2015–16 season (678).[308] Curry is also known for putting pressure on defenses with his long range and led the league in field goals made from beyond 28 feet in the 2015–16 season.[309] Aclutch scorer, he often shoots at his best in high-pressure moments and takes game-winning shots.[310][311] Curry has made 10 game-winning shots[d] in his career, the most by any player since the2012–13 season.[313] He was named the2023–24NBA Clutch Player of the Year after leading the league in clutch points, made clutch field goals, and made clutch three-pointers.[312]
His careerthree-point field goal percentage (3P%) of .425% ranks as the 12th highest in NBA history.[314] In 2015–16, Curry posted the highest eFG% (.630) and 3P% (.454) ever recorded in a season while averaging over 30 points per game.[315] He holds four of the top-five seasons with most three-pointers made, led by his NBA record 402 three-pointers from the 2015–16 season, and has served as the annual leader a record eight times.[316][317] He is also the fastest player in league history to make 2,000 career three-pointers, doing so in 227 fewer games than the previous record-holder,Ray Allen.[148] Additionally, Curry is the fastest player to make 100 three-pointers in a season, doing so in just 19 games, breaking his own previous record of 20 games.[318]
Owing to his offensive presence, Curry's scoring creates a "gravity" effect that forces opposing defenders to frequently double-team him during bothon-ball and off-ball movement, creating mismatches that his teammates exploit.[319][320] With Curry, the Warriors average 10.8isolations per game; without Curry, they average 15.3 isolations per game. His absence slows the Warriors offense and leads to less passing and ball movement. With Curry, the Warriors average 1.05 points every shot that comes after an off-ball screen; without Curry, it drops to 0.95 points per game. His absence makes it much easier for defenders to switch on screens. Of Curry's success with or without other elite teammates,NBC Sports' Tom Haberstroh said, "You can pluck All-Star after All-Star off the court like flower petals, and the Steph-led Warriors will still dominate like a champion. He's that transcendent of a player."[321]
Curry's short stature relative to the rest of the league impeded his defensive abilities for the majority of his career.[322] Some analysts, including Ethan Sherwood Strauss ofESPN, have complimented his defensive play or called it underrated.[322][323] Strauss said in 2015 that Curry became "one of the NBA's most effective defenders – ranking fifth among point guards in defensive real plus-minus."[323] Curry led the league in total steals in the2014–15 season andsteals per game in the following season.[324]
Legacy
Curry in February 2022
Curry is often considered the greatest shooter[325][326] and one of the greatest players in NBA history.[5][327][328] He is credited with revolutionizing the game of basketball by inspiring teams, from high school to the NBA, toregularly use the three-point shot.[6][7][8] Analysts have referred to him as "the Michael Jordan of the three-point era", saying that he did for the three-point shot what Jordan did for theslam dunk.[329][330][331]The Guardian's Robert O'Connell cites Curry's February 27, 2013, game against theNew York Knicks, in which he made 11-of-13 shots from behind the arc en route to a 54-point performance, as the start of the three-point era.[332] The era has been referred to as "the Steph Effect"[8] or "the NBA's Three-Point Revolution".[333] Curry is also often compared toMagic Johnson in debates over the greatestpoint guard of all time, owing to their generational impact, winningness, and diverse skill-sets.[334][335][336]
Regarded as the face of the Warriorsdynasty,[337][338] Curry helped redefine three-point scoring as a central element of modern-day basketball strategy rather than a mere novelty.[328][339] His influence has inspired the league to transition from physical play around the basket to a "pace and space" approach that emphasizes three-point shooting.[339] This transformation can be attributed, in part, to teams attempting to counter the Warriors' dominance and young players aspiring to emulate Curry's range.[8][332] Curry regularly attempts shots from 30 to 35 feet at an efficiency of .54, compared to the league average of under .22 from this range and .35 for made three-pointers overall.[328] Kirk Goldsberry of ESPN opined that "Curry isn't just the best 3-point shooter ever, he's the best deep 3-point shooter ever."[328] As Curry himself noted, "I'm sure coaches tell their high school players that shooting the way I do takes work and time;" Jesse Dougherty ofThe Washington Post stated that "coaches have to explain that while Curry's skill set is something to aspire to, his game is built on fundamentals."[8] His ability to make these shots is complemented by a high degree of ball-handling skills, release, and capacity to shoot effectively with one or more defenders contesting his attempts.[328] Sally Jenkins, also ofThe Washington Post, highlighted the degree of difficulty of Curry's shooting, citing a period in which he achieved a .67 success rate on shots taken from 28 to 50 feet.[304] Jeff Austin ofOctagon noted that Curry "had to develop tremendous strength in his wrists to shoot and maintain that form from 40 and 50 feet."[304] Goldsberry concludes that "no player in the history of the NBA has combined range, volume, and efficiency from downtown as well as Curry," making him "the most efficient volume scorer on the planet."[328] The developers of theNBA 2K video game series have even expressed concerns about accurately replicating Curry's unique abilities.[339]
Where Curry ranks as one of the greatest NBA players has been more subject to debate.[340]Steve Nash, a two-time NBA MVP and one of the league's all-time efficient shooters, said Curry is "already an all-time great" and that people question his greatness "because he doesn't dominate the game physically. He dances. He pays a tax for that. He pays a tax for his great teammates."[340]Scottie Pippen, a six-time NBA champion with theChicago Bulls, said that Curry's "willingness to sacrifice" for Durant is "one of the great stories in history." Crediting Curry as "one of the greatest guards the game has ever seen", he said: "If you have a mind for the game, you know that it takes sacrifice to be great. All the greats have to sacrifice something. Otherwise you can't win."[340] In 2018,CBS Sports ranked Curry at No. 19 in their list of "50 greatest NBA players of all time".[341] In a 2019 feature,Sports Illustrated stated that "Curry and the Warriors are a great match of player and system" and that "the entire ecosystem is predicated on the idea that a player doesn't need to dominate the ball to dominate a game. Curry took that noble idea and elevated it beyond any reasonable expectation."[342] In 2020,ESPN ranked Curry as the 13th greatest basketball player of all time, the second-highest active player behindLeBron James. Nick Friedell of ESPN described Curry as "the greatest shooter of all time", noting his game-changing influence "is seen on every level of basketball as younger generations shoot more than ever while trying to replicate his game."[343] In October 2021, Curry was honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time as a member of theNBA 75th Anniversary Team.[344] In an "NBA 75" feature, Marcus Thompson II ofThe Athletic opined that "in 20 years, Curry will be talked about with excitement reserved for the most legendary. Like the elders of today talk aboutAbdul-Jabbar andBill Russell, and how their children revereLarry Bird andCharles Barkley."[345] After winning his fourth NBA championship and first Finals MVP award in 2022,Complex ranked Curry as the 10th greatest player in NBA history the following year. Angel Diaz cited his generational impact with "nothing left (for Curry) to accomplish" as reasons for his place among the sport's greats.[346]
On July 30, 2011, Curry married longtime girlfriend and Toronto-area nativeAyesha Alexander in Charlotte.[16][17][347] Curry and Alexander met at their church in Charlotte when they were 15 and 14 years old, respectively.[348] Together, they have two daughters who were born in 2012 and 2015,[349][350] and two sons who were born in 2018 and 2024, respectively.[351][352]
In July 2019, Curry paid $31 million for a home inAtherton, California.[353] Curry's younger brother,Seth, is also a professional basketball player,[354] and his younger sister, Sydel, played volleyball atElon University.[355]
Curry is aPentecostal Christian and has been outspoken about his faith.[356][357] He spoke about his faith during his MVP speech by saying: "People should know who I represent and why I am who I am, and that's because of my Lord and Savior." He also said the reason that he pounds his chest and points up is that he has a "heart for God" and as a reminder that he plays for God.[358] On some of his "Curry One" basketball shoes, there is a lace loop scripted "4:13". It is a reference to the Bible versePhilippians 4:13, which reads: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."[359][360] Curry has a tattoo ofFirst Corinthians 13:8 in Hebrew on his wrist ("Love never fails...").[361] Curry is also an investor in Active Faith, a Christian sports apparel brand.[362][363]
During the1992 NBA All-Star Game weekend, Curry's father entrusted him to Biserka Petrović, mother of futureHall of Fame playerDražen Petrović, while Dell competed in the Three-Point Contest. Following the 2015 NBA Finals, Curry gave Biserka one of his Finals-worn jerseys, which will reportedly be added to the collection of the Dražen Petrović Memorial Center, a museum to the late player in the Croatian capital of Zagreb.[364]
Curry is diagnosed withkeratoconus and wears contact lenses to correct his vision.[365] He is also an avid golfer; he started playing golf at the age of 10, played golf in high school, and frequently plays golf with former teammateAndre Iguodala.[366][367] Curry participates in celebrity golf tournaments and has played golf alongsideBarack Obama.[368][369] In August 2017, Curry competed in theEllie Mae Classic on an unrestricted sponsor exemption.[370] Although he missed the first cut, he scored 4-over-74 for both days he participated, surpassing most expectations for an amateur competing in the pro event.[371] In July 2023, Curry won theAmerican Century Championship, an annual celebrity golf tournament held at theEdgewood Tahoe Resort inStateline, Nevada. He shot ahole-in-one during the second round and won the tournament on the final hole with a walk-offeagle putt.[372]
In August 2019, Curry andHoward University, ahistorically black institution in Washington, D.C., jointly announced that the school would add NCAA Division I teams in men's and women's golf starting in the 2020–21 school year, with Curry guaranteeing full funding of both teams for six years.[373]
Public image
"No NBA athlete has a larger contingent of fans at every arena, lining up 20- and 30-deep hoping for a glimpse, if not an autograph. This crazy popularity is why his jersey sales consistently rank No. 1, why he was voted to be the captain of the [2018] Western Conference All-Star team and why 9-year-old girls feel comfortable enough to write letters asking for his help – and actually get it."
—Monte Poole of NBC Sports on Curry's popularity[374]
Curry is one of the most successful players in the NBA, and has also become an international celebrity, on par with four-time MVPLeBron James.[375][376] Like James, he has been considered the face of the NBA, but has said that he is not motivated by that and is not looking "to take LeBron's throne or whatever. You know, I'm trying to chase rings, and that's all I'm about. So that's where the conversation stops for me."[377] His flashy play and penchant for coming up big in the clutch have made him a fan favorite, and his smaller physique is said to have made his success seem more attainable for younger fans of the NBA.[378][379]Memorabilia associated with Curry is highly sought after; his 2009rookie card ranks among themost expensive sports cards of all-time and is the most expensivebasketball card ever sold, purchased by Alt Fund II for a record $5.9 million in July 2021.[380][381] Curry has led the NBA in jersey sales for five cumulative years; three consecutive times from the 2015–16 to 2017–18 seasons and two consecutive times from the 2022–23 to 2023–24 seasons, respectively.[382][383]
ESPN has ranked Curry among the most famous international athletes. He is thehighest paid NBA player of all-time by season and has been ranked inForbes' list of the world'shighest-paid celebrities for his endorsements six times.[384][385] ESPN's Kirk Goldsberry reasoned that one reason for Curry's popularity is that while most people are not tall enough to dunk, everyone can attempt a shot, which is something Curry inspires.[328] Owen Davis ofSky Sports echoed this sentiment, stating: "After all, not everyone is blessed with supreme height and athleticism, but everyone can learn to pass, dribble and shoot. Curry is proof that if you work hard enough, you can still find ways to dominate, no matter your size."[339]
Monte Poole ofNBC Sports found Curry to be "the most human of superstars", with a childlike aura to him when he plays with success. His fanbase ranges from very young children to the elderly, and casual or committed fans enjoy his style of play. Poole stated that "the joy factor exponentially increases" when Curry is on the court and that "the sight of this relatively ordinary specimen sending much bigger players into silent surrender is an intoxicant for the Warriors and their fans."[374]
Curry is widely known for his partnership withUnder Armour, serving as the "face of their footwear line" and the President of his signature shoe and apparel line called the "Curry Brand".[386] Originally signed toNike, Curry began a partnership with Under Armour in the 2013 off-season.[387] After becoming theNBA MVP and one of the most popular athletes in the world, sales of Curry's shoe line became an influential factor for the brand, with stock prices pivoting based on its success.[388][389]
In October 2018, Curry announced his involvement with the relaunch ofPalm, a mobile companion device that pairs with a primary smartphone.[390] Curry is an investor and the leading brand ambassador for Palm, a small startup based in San Francisco which licenses the Palm name fromTCL Corporation. He is also involved with designing and testing accessories and even helped to name the device.[391]
Since 2018, Curry has served as thechief executive officer of Thirty Ink, aSan Francisco-based company that works to provide equitable opportunities to people through brand, media, experiences, and philanthropy, as the four major verticals. Since 2019, Curry has been the Global Brand Ambassador forRakuten. The company partnered with Curry on a one-dayshopping spree at the Warriors Shop inChase Center for 20 Bay Area children. Curry posed as a team shop employee during the event and helped find sports gear around the store.[396]
Philanthropy
PresidentBarack Obama joined by Curry in 2015 to launch the president's initiative on malaria.
In 2015, Curry wore sneakers that bore the name "Deah Shaddy Barakat"—a victim of the2015 Chapel Hill shooting. According to his sister Suzanne, Deah was known for his "love for basketball and anything Steph Curry."[398] Deah donned Curry's No. 30 as his jersey number for his intramural basketball team atNorth Carolina State University, and recreated Curry's pose from hisGQ photo-shoot.[398] Curry said that Deah's family "did a great job of reaching out to me and making me aware of the details of his life and personality ... It was really kind of a cool deal to be able to use the platform yesterday to honor Deah and his family ... I'm going to send them the shoes I wore yesterday. And hopefully, they know that I've been thinking about them."[399][400] Following hisMVP award win and historic2015–16 season, Curry donated his prize vehicle—a 2016Kia Sorento—to theEast Oakland Youth Development Center, a local non-profit organization located in the backyard ofOracle Arena.[401]
In December 2018, while on a podcast, Curry jokingly questioned whether theApollo program'sMoon landing actually took place, which received substantial media attention and criticism.NASA went on to offer Curry a tour of theJohnson Space Center and discuss further. He partnered withUnder Armour in creating signature shoes inspired by the comment and subsequent discussion. After wearing them to a game, he signed and auctioned them off oneBay. The shoes sold for $58,100 after 113 bids, with the money being donated forSTEM education initiatives.[402][403]
In July 2019, Curry and his wife launched theEat. Learn. Play. Foundation inOakland, California.[404] By 2023, the Foundation had provided 25 million meals, renovated 12 play areas and invested $6 million in literacy programs.[405]
In April 2018,Sony Pictures Entertainment announced a wide-ranging, multiyear multimedia deal with Curry's newly formed production company Unanimous Media (named for Curry becoming the first NBA player in history to be elected the league's MVP by a unanimous vote), located on the Sony Pictures studio lot in Culver City. The film and TV deal included electronics, gaming and virtual reality and is focused on faith and family-friendly content.[406] In October 2018, Curry signed on as executive producer of the filmBreakthrough, scheduled for release in April 2019.[407] Curry was also executive producer of the filmEmanuel, scheduled for US theatrical release in select theaters on June 17, 2019.[408] The film focused on the responses by family members of victims of the 2015Charleston church shooting. Curry remarked, "In the face of adversity, in the face of tragedy, how can I get through it?"[408]Beginning in 2019, Curry became both the executive producer and resident golf pro on the Americansportsreality competition television seriesHoley Moley.[409] On June 24, 2020, Curry released a trailer for his new show on his YouTube channel called Ultimate Home Championships, a show featuring people such asDeAndre Jordan,Ronda Rousey, and Kristopher London, where contestants competed in wacky at-home challenges using things in their home. In 2020, Unanimous Media signed a deal withAmazon'sAudible.[410] The same year, Curry served as the executive producer of an animated revival of the 1970s sitcomGood Times along with the series' original executive producer,Norman Lear, andFamily Guy creatorSeth MacFarlane. The series was green-lit byNetflix in 2020.[411] In 2021, Curry signed on as executive producer ofThe Queen of Basketball, a documentary short film about basketball legendLusia Harris. The same year, Unanimous Media signed a deal withNBCUniversal.[412] In 2023, Unanimous Media andRyan Coogler co-producedStephen Curry: Underrated, a sportsdocumentary film chronicling Curry's path to NBA stardom.Apple TV+ secured the streaming rights and a release date of July 21, 2023.[413]
In December 2021, Curry voiced his support for theFor the People Act, an election reform bill aimed at expanding voting rights.[415]
In 2023, Curry opposed the development of multi-family housing in the wealthy enclave ofAtherton, California, where he and his family live,[416] citing safety and privacy for themselves and their children as the development would have been directly behind his home.[417]
^Due to aninjury-plagued season, Curry attempted (and made) 26 free throws, thus achieving a career-high 100% free-throw percentage in a season. However, it does not stand as a season-high statistic as afree-throw percentage leader must have at least 125 made free throws in a season.
^"Warriors Guard Stephen Curry Honored by Charlotte Christian School and Davidson College in North Carolina".nba.com. NBA. January 24, 2017. Archived fromthe original on January 26, 2017. RetrievedMarch 18, 2025.Curry was a three-year varsity player for Charlotte Christian, leading the Knights to three conference titles and three appearances in the state playoffs. A graduate of the class of 2006, Curry was named to the All-Conference and All-State teams as a junior and a senior.
^"Steph Curry Says 'Not in My Backyard' to New Homes in Atherton".The San Francisco Standard. January 27, 2023. RetrievedJanuary 31, 2023.We hesitate to add to the 'not in our backyard' (literally) rhetoric, but we wanted to send a note before today's meeting," the Currys wrote. "Safety and privacy for us and our kids continues to be our top priority and one of the biggest reasons we chose Atherton as home.
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