Every basketball fan knows the beauty of watching Steph Curry shoot. His effortless release, laser-like precision, and uncanny ability to make impossible shots look routine have redefined the game.
But the secret behind his historic shooting form and pinpoint accuracy from a distance might surprise many.
Precision beyond the arc
Shooting didn’t always come naturally to Curry, and his rise to dominance was anything but accidental. Before the “Baby Faced Assassin” became a household name, he was an undersized guard at Davidson College in 2008, turning heads with his otherworldly three-point range.
11 years ago today, Steph Curry was a junior at Davidson.
And he gave MSG a show at the Jimmy V Classic 🍿 pic.twitter.com/iXsBjlXD6z
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 9, 2019
His form wasn’t always perfect, though. As a teenager, Steph adjusted his shooting mechanics because his lack of upper body strength made his traditional form difficult. These adjustments would later become the foundation of his now-iconic shot.
No. 30’s discipline to maintain and refine his form in the NBA set him apart. His historic 2015-16 season, where he made an incredible 402 three-pointers, was no accident. Every detail mattered—from his foot placement to his follow-through. He’d often spend hours in the gym perfecting his craft, and it showed. That season, Curry hit 50.4 percent from the field, 45.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 90.8 percent from the free-throw line.
It’s easy to think the point guard’s shooting success is about talent alone. But ask him, and he’ll tell you otherwise.
“As long as your elbow is kind of close to 90 degrees as possible, I’m much more confident in somebody able to repeat that, ‘cause that’s the one I hate to see, because it’s like the deadliest sin in basketball shooting, the chicken wing,” SC said.
Shooting legacy
From the moment Steph stepped on the court and started draining threes, everyone knew he’d someday break the record for threes held by Ray Allen. Fair enough, he did break the record, and even more astonishing was that he did it in 511 fewer games.
Stephen Curry (33 PTS, 8 AST, 7 REB) knocked down an #NBAFinals record 9 3-pointers to fuel the @warriors Game 2 win! #DubNation pic.twitter.com/3Yv8M0RX0t
— NBA (@NBA) June 4, 2018
His precision and accuracy when he steps to shoot are unmatched. In the 2018 NBA Finals against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chef Curry dropped 33 points, including a then-record nine three-pointers, en route to clinching his third championship.
His shots are picture-perfect every time, even under the immense pressure of a Finals closeout game.
