Then & Now: Our Steph Curry Elite 8 List
Today Davidson welcomed home NBA MVP Stephen Curry. He joined the men's basketball team for a workout before heading to the Harry L. Vance Athletic Center to christen the practice courts, firing off the first shot from the new floor. Afterward he participated in a Q&A with Coach Bob McKillop and students.
In honor of Steph's homecoming, we've put together a list representing some of our favorite Curry highlights--eight of them to be exact. We're very proud of him and all that he has accomplished. In no specific order, here's a look back on the amazing parallels in his career and life from the past decade:
1. Three-Pointers
During his second season at Davidson, Curry broke the national record for the most 3-pointers in a season. He currently ranks 6th in NCAA Division I history with 414 3-pointers in just three seasons. During the 2012-2013 NBA season, Curry broke the record for 3-pointers in a season. He shot 44.3% from 3-point range and broke his own record of 272 3-pointers with 286 from beyond the arc this season. He also became the fastest NBA player to hit 1,000 3-pointers, taking 369 games while the previous record-holder took 457, and he won the 2015 NBA Three-Point Shootout. Read more about his three-pointers.
2. Commitment to Service
Back in the day, you could find Curry and Bryant Barr '10 hanging out in their dorm room or out on the basketball court. These days, you might find them in the Oval Office. In April 2015 they ventured to the White House on behalf of their work with the United Nations Foundation "Nothing but Nets" campaign, which aims to prevent the spread of malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa. Barr introduced Curry to Nothing but Nets while at Davidson, and Curry has supported the campaign ever since. For the past three seasons, he has donated three bednets for every 3-pointer he makes. Read more about his commitment to service.
3. Style
Curry has moved from photo shoots in front of the beautiful Chambers Building to photo shoots as the first men’s brand ambassador for Express. In an interview with GQ, he explained, "When I first got to the league, me and my wife would go shopping for my game looks, I didn't have a stylist or anything, and Express was one of my staple stores. When they called, it made perfect sense." Read the full interview.
4. The Element of Surprise
Curry might have entered Davidson as a 3-star recruit, but that didn't stop him from setting records and receiving honors. He was twice-named Southern Conference Player of the Year and set the all-time scoring record for Davidson and the Southern Conference. During his final season at Davidson he led the NCAA in scoring at 28.6 ppg. He entered the NBA as the 7th overall pick and has continued to impress. In 2009-10, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and the following season won the skills challenge during All-Star Weekend. In 2011 he received the NBA Sportsmanship Award.
5. Chef Curry
We know that Steph Curry loved Commons as a student at Davidson (and Outpost, even though they didn't flavor your tater), but now he’s doing some of his own cooking. ESPN asked Steph and Ayesha Curry to participate in a cooking competition called "Kitchen Warriors" in which they competed against each other with their daughter Riley as the judge. Learn more about his cooking style.
6. Team Player and Leader
Curry helped the ‘Cats to an 85-20 record and three postseason appearances during his three-season career, including Davidson’s memorable run to the Elite 8 in the 2008 NCAA Tournament. He has led the Warriors in scoring, assists and steals, making this season their best record in the NBA.
7. A Scientist of Sorts
Today Curry is known for the unique mechanics behind his shooting style, which has been called "mathematically optimal." According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, "This is the science to Curry's art: The steeper a shot, the wider the opening into the rim." In addition to the science of his shooting style, we also reminisce about the days he spent studying science in the biology labs of Dana. Read more about the science.
8. Family Man
Curry is the son of Former Charlotte Hornets Player Dell Curry (who also wore #30) and Sonya Curry, who started the Montessori school Steph attended. He has a younger brother, Seth, who plays for the Sacramento Kings, and a younger sister, Sydel, who plays volleyball at Elon University. He is married to Ayesha Curry and they currently have two daughters, Riley and Ryan. We highly recommend following their Instagram accounts for adorable family pictures. Read more about the Curry family.
And of course Curry will always be a part of our Davidson family!
Add to the List
Add your highlight to the list or congratulate Steph Curry on Twitter or Facebook using the hashtag #SC30MVP and #CatsAreWild.
