When Did Stephen Curry Start Playing Basketball As A Kid?

Before They Made It: Stephen Curry (Note: This is an updated version of a story that was first published on USAB.com last March.) Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry has three gold medals under his belt as a member of USA Basketball, first as a member of the USA U19 National Team at the 2007 Global Games, then in 2010 with the USA Basketball Men’s National Team at the FIBA World Championship and most recently as a member of the 2014 USA World Cup Championship Team.

• When Stephen was a kid, it didn’t hurt that his father, Dell Curry, was himself a professional basketball player.
• But having a dad who played 16 seasons in the NBA doesn’t guarantee anything – especially if you are smaller and maybe not as athletic as others.
• According to Dell, who was with the Charlotte Hornets when Stephen was a child, Stephen became the NBA star he is today because he was a student of the game and he worked at it as hard as he could.

Now a six-year NBA veteran, Stephen was named the 2014-15 NBA MVP. Dell, who is a broadcaster for the Charlotte Bobcats, took time out to tell us more about Stephen’s early basketball experiences: USA Basketball: What was Stephen like as a child? Dell Curry: He was energetic, always paid attention to what was going on, eager to learn.

1. He tried several different sports, not just basketball.
2. He played football, baseball, a little soccer.
3. He was always very intuitive of what was going on around him.
4. He just soaked it all up.
5. He was a very good baseball player, then he found golf.
6. He must have hit a really good golf shot when he was playing a round with me and decided that’s the way he wanted to go.

He used to play golf with me when he was 6 or 7. I had a putter cut down and I’d take him with me. He’d ride in the cart, watch us play, and then when we got to the green he’d chip and putt. USA Basketball: How did he become active in the sport and develop his skills? Dell: I guess we started him probably when he was 6 or 7, in a rec league.

1. He had been around it his whole life, obviously, with me playing in the NBA, so it was nothing new to him.
2. But he started at a very young age and we just tried to make sure he got the proper skill set, the proper teaching of skills and fundamentals so that he grew and developed his game.
3. He knew how to play and learned about the game and knew how to develop his skills and how to go about working at it.

USA Basketball: When did you realize Stephen had what it takes to play at a high level? Dell: It depends on what level you’re talking about. He always had good ball-handling abilities and could shoot the ball. He was always the smallest kid on every team he played, but he was one of the hardest workers.

So I would say it was the opportunity to play high school and be a pretty good player there. By the time he was in high school, I could tell he’d play in college somewhere. And then his college coach, Bob McKillop, told me after his very first tournament at Davidson College that he would be a pro player.

It wasn’t something that we saw right away. Working at his game and developing, we had an idea he could continue to go from level to level. But you never know as a young kid how far he’ll go – whether he’ll stay interested, whether he’ll continue to work, whether he’ll get burned out.

There’s a lot of factors that go into what level he’ll be able to get to. USA Basketball: As a kid, what challenges did he have to overcome? Dell: Learning how to play without being the most athletically gifted or biggest guy. Being around NBA players really helped him because it taught him the game. He was at all the practices.

He watched and learned how to play the game the right way, how to use his teammates. There was a process. Being around guys that you see are the best in the world really helps youngsters stay positive about the game. And it tells them that if they do love the game and they work at it they can reach new levels.

• USA Basketball: What advice do you have for the parents of young basketball players? Dell: Just be supportive.
• Don’t push because that will take the fun out of a game.
• If your son or daughter decides to play a sport, try to give them as many resources as you can for them to be the best they can at it.

I’ve told my kids, you can play any sport you want, but once you decide to play you’re going to give it your all, 100 percent. Because if you don’t, it’s going to reflect on you and your team. Don’t try to live your dreams through your child because it’s not going to work.

How did Stephen Curry start playing basketball?

Curry grew up immersed in basketball as the son of 16-year NBA veteran sharpshooter Dell Curry. The younger Curry learned the intricacies of the game from his father.

What sports did Stephen Curry play as a kid?

An article from the Wall Street Journal came out and explained that Steph Curry didn’t specialize in basketball and he actually played multiple sports growing up. The article explains.

“In an age of hyper-specialization, Curry has reached the pinnacle of his sport by doing the exact opposite. He played basketball, but he also played some baseball, football, soccer and basically everything else in a sports buffet. What worked for Curry, experts say, could work for everyone.”

There are also many other great points from the article. Major organizations are against specialization.

“In the last five years, the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the International Olympic Committee have published research supporting the position that children should sample different sports, rather than picking one too early.”

In a consensus statement by the International Olympic Committee, it says.

“Children who participate in a variety of sports and specialise only after reaching the age of puberty, for example, tend to be more consistent performers, have fewer injuries and adhere to sports play longer than those who specialise early.”

NBA Jr. and USA Basketball have also put out similar recommendations in their guidelines, Even the researcher K. Anders Ericsson of the grossly misinterpreted and bastardized 10,000 hour rule weighs in.

“This idea that you have to restrict yourself is a total misrepresentation,” Ericsson said. “The more practice you squeeze in does not necessarily lead to improvements but may, in fact, lead to the acquisition of bad habits.”

Additionally, and more importantly. Unfortunately, in today’s world, many of the pressures to specialize is driven by the youth sports business. Club sports are rejecting players who don’t commit to 6-month, 9-month, and even 12-month programs. Additionally, misinformation of specialization is being spouted to the parents.

And the ultimate fear of “Your child might get behind” is usually the number one tactic whether it’s well-intentioned or not. No wonder parents feel like their head is spinning when trying to educate themselves and make these decisions. It’s hard enough to find time to just relax for 10 minutes every night.

With that being said, you still need to figure out what your objective is with your child’s experience with sports. What is the purpose? My objective with my children is to learn character skills through sports that will help them be successful, happy adults.

• These skills include gratitude, respect, hard work, empathy, healthy communication with others, how to lead, how to follow, how to take instruction, how to critically think, the ability to keep a proactive attitude, and anything else that will make them a better person.
• Additionally, I want them to learn to love sports.

Playing sports is a great way to maintain fitness. Research shows that physical fitness aligns with being smarter and happier. Lastly and least important, I want a coach who is good at teaching the sport. Now, don’t get me wrong. there are situations in which to specialize.

What age did Lebron start playing basketball?

Early life – James was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio, to Gloria Marie James, who was 16 at the time of his birth. : 22  His father, Anthony McClelland, has an extensive criminal record and was not involved in his life. When James was growing up, life was often a struggle for the family, as they moved from apartment to apartment in the seedier neighborhoods of Akron while Gloria struggled to find steady work.

• Realizing that her son would be better off in a more stable family environment, Gloria allowed him to move in with the family of Frank Walker, a local youth football coach who introduced James to basketball when he was nine years old.
•  23  James began playing organized basketball in the fifth grade.

He later played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball for the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars. The team enjoyed success on a local and national level, led by James and his friends Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, and Willie McGee. : 24  The group dubbed themselves the “Fab Four” and promised each other that they would attend high school together.

Where did Stephen Curry learn to play basketball?

Growing Up with Sports – Stephen Curry is a basketball player for the Golden State Warriors and was the first person to be named Most Valuable Player by unanimous vote in NBA history. He was born on March 14, 1988, and grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina.

What is the most unbreakable NBA records?

NBA: Celtics’ eight straight championships – There are plenty of directions to look in the NBA, but the ‘ eight straight titles from 1959 to 1966 is the most unbreakable. Looking back at these squads, there was minimal roster turnover from year to year.

It was the same players leading the charge each season: Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Tommy Heinsohn and Sam Jones, among others. Red Auerbach was steering the ship, and they didn’t lose until he finally stepped down. In today’s NBA, this feat is nearly impossible. Free agency, trades and league expansion have hindered dynasties from forming.

No team has won three straight titles since the from 2000 to 2002 – and no other team in league history has won four or more straight besides these Celtics.

Who is the oldest NBA player?

Here are the 10 oldest NBA players in 2022. Udonis Haslem (42 years old) is the oldest.

How many 3’s does Curry take a game?

Stephen Curry has drained 3.8 three-pointers per game in his career.

What is Stephen Curry’s favorite video game?

Video Games – Stephen Curry talks ‘Call of Duty’ – ESPN Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty Images Stephen Curry is a deadly shooter in real life and in “Call of Duty”. Want to know what sharpshooter Stephen Curry does before he goes to sleep? “I usually play ‘Call of Duty’ with my teammates,” Curry tells me with a laugh.

• I have video game systems set up in both my living room and my bedroom, so I can play in either spot.
• I usually play right before I go to sleep, or if I have a party going on, we can play in my living room, too.
• I play against a bunch of my teammates almost every night.” And if you thought Curry was deadly from behind the arc in real life, you should see him pull that trigger in “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2”.

“The feeling you get after chasing somebody down in that game and making a sweet kill is unbelievable,” he says. “It gives you a little rush.” Curry, who calls himself a “PlayStation guy” only owns a PS3, but he still remembers the good old days of playing as his dad Dell (legendary sharpshooter in his own right) in games like “NBA Jam” and “NBA Live 95”.

He didn’t miss,” Curry says with a grin. As for how the Rookie of the Year candidate was portrayed in “NBA 2K10” and “NBA Live 10”, Curry has few complaints (especially after I tell him how I once hit 14 straight shots with him in “2K10”). “The rookie ratings are usually pretty low across the board, but it looks pretty realistic, and I think it moves like me, shoots somewhat like me,” he explains, breaking down his on-screen doppelganger.

But when it comes to gaming, there’s one sport that trumps even hoops in Curry’s world. “I’m big into golf,” he says. “I was playing ‘Tiger’ and I shot 22-under par one time. Got a birdie on every hole and then hit an eagle on a Par 5. “I was on fire.” : Video Games – Stephen Curry talks ‘Call of Duty’ – ESPN

Does Stephen Curry wear a mouthguard?

Stephen Curry has become arguably the NBA’s most iconic 3-point shooter during his career, but as much as his shooting stroke stands out, it’s often a piece of equipment with which people associate him. That would be his mouthguard. Curry has used a mouthguard for the entirety of his NBA career, and the decision to wear one dates back to his college days.

1. The mouthpiece wouldn’t be overly noticeable if Curry wore it normally.
2. However, he is constantly chewing on it during games and especially enjoys gnawing on it at the free-throw line.
3. He tends to push it to one side of his mouth while shooting from the charity stripe.
4. Why does Curry do this with his mouthguard? As he has explained over the years, it’s just something that works for him and, somehow, helps keep him focused.

MORE: Breaking down the Warriors vs. Celtics NBA Finals

Is basketball a good sport for kids?

Why Starting Basketball Early is Good for Kids | Outdoor Playsets San Antonio Basketball offers young players tons of benefits, including physical fitness, weight control, coordination, stress relief, team-building and socializing with others. For parents looking for a safe and convenient way to get the kids off the couch but keep them close to home, a home basketball hoop is a great option. Age Considerations Basketball programs may enroll children as young as 5 years old. For children that young, programs tend to focus on developing basic skills and typically use shorter 6-foot rims. Rule-based play typically does not begin until kids are 7 to 9 years old.

1. By fourth or fifth grade, many kids are ready to play basketball against other teams.
2. In addition to coach-supervised basketball camps, kids can practice at home to stay active.
3. For at-home play, an in-ground adjustable hoop can serve as a safe practice place for children of all ages.
4. Goalsetter adjustable height basketball goals can go from 6 feet to 10 feet in seconds with a simple turn of the handle.

That means a goal can grow with your child or serve multi-child families with ease. Physical Development Children require at least one hour of intense physical activity every day. Learning basketball allows children to incorporate this into their daily routines and contributes to overall physical well-being and fitness.

1. Dribbling, throwing, catching and pivoting improves gross motor skills by engaging all the major muscle groups.
2. Young children who play basketball show an improved flexibility and endurance as well as fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
3. Psychological Development Becoming involved with basketball at an early age helps kids develop psychologically.

Playing on a team helps your child make friends and get involved with his or her peer group. Playing basketball also improves a child’s ability to communicate and solve basic logic problems. Young athletes learn from an early age how to work in a team atmosphere, pay attention to others, and respond accordingly.

Who is the youngest NBA player ever?

This is a list of oldest and youngest National Basketball Association players, The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a men’s professional basketball league in North America. The NBA was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA).

• The league adopted its current name at the start of the 1949–50 season when it merged with the National Basketball League (NBL).
• The oldest person ever to play in the NBA was Nat Hickey, a coach who activated himself as a player for a game two days before his 46th birthday.
• The youngest player ever to play in the NBA was Andrew Bynum, who played his first game only six days after his 18th birthday.

The oldest active player is Miami Heat power forward Udonis Haslem, who is currently 42 years old. The youngest active player in the NBA is Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, who is currently 19 years old and was born on November 18, 2003.

Who is Steph Curry’s favorite NBA player?

Check out this interview element from 2014 as Steph Curry explains why Reggie Miller was his favorite player growing up. Curry is in pursuit of Reggie on the all-time 3PM list.

How high does Stephen Curry jump when shooting?

0.4 seconds. That’s all it takes for three-point assassin Stephen Curry to launch his perfectly crafted jumper from distance. For comparison, that’s about how long it takes for the ball to rotate ONCE during a shot. It’s damn fast, but his quick release is just one piece of the puzzle that has led Curry to become the best shooter in the NBA.

THE SHOT Apr 20, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) hits a game tying three point shot with 14.5 seconds left as Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson (3) defends during the second half of game one of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won97-95.

Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports When he was still in high school, Curry re-tooled his shot into the mechanics we see torching nets around the association. As a youngster, he learned to shoot from the hip, but his father, former NBA player Dell Curry, worked with Steph to shoot above his head to avoid being blocked, which the younger Curry was prone to due to his size.

1. Since the ball is already starting from a raised position, Curry releases the ball as he’s jumping, rather that at his jump’s apex; this happens much sooner and is the reason for his lightning quick release.
2. The second key for Curry is the arc on his shot.
3. According to Stats LLC, Curry’s average 3-point shot reaches a maximum height of 16.23 feet.

The NBA average is 15.77 feet. This added height gives Curry an advantageous angle at the basket. The higher the arc, the better angle the ball has to travel through the rim. The arc on the shot essentially makes the rim “bigger”. Curry usually shoots the ball between 50-55 degrees.

Mechanically, Curry hardly jumps on his shot, getting just a few inches off the ground, which is key to keeping his legs fresh at the end of games. He releases the ball without a hitch and keeps his elbow in, adding to the fluidity of his shot and making it very easy for him to repeat. All of this adds up to the extremely pure jump shot we see on display night after night.

IN RANGE Mar 30, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots the ball between Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard Wesley Matthews (2), small forward Luke Babbitt (8) and center Meyers Leonard (11) during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena.

1. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 125-98.
2. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports While Curry is deadly from anywhere on the court ( and, as we’ve seen, even from the hallway ) he definitely has preferred spots on the court.
3. He shoots the most from the top of the arc.

That’s where you’ll often see Andrew Bogut running a screen and Steph stepping back behind the defender. Or where he’ll pull up on a fast break. He’s more accurate, though, on the right-wing, making 43% of his threes in this spot — the league average here is 36%.

• His highest percentage on the court is the left corner, where he hits from downtown at a 46% clip.
• His frequency in this area is a lot lower than the top of the arc and the right-wing.
• These shots are more likely to come when Andre Iguodala or Shaun Livingston are in the game and Curry can play more off the ball, run off screens through the paint and get open in the corner (usually after a fly by from a defender).

Curry has added to his arsenal this year by significantly increasing his shooting percentage close to the basket. From 0-3 feet, he’s shooting 71.5% (up from 62.5% last year). From 3-10 feet out, he’s shooting 56.1% (up from 41.2% last year). It’s getting to the point where Curry is becoming next to impossible to defend.

AMONG THE GREATS Feb 12, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) is defended by Miami Heat guard Ray Allen (34) in the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Heat defeated the Warriors 111-110. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports Curry currently ranks fourth all time in 3-point-shooting percentage (he’s,003 behind Drazen Petrovic for third).

But in his short career he has already shot many, many more threes than the individuals in front of him. Current Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr is the all time leader in 3-point percentage at,4540 on 1,599 attempts. Hubert Davis is second with a,4409 career 3-point percentage on 1,651 attempts.

Petrovic, in third, shot,4374 but on only 583 attempts. And Curry checks in at fourth with a,4346 percentage, but has already shot 2,354 threes in his career. All this to say Curry is shooting at an incredibly high percentage for how often he shoots from distance. To keep his percentage so high when he averages 7.6 attempted threes per game this year is truly remarkable.

Ray Allen has the most career made threes at 2,973 (with a,400 career percentage). Curry has a lot of work to do catch Allen (Steph has made 1,023 career threes as of publication), but it certainly isn’t out of the question. It all comes down to how long Curry can maintain his ludicrous average of making 266 threes a season, which he has done the last two years.

1. If Curry regressed due to age at a similar rate as Allen, Steph would have to play until he was about 36 to get close to Allen’s record (There’s a lot of guessing and approximation in those calculations).
2. So while the record isn’t impossible, it isn’t a sure thing either.
3. But whether Curry catches Allen as the league’s all-time leader in threes or not, there’s little debate that Steph is one of the best shooters the game has ever seen.

And doing it all from the point guard position makes it all that much more impressive and a big reason Curry not only hears chants of “M-V-P” from the fans at Oracle Arena, but also has a legitimate chance to hear it from Adam Silver this summer.

How many practice shots does Steph Curry take a day?

2. Lots of Smart Repetitions – Players Responsibility – The second and final step is to shoot a lot (I repeat: a lot) of smart repetitions. This is where the player has to take over and become accountable for becoming a great shooter. Players can’t rely on coaches to be with them every time they’re shooting.

• Notice how I deliberately include the word ‘smart’ in that sentence.
• If your players are at the gym chucking up three’s without much attention to what they’re doing, no matter how many repetitions that put up they’re never going to become great shooters.
• It takes deliberate, well thought out practice.

It means going to the gym with a plan of what you’re going to do. Going to the gym and tracking your shots ( like the worlds best shooter does ) so that you know if you’re getting better and you always have a goal to shoot for. Going to the gym and practicing the shots that you take in games.

Steph Curry, who I consider to currently be the greatest in-game shooter on the planet, makes 500 shots per day in the summer and makes 200 to 350 shooter per day during the season. That’s not heaps. I’m not telling players they need to get in the gym and make 1000 shots every day. What I recommend to players differs greatly depending on their goals and age.

But one thing’s for sure, they must be game shots, from game spots, at game speed,

Has any NBA player shot 100% in a game?

Wilt Chamberlain scores 100 points to set a single-game NBA record. Top Moments: 1940s & 50s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s NBA.com takes a look back at the top moments that define the history of the NBA. On March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain set the NBA single-game scoring record by tallying 100 points for the Philadelphia Warriors in a 169-147 victory over the New York Knicks.

Not 98 points, not 102, but a nice, round 100 — an imposing record set by a most imposing player. Chamberlain was a gargantuan force in the NBA, a player of Bunyanesque stature who seemed to overshadow all around him. He was a dominant offensive force, unstoppable on his way to the basket, yet he was also a fine all-around athlete who took pride in developing the all-around skills to compete with players a half-foot shorter.

He certainly was unstoppable that night in Hershey, Pa., where the Warriors played a few of their “home” games in order to attract additional fans. With New York’s starting center, Phil Jordan, sidelined by the flu, Chamberlain could not be contained by Darrall Imhoff and Cleveland Buckner.

He scored 23 points in the first quarter and had 41 by halftime, then tallied 28 in the third quarter, when the fans began to chant, “Give It To Wilt! Give It To Wilt!” That’s exactly what the Warriors did, feeding Chamberlain at every opportunity in the fourth quarter. The Knicks tried fouling other Philadelphia players to keep the ball away from Chamberlain, but the Warriors countered by committing fouls of their own to get the ball back.

Finally, Chamberlain took a pass from Joe Ruklick and hit a short shot with 46 seconds left to give him 100 points. Fans raced onto the court and play was halted as Chamberlain went to the lockerroom, where PR man Harvey Pollack scrawled “100” on a piece of paper and had Chamberlain hold it up for photographers.

What is the biggest lost in NBA history?

T-1.58 – St. Louis Hawks at Minneapolis Lakers, March 19, 1956 – Before the Nuggets in 2009, the Minneapolis Lakers held the record. In Game 2 of the division semifinals in the Western Conference (best-of-three series), the Lakers blew out the Hawks 133-75.

Who has the most steal in NBA history?

NBA/ABA

Rank	Player	STL
1.	John Stockton *	3265
2.	Jason Kidd*	2684
3.	Michael Jordan*	2514
4.	Chris Paul	2470

Who played most NBA seasons?

Vince Carter, who began his career with the Raptors, is the only player in NBA history to have played in 22 seasons. Only ten players in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA) have played 20 or more seasons in their respective careers.

In 1985–86, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar broke the previous NBA record of 16 seasons held by Dolph Schayes, John Havlicek, Paul Silas, and Elvin Hayes ; he finished his career in 1988–89 with a then-record 20 seasons played. Robert Parish broke the mark in 1996–97, when he retired after 21 seasons, and Kevin Willis tied him in his final season in 2006–07.

They were joined by Kevin Garnett in 2015–16 when he began his 21st season. His Minnesota Timberwolves played their season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant, who became the fifth player to reach the 20-season plateau that night. The game was the first time in league history that two opposing players each had at least 20 years of experience.

Having played his entire career with the Lakers, Bryant was also the first NBA player to spend 20 seasons with one team, In 2018–19, Dirk Nowitzki surpassed Bryant with 21 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, In 2019–20, Vince Carter became the first player with 22 seasons in the NBA. In the NBA, big men typically have longer playing careers than smaller men.

Older centers and power forwards may have the luxury of pacing themselves while running the court, or they might station themselves in the post, Big men Parish, Willis, and Garnett all had relatively minor roles while playing in their respective 21st seasons.

On the other hand, guards are tasked with handling the ball full-court; in addition, guards are more dependent on traits like speed and quickness that deteriorate with age. Bryant was the first guard to play 20 seasons, passing the previous mark of 19 seasons for guards held by John Stockton and Jason Kidd,

In his final season, he was moved to small forward and surrounded by other ball handlers.

Who made the first dunk in NBA history?

A brief history of the dunk –