When people see the workouts that Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry does, especially with longtime trainer Brandon Payne, one word immediately comes to mind: maniacal. This is because Curry pushes himself to the limit and beyond in every training session, leaving nothing on the court. However, this intensity was not always good, especially during his early career.
In an interview with Dorell Wright , a former teammate of Curry's on the Warriors, he revealed that he had to remind Steph to tone down his intensity during practice. This was not because he didn't appreciate Curry's work ethic but because the NBA's regular season is a grind, not a sprint.
Incredible work ethic
Even though Curry came from a family of athletes, he didn't rely solely on his genetics to become the superstar he is today. He worked tirelessly in the gym, honing his skills and improving his game. His father, former NBA sharpshooter Dell Curry, has ingrained this work ethic in him since childhood, who worked diligently with Steph to develop his game.
With an average height and a slight build, the former Davidson Wildcat knew he had to be exceptional to have a solid shot at becoming an NBA player. And that he did. Curry became known for his incredible shooting range and quick release, earning him the nickname "Baby-Faced Assassin." However, that development didn't happen overnight.
"I didn't know that he was gonna be who he is, but I saw the work ethic," Dorell said on the "Run Your Race" podcast.
After spending his first six seasons in the NBA with the Miami Heat, where he won a title during his rookie season, Wright signed with the Warriors, which had Steph and another explosive guard, Monta Ellis. Together, the trio played a ton of minutes, trying to elevate the then-moribund franchise to new heights.
"Me, Monta, and young Steph Curry. I think we were in the top 10 in minutes played that year—we were playing like 40-something minutes a game. And Steph was always in the gym," Wright said.
While being diligent in training is always a good thing, Dorell saw that Curry didn't give himself much room for rest and recovery.
"It's like, 'Bro, we got a game, you need to get some rest,'" Wright recalled telling the budding star back then. "But he always stayed on his grind; he always worked on his craft."
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Steph's stardom hinged on his health
Curry's struggles with his ankle issues were well-known, and according to Wright, he believed it was all that stood between the 6'3" guard's date with greatness. In the 2011-2012 season, the sharpshooter played in only 26 games as he dealt with ankle and foot injuries that needed surgery to rectify.
"I felt like, just at that moment, he kept having injuries with his ankle, so you really couldn't gauge like, 'Okay, is he gonna be healthy enough to be successful?'" Dorell shared.
Wright, though, was confident that Steph would figure it out as he already had all the tools to succeed. And sure enough, in the following season, Curry made a statement by contending for the NBA's Most Improved Player and Most Valuable Player awards.
"He put the work in, he was a student of the game, he listened to the older guys. And you know, now I see him doing the things he does, and I'm not surprised. Yeah, 'cause he put the work in, he put the time in, and he was willing to do whatever, you know, to be who he is today. So I'm super proud of him, man, and the things he's done," Dorell stressed.
Steph has established himself as one of sports' greatest players, breaking records and revolutionizing the game.
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