On the surface, people see Stephen Curry as a man who exudes joy when playing basketball, constantly flashing that iconic smile. But underneath that joy lies a fierce competitor who wants nothing more than to win, regardless of the obstacles in his way.
For those who know Curry best, like his former coach Mark Jackson , they understand this duality all too well. In an interview with SLAM Magazine, Jackson shared what he learned about Curry when he first coached him in 2011.
Early glimpses of greatness
By the time Jackson took over the coaching reins in Golden State in 2011, he already knew how tenacious the young man was in pursuing greatness. Mark played with Steph's father, Dell, on the Toronto Raptors in 2001 and witnessed the younger Curry's confidence and audacity when he regularly tried to play with pros like Vince Carter after practice.
"I loved that about him even when he was a young kid and I watched him in the gym," Mark said . " He wanted to be great even at that age."
After a successful collegiate career highlighted by a Cinderella-like run in the 2008 March Madness, where he led the Davidson Wildcats to incredible upsets of highly-touted squads Gonzaga, Georgetown, and Wisconsin, Steph finally made it to the NBA in 2009, when he was selected seventh overall by the Warriors.
A couple of years later, Jackson had Curry under his tutelage, and in 2012, he unleashed the "Baby-Faced Assassin" on the rest of the NBA. In that season, Steph averaged 22.9 points and 6.9 assists per game, leading the Warriors to the second round of the playoffs, where they lost to the more experienced San Antonio Spurs.
However, Curry left plenty of defenses in shambles as he showed off his unique blend of shooting prowess, ball-handling skills, and court vision. Despite being undersized and often overlooked due to his small frame, Steph proved he could compete with the best in the league and quickly became a fan favorite.
"You won't find a better person, but he has an edge to him. He wants to harm you, hurt you, and defeat you," Jackson added.
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Curry's meaner side
The two-time MVP is much like the fictional character "Mr. Jekyll and Dr. Hyde" in that he has two distinct personalities on the court. On one hand, he is the smiling, easy-going Steph who loves entertaining and interacting with his fans. But a switch flips once he steps between the lines, and an ultra-competitive Curry emerges. He says he becomes more intense when foes start talking trash to him.
"Sometimes, all it takes is seeing the ball go in a few times. Sometimes, I feel like it's time for me to make something happen, like my team needs me. But sometimes, cats get to talking, and I'm like, OK, I got something for you," Steph revealed.
The "Chef" doesn't look like the typical NBA superstar who can effortlessly dominate the game with his size or athleticism. He doesn't have Michael Jordan's athleticism or LeBron James' tremendous physique. But what Steph has is an insatiable desire to improve despite all his individual accolades and prove he deserves to be mentioned along with the game's all-time greats.
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