Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry’s ability to make shots from long range, his confidence and his mindset have made him one of the greatest players of all time. Curry, who averaged 31.4 points per game in his 27th playoff series, is known for his ability to take risks and make shots that other players would shy away from. He attributes his success to his “irrational confidence”, a mindset he’s had throughout his career. Curry, who has 15,653 jump shots under his belt, inspires young basketball players to shoot for the same goal of making difficult, yet successful shots.
Curry was predicted by few in the league to lead his team to a fourth title and win the Finals MVP award, yet he did so on June 2022, beating Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, a moment which brought tears to his eyes. His former Golden State Warriors teammate, Zaza Pachulia, says Curry’s confidence has been earned. “I think he truly believes that he can do everything,” Pachulia says. “You earn the confidence.” Draymond Green, Curry’s teammate, says there is no debate that Curry is the greatest of all time, partly due to his unique confidence. Curry’s coach, Bob McKillop, believes Curry’s gift of trust is genuine: “And that includes himself. And I think that was nurtured and cultivated by [parents] Dell and Sonya.”
In the 2021-2022 NBA season, Curry scored a record-setting 50 points in a Game 7 match against the Sacramento Kings on April 27, leading his team to a win. Curry’s ability to make shots, even when the outcome may be uncertain, has created a new reality in basketball. Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard praises Curry’s confidence and ability to make risky shots look easy. Curry’s teammate, Klay Thompson, is not surprised by the shots Curry makes during games because of the work Curry puts in every day in practice. Curry’s foundation of belief has enabled him to maintain a mindset of “irrational confidence”, making him one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA.
