Steph Curry is a team player.
It’s an attitude that has translated into three NBA titles for the star point guard during his time on the Warriors, but his dad Dell Curry said it took some time for Steph to find a balance between making the most of his own talent and trying to keep his teammates involved.
Ahead of Golden State’s Game 2 Western Conference semifinals matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, Dell spoke to the NBC Sports Bay Area crew from FedExForum on "Warriors Live: Playoff Edition" and shared how a humble Steph used to be even more giving on the court as a teen.
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SIGN UP HERE As a result, Steph had to be told to pass less and shoot more.
“He’s carried that trait ever since high school. He always wanted to make sure his teammates were involved, probably too much so,” Dell said. “In high school, we had to get on him to be more selfish with the ball.”
The hilarious anecdote from Dell comes as no surprise to Dub Nation, who have witnessed one of the game’s greatest shooters create opportunities for his fellow Warriors to shine, too, over the years.
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Despite the harping from his father, Steph’s generous nature continued onto the court at Davidson College.
“And even when he got to college, I think coach [Bob] McKillop and his crew there knew that he was the best player once he stepped onto campus, offensively,” Dell said. “They gave him the keys to the bus, but he still didn’t take advantage of that. He made sure all his teammates were involved and made sure that they understood how important they were to his game, and I think that’s a skill set he’s brought to the NBA, being that leader on and off the floor.”
Steph is of course known for his lethal shooting, but he also has the most assists by a Warriors player in franchise history with 5,388. The game’s best players also make the team around them better, and that’s exactly what Steph has done since he first made the jump from Davidson to Golden State in 2009.
His team-first mentality has resulted in not only trophies, but the respect of his teammates -- and his father.
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“He’s a fun guy to be around. Always got a good attitude, win, lose or draw,” Dell said. “It’s always about the next play, so as a point guard with the ball, your teammates have to love playing with you. That’s never been a problem for Steph. He brings that personality, that team camaraderie, that spirit. That’s why they’re world champs.
“It has a lot to do with the chemistry … You have to have good chemistry, a good locker room. Guys have to be playing not only for themselves, but for their teammates as well.”
They had a hard time getting Steph to be selfish in high school. That carried over into college, and now the two-time NBA MVP has shown that you can be a team player and a living legend all at the same time.
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