Stephen Curry has won four NBA championships and has been named the league’s MVP twice; The Golden State Warriors guard entered the league in 2009 after spending his college days at a largely unknown Division One program at Davidson
By Maryam Clark
8:55, UK, Tuesday 25 July 2023
Despite an amazing string of accolades, including four NBA championships and two league MVP trophies, the Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry still has an “underrated” mindset every time he steps onto the court.
“I feel like I’ve always carried that mentality because it’s part of my DNA and how I became successful on and off the court,” Curry shared. Sky Sports’ Maryam Clark.
“I was undersized and a late bloomer. I didn’t really have the physical gifts to pass the eye test of what it looked like to be a high Division One college basketball player or even an NBA player.
“So it all came down to confidence, work ethic, accepting the mistakes and learning along the way.”
Director Peter Nicks captures the 35-year-old’s remarkable story in 110 minutes in his latest documentary – ‘Underrated’ – which airs on Apple TV+ from 21 July.
Viewers get a film that delivers two intertwined narratives: one about Curry’s improbable rise from scrappy Charlotte Christian guard to NBA superstardom with the Warriors, and one about his time at Davison College and the Liberal Arts College Hoops Team.
Nicks’ decision to intertwine the two parallels provides a complete narrative of the hardships Curry faces professionally and personally — one the veteran guard is eager to discuss.
“I hope it’s a story that doesn’t just resonate with basketball players or people in sports; there’s a life lesson for everyone: put yourself out there, go for it and take your chances.
“Believing in yourself, surrounding yourself with great people and learning a lot about yourself is the process. I still have that understated mindset.
“Even after winning four championships and the Finals MVP, it’s still part of my DNA going forward and I think it always will be.”
Curry echoed that mindset on the golf front when he became the first active athlete since 2000 to win the American Century Championship with an 18-foot putt for eagle on the final hole.
Curry says his win at the American Century Championship was a great opportunity to leverage golf for the next generation
The father of two shocked the NBA world early in his career when his mercurial skills helped the Dubs to three championship wins in four years – two of those titles coming against LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers.
Not surprisingly, he has proven to be equally adept at other sports.
“It was crazy for sure,” Curry smiled as he reflected on his round.
“Just an understatement of how much I love the game of golf, how much I’ve been able to leverage that passion for the game to try to create opportunities for the next generation.
“I’ve especially tried to increase the diversity of the game, stand on a stage like that and win a golf tournament.
“It will hopefully only increase the energy and awareness of the game I want to be a part of”.
The seasoned guard has also enjoyed looking back on a glittering career while making the documentary.
“There are things I’ve forgotten,” he said. “Various clips or conversations with coaches, teammates, fans, people who were around in the early days of my life and career and even the three years I was at Davidson College.”
Curry is referring to his formative years before declaring for the 2009 NBA Draft, when the Warriors selected him seventh overall behind Blake Griffin (No. 1), James Harden (No. 3), Ricky Rubio (No. 5) and three others.
“Reliving it, not just through the videos and clips, but through other people’s perspectives and their stories and recollections of it, was special,” he admitted.
“For people who don’t know anything about that part of my life or that story, or if you do, you’ll learn something. And hopefully it can touch a lot of different people in a lot of ways.”
Curry and the producers of ‘Underrated’ discuss their new documentary about the story of one of the most influential players in basketball history. The documentary will air on Apple TV+ from 21 July
Erick Peyton, who worked on the documentary as a producer, echoed his sentiments.
“Pete Nicks put people in a position who were extremely talented and could create Steph’s story. It was a great decision because you could see the similarities between how he was in the past and how he is now.”
Nicks, who had previously directed a trilogy of documentaries about Bay Area institutions, also recruited Ryan Coogler to help on a more executive level.
“We were fortunate to have Eric and Steph contact us as potential partners for this story,” Coogler said.
“And we were lucky that Pete was able to take on the project. He’s a really good filmmaker, very experienced, and I think he has a unique vision that we were able to support.
“I think the film tells a story about people making judgments that don’t match how you see yourself. Those stories are the most powerful.”