Stephen Curry (1988- )

August 03, 2017 
/ Contributed By: Samuel Momodu

This entry is sponsored by Phylisha Agbor and is dedicated to her grandson, Fidelis Ikenna Agbor Jr, for his love of the game of basketball and his ability to know the stats of the major players at such a young age.

Stephen Curry practicing before a game in Denver

Stephen Curry practicing before a game in Denver

Photo by Cyrus Saatsaz (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Wardell Stephen Curry II, also known as Stephen Curry, is a professional basketball player with the Golden State (California) Warriors. Curry is considered one of the greatest shooters in NBA history and an “elite” all-time scorer. As the 7th overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft, Curry rose to become a four-time NBA All-Star, two-time NBA champion and most valuable player, and a leader in three-point shooting.

Curry was born on March 14, 1988, in Akron, Ohio, to Sonya Curry and former NBA player Dell Curry. The family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, when his father signed to play for the Charlotte Hornets. Curry was able to develop his basketball skills at a young age because his father took him and his younger brother, Seth, to Hornets games, where they were allowed to shoot with the team during game warm-ups. Young Curry attended Charlotte Christian School, where he played basketball, leading his team to three conference titles and three state playoff appearances.

After graduating from Charlotte Christian School in 2006, Curry attended Davidson College and joined the Wildcats men’s basketball team. He was named the Southern Conference Freshmen of the Year and led the Wildcats to the regional finals of the NCAA tournament. Curry played for the Wildcats until the end of his junior year, when he decided to opt out his senior year to become eligible for the 2009 NBA Draft. Curry finished his final season with the Wildcats, averaging 28.6 points per game.

In 2009, the Golden State Warriors drafted Curry during the first rounds of the NBA draft. During his rookie season, he won the NBA All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge, was voted second in the NBA Rookie of the Year, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In 2010, he participated in the FIBA World Championship and won a gold medal with the USA basketball team. Known for his shooting accuracy, Curry blazed a path by setting shooting records that established him as one of the NBA’s best scorers.  Along with his teammate Klay Thompson, the duo became known as the “Splash Brothers” because of their long-range three-point shooting.

The 2014-2015 NBA season was arguably one of Curry’s best seasons. The Warriors led the league with the best winning record, 67-15, in which Curry was named Most Valuable Player. The team went on to win the NBA Championship against the Cleveland Cavaliers.  During the 2015-2016 season, Curry was the first player in NBA history to be named MVP with a unanimous vote while the Warriors set a season-high record, 73-9, surpassing the 1995-1996 Chicago (Illinois) Bulls historic record. Curry and the Warriors returned to the finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers but were ultimately defeated in seven games. Despite the devastating loss, Curry and the Warriors continued to gain success in the following season with the addition of Kevin Durant. They returned to the 2017 NBA finals for the third straight year to face the Cavaliers, whom they defeated in five games, leading to Curry’s second championship victory.

Curry married Ayesha Alexander Curry in July 2011. The couple have two daughters, Riley and Ryan Curry. His younger brother, Seth Curry, also plays in the NBA.

About the Author

Author Profile

Samuel Momodu, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, received his Associate of Arts Degree in History from Nashville State Community College in December 2014 and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Tennessee State University in May 2016. He received his Master of Arts Degree in history from Southern New Hampshire University in June 2019.

Momodu’s main areas of research interest are African and African American History. His passion for learning Black history led him to contribute numerous entries to BlackPast.org for the last few years. Momodu has also worked as a history tour guide at President Andrew Jackson’s plantation home near Nashville, the Hermitage. He is currently an instructor at Tennessee State University. His passion for history has also helped him continue his education. In 2024, he received his Ph.D. in History from Liberty University, writing a dissertation titled The Protestant Vatican: Black Churches Involvement in the Nashville Civil Rights Movement 1865-1972. He hopes to use his Ph.D. degree to become a university professor or professional historian.

CITE THIS ENTRY IN APA FORMAT:

Momodu, S. (2017, August 03). Stephen Curry (1988- ). BlackPast.org. https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/curry-stephen-1988/

Source of the Author's Information:

“Stephen Curry,” Biography, https://www.biography.com/people/stephen-curry; “Stephen Curry,” National Basketball Association, http://www.nba.com/players/stephen/curry/201939; “Stephen Curry,” USA Today, https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2016/03/14/28-facts-you-might-not-know-about-stephen-curry/81767138/.

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