Stephen Curry may not have as many rings as Michael Jordan or the star power of LeBron James, but the Golden State Warriors guard will certainly go down as one of the best NBA players of all time.
Not only is the 32-year-old arguably the best shooter the NBA has ever seen, but he’s also already won three NBA Championships and two MVP awards. While he still has so much left to achieve, here are some facts you need to know about the NBA star.
Named After His Father
Fans know the shooting guard as “Steph” or “Stephen,” but he was actually named after his father, Wardell. In fact, his full name is Wardell Stephen Curry II, though he’s always gone by “Stephen” or “Steph” since he was a little kid.
Born in the Same Hospital as LeBron James
Believe it or not, but Curry and LeBron James were actually born in the same hospital in Akron, Ohio at Akron General Medical Center. Curry was born in Akron because his father was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers at the time. However, Curry grew up and spent his formative years in Charlotte, North Carolina.
No Major Division I Scholarship Offers
Curry is known as one of the best basketball players of all time, so it’s hard to believe he didn’t receive any major Division I scholarship offers, but it’s the truth!
In fact, he only received scholarship offers from three schools — Davidson, VCU, and Winthrop. He ended up going to Davidson, where he had a great career, but we have to imagine other programs are kicking themselves for not taking interest in him.
Holds the Record for Three-Pointers in a Season
While Curry is a very balanced player, his strongest asset is his long-range shooting. Curry broke the NCAA record for most three-pointers in a season during his sophomore season at Davidson, making 162. He also has the record for three-pointers in a season in the NBA, with 402.
Deal With His Mother
In order to keep his turnovers down, Curry made a deal with his mother early in his career. She charges him $100 for each turnover he commits after his third, which means if he commits five turnovers in a game he owes her $200. Nothing like paying your mother to help you improve your game, right?!
Big Golfer
When he’s not busy playing basketball or spending time with his family, Curry fills up his time playing golf. He finds time to play in golf tournaments during the off-season and has even played a game with President Barack Obama.
Longest Tenured Player
Curry was drafted to the Golden State Warriors out of college in 2009 and is currently the longest-tenured player on the roster.
Popcorn Addict
There’s no question Curry maintains a healthy diet, but he is a bit of a popcorn addict. He loves popcorn so much, in fact, that he has rankings for the popcorn in all 30 NBA arenas!
According to Curry, the arena that has the best popcorn is American Airlines Arena, where the Dallas Mavericks play. The worst? Unfortunately, that award goes to the Staples Center, home to the Lakers and Clippers.