Giants have dominated the NBA since the beginning of its existence. Then a kid born in Akron, Ohio–not named LeBron James–joined the league in Stephen Curry and helped change the basketball landscape forever. The youth loves him more than possibly any other player in NBA history.
In 12 seasons, Curry has accumulated three NBA championships and two MVP trophies. He also owns the record for most 3-pointers made in one season, and this list of accolades continues to grow. However, his performance on the court isn't the only reason why he's as popular as he is.
The average height for a man in America is 5-foot-9, and Curry gives smaller individuals hope that they can one day play in the NBA. You might not ever jump as high as Michael Jordan or LeBron James, but shooting, ball-handling and finishing under the rim are things you can obtain through hard work and dedication.
Since Curry is never the biggest nor the fastest player on the court, he has to manipulate defenses with his long-range shooting. When you're the smaller player, a double team forces you to pass the ball earlier than you would like. That law of basketball birthed the logo 3-point shot. Curry started shooting the ball before defenses had the chance to bring double teams. When you're the best shooter in the history of the game, that's a great shot.
Since that discovery, more and more guards are practicing this shot. Trae Young and LaMelo Ball both started shooting from half-court in high school. Now kids younger and younger worldwide practice shooting from as far as they can to be just like Curry.
Not everyone is gifted with the athleticism of the other prominent players today. Heck, not even everyone has been blessed with the towering height to dominate the glass and be nightmare matchups for slower defenders.
However, Stephen Curry changed the way basketball is played, with teams now putting more premium on shooting. Of course, he alone can't be credited for that development, but everyone can say he made it popular. Or in other words, he made it possible.
In a physical game like basketball, the Warriors sharpshooter proved that you don't have to be the best athlete or tallest player to dominate. With well-polished skills, Curry showed that anyone can make an impact on the basketball court.
We all know why whenever kids are throwing balled up paper on trash cans, most of them are saying: Curry!
Curry's Work-Ethic Off The Court
Stephen Curry always plays the game with a smile, which reminds you of kids playing AAU basketball. Is Curry the coolest player ever? Probably not, but the combination of how he plays and how he looks make him extremely marketable. Signing with Under Armour has become a massive success for Curry, as his shoe is the official shoe for kids and AAU teams.
A 9-year-old girl once wrote a letter to Curry and Under Armour, upset that when she went to buy the latest shoe, the website said it wasn't available to girls. Since Curry is a father of two little girls, he made sure to respond to the girl's challenge and created a girl's shoe as well. Under Armour made the shoe available for girls, and he sent out a public apology and thanked the fan for helping them do better.
These are just a few reasons why kids love Stephen Curry so much. He is one of the best role models while being one of the league's top players. If you're a kid who plays and watches basketball, it's a good chance that you are a fan of him as well.
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