Golden State Warriors superstar guard Stephen Curry is known for many things — his crazy half-court buzzer beater shots, his polished step-back jumper, his wild, slicing drives through the paint, his record 402 three-pointers. But yet, another part of Curry’s game is gaining him fame, and it doesn’t take place during the 48 regulation minutes of play.
Show up 90 minutes early to any Warriors game, home or away, and you won’t be alone. In fact, you might have to pay for the tickets. That’s because of Curry’s famous pregame ritual, a show in itself, a dazzling performance that demonstrates to fans that they are in the presence of something slightly more elevated than just a warm-up for a regular season basketball game.
Curry leaves his laces untied at first, running around to sit at the bench to tie them. Then, he begins the routine.
He starts with two balls, dribbling them on either side of his legs, then crossing them left to right, left to right. He dribbles between his legs, reminding the fans gathered in the stands that he is, after all, a point guard. He matches the pace of whatever song is blasting over the speakers, weaving the ball behind his back and around his body. Then, Curry tosses one ball to the side and begins shooting.
(Watch below)
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Now it’s the lofted shots, the ones that seem too high to fall, the ones that sink through the net with that perfect sound — swish. Curry’s warm up is about trying any shot, every shot. Left handed banks, far off floaters from the corner, two-handed hail Mary’s from half court. He ends with 10 shots from every spot around the arc, once making 77 straight in practice. Then he takes to half court, starting out on just the logo before backing up from behind the line. He then launches a few tries from out of bounds.
The crowd gathered reacts like they’re watching the final seconds of a title game, shouting out praise and cheers and creating as much thunderous applause as is possible in a half-empty arena. In most places he plays, Curry’s warm up is televised. Most teams open their doors early so that fans can watch the show, although the Warriors haven’t made that particular change yet.
Curry finishes from the tunnel, launching a shot that normally falls in the same characteristic way — clean, neat, precise. Then he’ll trot back to the locker room, raising a hand to the cheers, signing autographs before disappearing for his more private rituals.
It’s a routine, a practice, but it’s also one of the greatest performances to behold of the 2015-16 NBA season. The Steph Curry show has been one that the whole nation has watched these past two years, but the most loyal fans know the truth — the show starts long before tip off.
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