NBA Summer League is where rookies get a chance to prove they deserve the opportunity they have been given. Lottery picks are placed under the spotlight, and the lower or undrafted rookies use the chance to try to steal their shine and earn roster spots. Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry participated in the NBA's Summer League just like most players. The shooting GOAT has told stories about his experience at Summer League, and of course, there are good ones.
In 2009, Steph, son of former NBA player Dell Curry, played his first NBA game. It was the beginning stages of him putting the doubters to shame. He averaged 17.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 2.4 steals in five Summer League games. Solid numbers for a rookie, but it was only suitable for the fourth-highest scoring average on the team and he struggled with his shooting (32.5% overall and 34.5% from 3). Anthony Randolph, Anthony Morrow, and Cartier Martin all averaged 20-plus points per game. They went 4-1 that summer in Vegas.
One of the first memories Stephen Curry recalls is the opening possession of his first bit of NBA action. It wasn't a nothing-but-net 3-pointer like you would expect, but rather a loose ball. He went to grab a rebound and someone deflected it, causing the ball to hit him in the face. The result left the skinny kid from Akron with a bloody nose. It probably wasn't the start Curry wanted, but safe to say he turned out okay.
The man you see in a Warriors jersey now is the same rookie you saw in Summer League, just a lot bigger. Although Curry isn't seen as a big player, compared to rookie Stephen Curry, he's enormous. There is a listing that said he weighed 181 pounds going into his rookie year. It's not surprising looking at how big his Summer League jersey looked on him. But busted nose and oversized jersey and all, he gave a five-game dose of what was to come in his future.
Looking back on Curry's Summer League performance, it was pretty good despite the shooting woes, but he still had a lot of doubters. Who would have known looking at Stephen Curry in 2009 that he would be a future megastar who would change the game of basketball forever? Who thought the skinny kid would win three titles and two MVP trophies?
That's the truth and exactly what happened, and today we could potentially be watching the next all-time great start his NBA journey. It could be someone nobody expects, which is the beauty of basketball.
You never honestly know what's next.
Follow Us
Subscribe