From Stephen Curry’s first made 3-pointer in the NBA as a skinny kid from a small school for a pro team nobody cared about, to his 2,974th shot made from distance as a 3-time NBA champ, it’s been one hell of a ride.
And NBA fans aren’t done enjoying the entertainment that only Curry can provide. On Tuesday, he broke the NBA record for most made 3-pointers in a career, though he’s clearly still in his prime.
He set the mark against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, the same place where he burst onto the NBA scene with a scintillating 54-point performance for the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 27 2013. Here’s his record-breaking shot below –still in a Golden State uniform, of course — on an assist from forward Andrew Wiggins.
Here’s another angle of the vintage shot from Curry.
Curry, whose father, Dell Curry, was a prolific shooter in his own right, displayed raw emotion after he broke ex-NBA guard Ray Allen’s record.
That’s special stuff from the superstar, on a most special night. Finally, here’s Curry soaking in his accomplishment after the game, with jerseys from Allen and the other NBA great in the top-3 all-time 3-point shooters list, Pacers great Reggie Miller.
This was a special night for Curry and his family, of course, and for the NBA. But for Warriors fans, it’s one more dream of a night thanks to Curry’s greatness. For myself, when I saw the TV broadcast show a clip of Curry’s first made 3-pointer as a rookie in 2009, Curry’s entire career, to this point, flashed before my eyes.
I was watching that first 3-pointer live more than a decade ago. I didn’t know at the time that it was the start of something great. How could I? But what Warriors fans have seen since that moment — Curry making a meaningless shot for an afterthought NBA franchise — to the present day, that’s why we watch sports. You never know what’s going to happen.
Now, the Warriors are a juggernaut. Curry, forward Draymond Green, and G Klay Thompson have three NBA titles, and they’re back on the hunt for more. Curry just set a record in his prime. The Warriors have plenty of youth for the present and future.
It’s the franchise that Curry built, one 3-pointer — and win — at a time. And the entire NBA is waiting with bated breath to see what he does next.
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