By: Anya Li

Stephen Curry has definitely made a name for himself throughout his years in the NBA. But when he first started out, many people doubted him or didn’t think he would be the “next big thing.” However, he managed to take home four championships for his team, the Golden State Warriors, and win the NBA finals MVP award to prove many wrongs.

Without a doubt, basketball is a sport that requires more height than the average person to reach the top. Those that possess great height can catch rebounds and shoot more easily, thus giving the player a significant advantage. Curry, standing at 6’2”, is often considered “short” among NBA standards. After all, the average NBA player is 6’7”.

Regardless of this minor setback, Curry has proven time and time again that height doesn’t necessarily define skill level. His teammates have praised his talent and hard work. “You’ve never seen a guy his size dominate the league like this and just to put the weight of everything on his shoulders throughout a Finals series,” teammate Golden State forward Andre Iguodala said. He went on further to mention that normally centers are at least 6’7”, and that they can “get to their spots and shoot over guys,” also adding, “But a guy his height who is vertically challenged, they would say, just — you saw it; we all saw it. It was just incredible.”

However, Curry has been deemed the underdog most of his career. Critics have often called him out on various occasions, saying he’s too small or injury-prone, among other things. Despite this, he has risen to the top, with people now regarding him as one of the greatest basketball players of all time and as the greatest shooter in NBA history. He has also revolutionized the sport by motivating other players to more frequently use the three-point shot. There is absolutely no doubt that Stephen Curry has had a noteworthy influence on the NBA and basketball as a whole.

Link to article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/06/18/steph-curry-legacy-nba-finals-mvp/