Steph Curry is aware that cynics might hear the title of his latest documentary, “Underrated,” and roll their eyes. They might wonder how he, the son of an NBA player who currently is having one of the greatest basketball careers in the modern era, could be identified as underrated.
Isn’t he a child of privilege?
“Underrated can mean a lot of different things,” Curry said. “I fully acknowledge my dad played 16 years in the league. I was around inspiration and greatness where I could see what they put into their craft on a daily basis.”
The inspiration was there, but there was a time when even those closest to Curry couldn’t fathom he’d be a college player, much less one of the best players in NBA history.
“Underrated,” available on Apple TV+ Friday, shows Curry through the 2021-22 season as he works to earn his bachelor’s degree from Davidson, where he played three seasons before becoming the seventh pick by Golden State in the 2009 NBA Draft. During that 2021-22 season, Curry won his fourth championship and his only NBA Finals MVP. He also broke the record for 3-pointers made in a career that season.
The look into Curry’s life comes at a time when he’s getting more attention for his golf game. He made an 18-foot putt for eagle on the final hole to win the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament on Sunday.
STEPH CURRY WINS THE @ACChampionship WITH A EAGLE ON 18! ???????? pic.twitter.com/OH8alOhYMn
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) July 16, 2023
“That is definitely the top of my golf experiences, for sure,” said Curry, who also sank a hole-in-one to make news. “But it is not topping the 2,974 (made 3s).”
The new film, directed by Peter Nicks and including Ryan Coogler (director and producer of the “Creed” and “Black Panther” series) among its producers, focuses on Curry as the skinny and lightly recruited guard who would go on to lead Davidson to the Elite Eight in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.
Much of the documentary’s footage centers on Curry working on his degree while passing Ray Allen for the most made 3s in league history and juggling being a husband and father of three.
In the film, Curry, 35, said no one would have predicted 20 years ago he’d be where he is today. He always was one of the smallest players to the point his parents wondered if he’d ever have a growth spurt.
“I didn’t pass the eye test,” Curry said. “I didn’t have the physical gifts that said, ‘Oh, you’re an NBA player’s son.’”
Curry, his father Dell, mother Sonya, college coach Bob McKillop and Davidson teammates all reflected on Curry before his NBA days. Curry didn’t play at a powerhouse prep program; he played at Charlotte Christian School. When Curry told some of his high school classmates he was signing with Davidson, some had no idea where the school was — even though the campus is less than 30 minutes from Charlotte.
Curry, as the son of an NBA player, was not celebrated as a top recruit like some might have assumed. He was a good shooter, but he was slender and looked younger than his age.
Legacy meant nothing in his goal of playing big-time college basketball. Curry couldn’t even earn a scholarship offer from Virginia Tech, where Dell’s jersey is retired and both his parents attended school.
“I would show up somewhere, and I’d look four years younger than the people I played against and be super undersized and all that type of stuff,” Curry said. “Even the hilarious nickname that came at Davidson, ‘The Babyfaced Assassin,’ that was all part of the narrative around anything that I did. So, you accept it, embrace it and try to let your game do the talking.”
Curry believes his story of how he built himself from overlooked to an NBA great can apply to a broad audience. He knew he was a good shooter, but it wasn’t enough for those who didn’t see him as an elite player. Davidson gave him the opportunity to hone his craft.
Curry believes, in any walk of life, there are people with talents that are overlooked. They just need a chance.
“I felt like I was different, but I had a lot to offer, and that can be applied to anything inside of sports, outside of sports, just in life,” Curry said. We’re all made unique. We’re all made different. We’re all given a gift.”
Curry dribbling with LeBron James defending in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals. (Kyle Terada / USA Today)
Were Curry’s genetics a part of his gift? Dell’s 1,245 3s are 79th all-time, so it makes sense he would pick up the shooting trait from his dad. But there were far more times before he reached superstardom when he was reminded he wasn’t close to being a pro like his father. Dell’s success never guaranteed he’d be given opportunities. It never guaranteed a college scholarship or pro success.
“Underrated” reminds viewers that Curry was an underdog for a significant part of his journey to the NBA. That mindset has been part of why he has succeeded in basketball.
“(I) had to be kind of singularly focused on making sure I found joy in what I was doing, being able to just be in the moment,” Curry said. “As a kid, you don’t really know that’s what you’re doing, but looking back, that’s how I approached everything. It’s just carried with me all the way through to today. I hope I never lose it.”
(Top photo: Isaiah Vazquez / Getty Images)
