ATHLETIC GREATS: Steph Curry on Redefining Greatness, Championships and What Comes Next (July 2023)

Summary

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Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist

Episode: ATHLETIC GREATS: Steph Curry on Redefining Greatness, Championships and What Comes Next
Date of Conversation: July 2023
Published: February 8, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this engaging, in-depth sitdown, Willie Geist interviews NBA superstar Steph Curry at a pivotal juncture: after a dramatic summer of golf triumphs and the release of his inspiring documentary "Underrated." Their conversation delves into Curry’s basketball journey from overlooked prospect to generational star, examines how he channels setbacks into fuel, and explores his passions outside basketball—including his foundation and making golf accessible for young athletes. The episode is rich with personal anecdotes, reflections on greatness and legacy, and candid insights on what drives Curry both on and off the court.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Tahoe Golf Win and Golf’s Lessons

[02:20–05:17]

• Curry relives his thrilling win at the American Century Classic, revealing how the pressure-packed environment compares to NBA game-winners:
  • “It was an adrenaline rush like no other. It was the most fun I've ever had playing golf in that environment.” — Steph Curry [02:34]
  • The emotional rush and his 'major championship' celebration underscore his elite competitive instincts.
• Steph analyzes similarities and differences between clutch moments in golf and basketball (golf requires sitting with your nerves, basketball is faster and more reactive).
• On whether he'd ever consider pro golf, Curry is modest but curious:
  • “The Champions Tour is something that would be cool to kind of, you know, prepare for... But I haven't really let my mind wander too far down the road yet.” — Steph Curry [05:43]

2. "Underrated" Documentary and the Underdog Mentality

[06:40–13:09]

• Curry discusses the genesis of "Underrated" as both documentary and initiative, rooted in his own experience as an overlooked prospect:
  • “It's about equity, access and opportunity in the game of golf and trying to get more diversity and more representation within the game.” — Steph Curry [07:29]
• He unpacks the “underrated” mindset, crediting his mom for channeling his frustration into inner motivation and work ethic:
  • “For me it was, I need to prove to myself that I was the player I thought I was.” — Steph Curry [11:29]
• The story of Virginia Tech declining to offer him a basketball scholarship, even as the son of two alumni, highlights his resilience:
  • “There was a walk on opportunity if I wanted to go that route. There was no scholarship offer though...” — Steph Curry [12:53]

3. Davidson Years and Breakout Moment

[13:09–17:39]

• Curry reflects on the importance of Coach Bob McKillop in building his confidence after a rocky college debut:
  • “[Coach McKillop] stuck with me, and he instilled confidence in me through those failures... he coached and mentored both.” — Steph Curry [13:31]
• Their underdog March Madness run, defeating giants Gonzaga, Georgetown, Wisconsin, put Curry and Davidson on the map:
  • “There's a lot of good inspiration that comes out of everybody understanding what their role was... just the power of team.” — Steph Curry [15:14]
• A highlight: LeBron James in the crowd, foreshadowing their future NBA rivalry:
  • “If you would have stopped time in that moment and told both of us... what was in our future... we probably would laugh at it.” — Steph Curry [16:58]

4. Academic Promise and Personal Fulfillment

[17:39–19:41]

• On finishing his degree at Davidson, honoring a promise to his mother:
  • “I Wanted to actually do the work and earn it… fulfilling a promise to the most important people in my life was, was truly special.” — Steph Curry [19:02]
• Humanizing moments show Curry balancing his own thesis with his children’s homework.

5. NBA Journey: Skepticism, Breakthrough, and Continued Motivation

[20:00–23:14]

• Despite being a lottery pick, Curry was dogged by doubts about his size and potential. His underdog mindset persisted:
  • “Just more, more challenging motivation to tap into that underrated DNA that I developed earlier in my life.” — Steph Curry [20:30]
• He cites his 54-point game at Madison Square Garden as the moment the league started to take notice:
  • “People started to talk about you a little different once I had had that night… I appreciate that little stamp of validation.” — Steph Curry [21:54]

6. Carrying the “Underrated” Chip—Even Now

[23:14–25:43]

• Curry explains why he still feels “underrated” despite his unprecedented accomplishments:
  • “It's the healthy insecurity... I have to prove to myself that I can still do it… that's what drives me.” — Steph Curry [23:29]
• He notes how critics repeatedly doubt the Warriors’ dynasty, only to be proven wrong:
  • “Once you're successful, you got the target on your back... so it's just a part of the nature of winning.” — Steph Curry [25:01]

7. Team Dynamics and Looking Ahead

[25:43–28:32]

• On adding Chris Paul and maintaining the Warriors’ core, Curry expresses confidence in evolving but still contending at the highest level.
• He regularly marvels in private at how far he’s come:
  • “All the time… we've tried to maintain that as much as possible because I just have so much fun playing this game.” — Steph Curry [27:12]

8. Joy on the Court and Transforming the Game

[28:32–31:52]

• Curry’s playing style is marked by visible joy and creativity, which he tries to maintain intentionally:
  • “I vowed and been very intentional about bringing joy to every environment I go into, because I feel like that's what helps me again, tap into the moment…” — Steph Curry [29:04]
• On revolutionizing basketball, he advises the next generation:
  • “You can't cheat it without the work that goes into it… I've actually taken and made [over] 500,000 [practice] shots.” — Steph Curry [30:47]

9. Longevity, Greatness, and Life After Hoops

[31:52–33:25]

• Curry contemplates basketball’s end, drawing inspiration from LeBron and Tom Brady’s longevity, with renewed urgency to maximize his final NBA years.

10. All-Time Lists and Competitive Spirit

[33:36–36:36]

• On the greatest shooter: Curry names Ray Allen.
  • “I'd say Ray Allen… his form, his dedication to his craft, he had big shots in his career. He checked a lot of boxes.” — Steph Curry [33:43]
• Toughest defenders: Jrue Holiday, Tony Allen, Ron Artest.
• On the GOAT debate: “There are multiple goats… they've all changed the way basketball's played… it's a great barbershop debate.” — Steph Curry [35:37]

11. Giving Back: Foundation Work and Family

[36:36–38:19]

• Curry shares the mission of Eat. Learn. Play., his foundation with wife Aisha, focused on providing nutrition, literacy, active lifestyles for kids—especially in underserved communities.
  • “It's an unbelievable foundation that we've been able to establish… Elearn Play has been a huge part of us giving back.” — Steph Curry [36:50]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On overcoming the odds:
  “It's not just a basketball story… I encourage anybody to find what makes you different, what makes you unique, what you have to offer the world and own it.” — Steph Curry [10:36]

• On staying “underrated”:
  “I have to prove to myself that I can still do it, and I can still do it for as long as I can. That's what drives me.” — Steph Curry [23:29]

• On game-changing joy:
  “I vowed and been very intentional about bringing joy to every environment I go into…if I'm having fun, that means I'm gonna work.” — Steph Curry [29:04]

• On changing basketball:
  “I want [kids] to have the confidence that, you know, they can play the game that way, but you can't cheat it without the work that goes into it.” — Steph Curry [30:47]

• On family and foundation:
  “To be able to acknowledge [everyone who helped me], while also fulfilling a promise to the most important people in my life was, was truly special.” — Steph Curry [19:02]

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Supplementary: Golf, Family, and Life Lessons

[38:44–44:53]

• The episode rounds out with lighthearted golf tips and banter as Curry and Geist hit balls together, reflecting on golf’s humbling nature, shared time with family, and the importance of accessible sports experiences for kids.
• Curry’s gratitude shines through in his reflections on his dad’s mentorship—on the court and the golf course.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Golf Victory & Passion — [02:20–06:40]
• Underrated Origins & Mindset — [06:40–13:09]
• Davidson, Coach McKillop, Breakout Year — [13:09–17:39]
• Earning His Degree—Family Promise — [17:39–19:41]
• NBA Draft Criticism & Breakout Game — [20:00–23:14]
• Still Underrated Mentality — [23:14–25:43]
• Warriors Team Dynamics & Legacy — [25:43–28:32]
• Joyful Style & Transforming Basketball — [28:32–31:52]
• Longevity & GOAT Debates — [31:52–36:36]
• Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation — [36:36–38:19]
• Golf Banter & Life Lessons — [38:44–44:53]

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Episode Tone & Takeaway

Curry’s humility, humor, and intentionality are evident throughout. Whether recounting a thrilling golf shot, crediting family and mentors, or challenging the next generation to work relentlessly for their dreams, he is both relatable and inspiring. Geist’s conversational, respectful tone draws out a portrait not just of a basketball icon, but of a father, leader, and tireless advocate for others.

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For listeners and fans, this episode offers a masterclass in perseverance and gratitude, illuminating why Steph Curry’s impact has transcended sports.

Transcript

[Willie Geist]

Foreign. Hey, guys, Willie Geist here with another episode of the Sunday Sit down podcast. My thanks as always for clicking and listening along. Gonna revisit a favorite conversation from the summer of 2023 with a true sports icon, Steph Curry, the greatest shooter who ever lived. Guard for the Golden State Warriors. Yes, he recently was eliminated with his teammates from the playoffs home for the summer, which gives him a lot of time to fine tune that golf game. When he and I got together last summer, he had just won a celebrity golf tournament in Tahoe, the American Century Classic, with an incredible dramatic putt. If you haven't seen it, you can go check it out on YouTube. He is, well, not as good a golfer as he is a basketball player, but the distance between those two is getting smaller by the day. He's an incredible golfer. You can imagine a man who's that.

[Interviewer/Host]

Committed to being great at something is.

[Willie Geist]

Going to do it in other ways as well. We had a great conversation around the release last summer of a documentary called Underrated about Steph Curry, a late bloomer, to put it mildly. A skinny little kid, wasn't recruited by many schools out of high school, ended up at Davidson College, which is just up the road from Charlotte where he grew up. His dad was a player, Dell Curry, a great shooter himself for the Charlotte Hornets. So Steph and his family grew up in Charlotte, went to Davidson, and then went on that magical run that year in the NCAA tournament to the Elite Eight, firmly put on the radar of basketball evaluators and experts, and was drafted into the NBA by the warriors. And the rest is history. We do talk a little bit now about what his future looks like. How much longer does he want to play? With this season now in the books? Maybe the team breaking up, his buddy, Klay Thompson. Will he be back with the warriors next year?

[Interviewer/Host]

We don't know.

[Willie Geist]

So we get into a lot of Steph Curry's past, what he's doing now, and the future, what it looks like after basketball. Sit back, relax, Enjoy our conversation from the summer of 2023 with the great Steph Curry on the Sunday Sit down podcast.

[Interviewer/Host]

Good to see you, man. Thanks for doing this.

[Steph Curry]

Absolutely. Thank you for having me.

[Interviewer/Host]

I can't wait to talk about underrated. But first, you were 48 hours Remove from the Eagle Heard round the world to win the celebrity tournament in Tahoe. What was it like to stand over that putt and then drain it to win the tournament?

[Steph Curry]

It was insane. I'm so passionate about the game of golf played in that tournament. I think it was like 10, 11 years and knew I had the game to kind of compete and eventually win it. But you never know until you get in that type of situation where you get to fake like you're a professional golfer for a day and come down the 18th hole knowing you gotta make a putt to win a tournament. And it was an adrenaline rush like no other. It was the most fun I've ever had playing golf in that environment. I had a hole in one the day before, come back and, you know, make an 18, 20 foot putt to win it. And I celebrated like I was, you know, like I won a major championship. That's just how much, you know, I wanted it and how much I love the game and how much I love that tournament. And, you know, all the stuff that poured into the game of golf kind of came back to me. So it was fun.

[Interviewer/Host]

Are the nerves standing over that putt comparable to anything in basketball? What did you feel in that moment?

[Steph Curry]

It's pretty comparable just in terms of, you know, the sensation of, like, wanting something so bad and trying to lock in on just the, you know, the routine of it all. Cause you can psych yourself out in those moments. Golf, that's the biggest thing with golf. It's so slow.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yeah.

[Steph Curry]

And, you know, from shot to shot, it's less reactive than it is in basketball. So I don't have much time to think on the court and, you know, muscle memory takes over and, you know, you have to have confidence and not be afraid of failure when you're taking, you know, game winning shots and all that. But on a putt, it's like, I see I got to get the ball going in that hole and understanding the stakes that are attached to the putt and all that. But once it was tracking and. And I knew it was going in, I actually brought a little basketball celebration to it and turned around.

[Interviewer/Host]

You did.

[Steph Curry]

I kind of blacked out at that point where I was like, I don't know what to do, knowing I just want to turn.

[Interviewer/Host]

So it was, go find your wife. That's always a good place to go, place to start.

[Steph Curry]

I got that one right.

[Interviewer/Host]

You mentioned the hole in one day before par three, seventh hole out there. You've had one before, I think, in your life.

[Steph Curry]

Yeah. 10 years ago.

[Interviewer/Host]

But not on TV in front of that audience. But the stakes, where they are. And it showed with your celebration.

[Steph Curry]

It checked all the boxes. Right. Like you said, hit a hole in one, you don't expect it to go in. But once it does, you got the crowd Reaction from the people around the green, people around the tee box. It's filmed, which, you know, everybody wants that. You know, the document, you know, the accomplishment. And then just I took off a full 150 yard sprint. Cause I didn't believe it went in. It's like you hear the crowd go in. But I had to go double check for myself because if nobody was on the course, I probably would have done the exact same thing. You know, sprinting down the fairway, trying to get to the green to see if it was in the hole.

[Interviewer/Host]

I know the warriors were watching. Watch the knee.

[Willie Geist]

The knee.

[Steph Curry]

Like a Tony Finau kind of situation at the Masters. I didn't care. I was celebrating to the fullest.

[Interviewer/Host]

Worth it. So there are people who watched you play all weekend and watched you play the last 10 years who go, he's not only is he good at golf, he's so good that he could do this someday. Is that anywhere on the radar for you after your basketball career?

[Steph Curry]

I've talked to. I know enough about the PGA Tour, I know enough about the professional level just in general, to stay in my lane in the sense of just being a really good amateur golfer. The only thing that's intriguing is, you know, however long I play in the NBA and how long, many more years I have, the Champions Tour is something that would be cool to kind of, you know, prepare for. I know, like, again, they're the greatest in the world at what they do, and it would be a tall task to, you know, get your game at a level where you can compete out there. But I am a competitor, and I know, you know, what I've kind of put in, even just the discipline around basketball that I could maybe apply to golf to get there. But I haven't really let my mind wander too far down the road yet.

[Interviewer/Host]

You've got some time that's 15 years away. Gotta be 50 to play on the Champions Tour. And every time I'm like, yeah, these guys could play on the Tour. You watch Rory hit a drive on Sunday, 427 yards, and you're like, oh, they're doing something different.

[Steph Curry]

Just a little different.

[Interviewer/Host]

A little bit different. That does bring us to the underrated golf, which is a really cool enterprise that you've undertaken to get more people playing the game. And what a showcase that was over the weekend for you. So what is the idea behind underrated golf?

[Steph Curry]

It starts with underrated as a. As a brand and obviously talking about the documentary and what underrated means to me and as a part of my DNA. You know, coming up through the basketball ranks, I was a three star recruit that didn't get, you know, offers from the major schools, which I wanted. I was. I didn't pass the eye test physically. There are a lot of things, critics or naysayers that said I couldn't do XYZ at the highest level. So the underrated basketball tour and underrated golf kind of became an idea out of that, of trying to create platforms and opportunity for kids that were in my shoes or are in my shoes coming up. They're just looking for an opportunity to showcase what they're really about and their skill set. So we've had a basketball tour for the last five years and our golf tour just is in our second season. It's about equity, access and opportunity in the game of golf and trying to get more diversity and more representation within the game, more access at an earlier age for kids from black and brown communities to, you know, enjoy the game of golf because it teaches you so much about yourself, it unlocks, you know, a skill set in terms of not just trying to potentially have, you know, more representation of professional tours, but the world and the business of golf as well. There are so many opportunities there from a leadership perspective and, you know, amazing careers that could come out of it. So I'm super proud of where we are. We get to take kids around the country to amazing venues and give them first class experiences. And it's been a great start so far.

[Interviewer/Host]

Good for you, using your platform for that. It's a great game. It's a mad thing game. It is a great game. That's part of the joy of it, overcoming that. So you mentioned the film Underrated, which is just awesome. And it's not. I was watching it. I'm a huge basketball fan, as I was telling you, big fan of yours. And it dawned on me 30 minutes in. This is not really about basketball. It's your story, of course, but it's about overcoming odds, people not believing in you, finding who you are. And I was joking with you a minute ago. There's a shot in there of you, I don't know, are you 10 years old or something like that? Nine years old, sitting at the end of the bench, the very end of the bench, biting your fingernails, and it freezes on you. And I'm like, that kid's gonna be Steph Curry. So what were those early years as a player who had huge dreams, son of an NBA star, all the things you wanted out of it, but you weren't getting back from the Game. What was that like?

[Steph Curry]

It was interesting. Cause, I mean, obviously, like you said at the time, I just love to play basketball. And, you know, anytime there's a lot of great gratitude and appreciation for any opportunity I got to play, because, like you said, I was. It just didn't fit the mold. Even, you know, growing up in Charlotte, when my dad played for 10 years for the Charlotte Hornets, you would think that, you know, what came with that was, like, an easy path towards, you know, just being the best player on every team that you are. And I had the exact opposite experience. And so kind of a weird kind of contrast to what expectations could have been. But what, you know, naysayers and critics even at that time were saying about, you know, I just wasn't ready for that level. And it developed an identity around, you know, work ethic and inner confidence in yourself that when you're out there, you know, take advantage of every opportunity and don't be afraid of failure. There's a perseverance and patience that comes with it as well, that comes out through the documentary and how my story kind of unfolded. And to your point, it's not just a basketball story. It's not just a sports story. It's something that I encourage anybody to find what makes you different, what makes you unique, what you have to offer the world at whatever level and own it and pour everything you have into it. And thankfully, I was able to find that with basketball early and found a support system that could help me achieve greatness throughout the process. So that underrated mindset is always a part of my DNA. No matter what's happened, my NBA career and my life, I still carry that with me.

[Interviewer/Host]

You watch the footage of you in high school. You're a good player. I mean, you see the Steph Curry jumper, the quick release, all that stuff that's in there, and yet you weren't getting the attention you probably thought you deserved to be getting. Even, as you said, your last name's Curry. Oh, you probably shoot his dad was a great shooter. All those things. And you wanted to play for teams near you. You want to play for Caroline or Duke or Wake or whoever. It was. NC State. So how frustrating was that? And did you wear that sort of as a chip on your shoulder that they're not taking notice of me for sure.

[Steph Curry]

But I credit my mom for kind of redirecting that energy in the sense of, you can carry that chip on your shoulder to prove the world wrong and, like, you know, go into every situation. Like, I'm here to show Everybody, you know who I am. For me it was, I need to prove to myself that, you know, I was a player that I thought I was and like that work that I put into it was going to prepare me for whatever the opportunity came. And, and to also just run my own race in the sense of what's for you will be for you and to not get into the comparison game of looking to your left and your right and judging yourself based on what somebody else is doing. It's about your own journey and being hyper focused on that. And so like you said, wanting to play in the ACC and even go to my parents alma mater, Virginia Tech, like those opportunities didn't come calling. But when Davidson revealed itself, it was pretty clear that that was the perfect situation for me. And despite what anybody would say about that decision, I felt like it was right and I had a full confidence in what that was. And that was, you know, a true unlock for me at that point in my career.

[Interviewer/Host]

Is it true the Virginia Tech coaching staff or a coach actually even came home, both your parents were star athletes there, and said, we're here to pay a visit. We're not here to give you an offer. We just want to let you know we're not interested. Is that true?

[Steph Curry]

It turned into a just wanted to do right by my dad and my mom because they were Hokies. But there was a walk on opportunity if I wanted to go that route. There was no scholarship offer though, so it was under definitely a different pretense of a meeting.

[Interviewer/Host]

I would love to talk to that coach. So you go to Davidson and you have not your first game out, but from there on you had some success and it built and it built and it built. And you credit Coach McCullough who believed in you, gave you a chance even though you struggled in that first game as a freshman. How much credit does he deserve for the man sitting here today?

[Steph Curry]

A lot, A lot. Just in terms of from the time he started recruiting me, the message was, you know, that I was, I was good enough, like I didn't have to change. He was going to, you know, try to unlock my full potential. He's going to push me. It wasn't going to be easy, but, you know, I truly believe that he had my best interest in knowing that I could add a lot of value to the Davidson program. I'm sure he immediately, I wouldn't say regretted it. He had some probably doubts creep in my first college game where I had 13 turnovers and the footage of that game was worse than I Actually, remember, it was, if I'm a coach and I'm watching that performance, I'm making a quick substitution and moving on. But Coach McKill, he stuck with me, and he instilled confidence in me through those failures. And it wasn't just me as the basketball player, it was me as the man as well. And he coached and mentored both. And so I felt like that decision to go there, play for him and those three years that I had there were, you know, the most formative years of my basketball career.

[Interviewer/Host]

I remember the whispers started coming out of North Carolina. There's this team, and there's this kid. He's a freshman, he's skinny, and he didn't look like what you're used to a star basketball player being. And then you guys went to the tournament that year, lost in the first round. But then the next year, you go on this incredible run in 08, and you win three games nobody expected you to win and maybe should have won another one after that. I'm sure you feel like you should have.

[Steph Curry]

Absolutely.

[Interviewer/Host]

What did that run do for you and your life where the whole country said, oh, my God, this guy is as good as they're saying?

[Steph Curry]

You start with, like, you talked about my. My early years, like, I got to kind of understand who I was as a person and a player before all the spotlight happened. And that I'm forever grateful for, because, you know, it wasn't just what I was able to accomplish, but that team in particular. There's a lot of, you know, good inspiration that comes out of everybody understanding what their role was, everybody playing their role to the best of their ability and being a star in that role and just the power of team and the collective that, you know, when we had to share a goal, we all showed up with. With the right energy to get it done. And obviously, my story coming out of that was pretty loud. It was putting Davidson on the map. And that tournament run that we had was something truly special in the sense of overcoming so many odds as a small Division 1 program, beating Gonzaga, Georgetown, Wisconsin, losing to the eventual champions in Kansas. But in that, Doc, we kind of dive into everybody's role and perspective and how that impacted each one of them individually, from the coaching staff to some of my teammates, to the Davidson community around. It was truly a special time. And a lot of great reflection comes from looking back at what we were able to accomplish.

[Interviewer/Host]

There's a moment that really struck me where LeBron James is sitting in the crowd at one of your games during the tournament, right he's LeBron and you're still the skinny kid from Davidson who people are, could he compete at the NBA level? What's it going to be like? And now to fast forward to today, people argue over which is the greatest player in the NBA as a young player in that big of a game. To look over and see LeBron watching felt like, what?

[Steph Curry]

Surreal. 100%. Like I'm just a sophomore trying to figure it out on the NCAA tournament. And, you know, I think LeBron was probably in his fourth or fifth year at the time, and he was LeBron. So for him to come out, go out of his way and come to a forward field in Detroit and watch his play, even some of the reactions he had to some of the plays and all that, it is kind of hilarious. If you would have stopped time in that moment and told both of us, you know, what was in our future in terms of the back and forth battles and the careers that were kind of intertwined in that respect, we probably would laugh at it. But that's how it turned out.

[Interviewer/Host]

It sure did. And before you get drafted, you decide to leave, your mom says to you, and it's such a credit to her and to your whole family, she says, okay, you can go to the NBA, but you will get your degree from Davidson. And she held you to that.

[Steph Curry]

Absolutely.

[Interviewer/Host]

And you got it last summer. And the footage in the film, when you graduate last August, standing up on that stage at Davidson, and she's got tears in her eyes and your dad's got tears in his eyes. I think I saw some tears in your eyes, too. What did that moment, totally unrelated to basketball, what did that feel like?

[Steph Curry]

It was kind of a nice completion to the arc of what Davidson meant to me. Because everything that I put into that decision to go there was around owning that experience. Right. In the sense of it was a decision for basketball, it was a decision to play for Coach McKillip. It was, you know, Davidson, such an amazing educational experience, liberal arts school, pretty tight knit. And Coach McKillop had an unblemished graduation record for four year players for him. And so I didn't want to be the one blemish on that record. And to your point, my mom's a lifelong educator. She formed a Montessori school that I went to in early elementary ages and so didn't know it would take that long to get across the podium and get my degree.

[Interviewer/Host]

You were busy?

[Steph Curry]

Yeah, it was a special time to know one. It wasn't going to be like an honorary thing. I Wanted to actually do the work and earn it. But it was a great moment to bring everybody back together as well. Like the celebrations you talked about. Some of the footage in there. I had old teammates, had all my coaches, I had 5,000 of the Davidson community in the arena celebrating the moment with me. And it was special because it speaks to how many people have been involved in my life along the way and my journey and have helped me get to where I'm at. And for me to be able to acknowledge them while also, you know, fulfilling a promise to the most important people in my life was, was truly special.

[Interviewer/Host]

I don't want to give away too much, but there are some great scenes of you studying, working on your thesis at home while you're on kids are doing homework.

[Steph Curry]

That's good, good stuff.

[Interviewer/Host]

Doing homework together with your kids. I don't think one of them was just like eating chicken nuggets. I don't think he was doing a lot of homework.

[Steph Curry]

He's the tornado in the house. There's some good scenes in there for sure.

[Interviewer/Host]

That's very clear. That's very clear in, in this film as well. So you're underrated. Even when you get picked. You're a lottery pick. You're the seventh pick in the draft, but still like on draft night and on the shows the next day they go, I don't know. He's a great shooter. Played in the Southern Conference, still pretty skinny. Maybe he'll be like a nice spot up shooter in the NBA. Still having to prove yourself at every level, it seems like. So what was that like in the NBA saying, okay, now I've got to prove it on a, on the highest level.

[Steph Curry]

Just more, more challenging motivation to tap into that underrated DNA that I developed earlier in my life. And like you said, as the level kept rising, there was always an opportunity to have to prove that I was, you know, worthy or, you know, able to compete on that level. And had followed that had been the narrative, you know, all the way through. So I didn't feel like anything was changing. And, and to your point like that there's the draft report of what I can't do. And it was pretty loud and pretty extensive and there are a lot of bullet points on it of this xyz, why he can't make it on the NBA level and even going to Golden State, which was an organization that hadn't had success in an extremely long time. So I was at the time not understanding how big the opportunity would be or the challenge would be, but just excited That I had my foot in the door. And as long as I had that, then I had a lot of confidence in myself that I'd be able to figure it out because I had developed that work ethic from. From day one.

[Interviewer/Host]

That draft report sounded a lot like the Tom Brady report, by the way.

[Steph Curry]

I just didn't have the very awkward draft day picture with my shirt off.

[Interviewer/Host]

That combine shot's gonna haunt him forever in his boxers, I think. So when did. When did you feel like you had arrived in the NBA, that you had, that you weren't proving yourself anymore? Was it the first title? Was it MVP awards? When did you start to.

[Steph Curry]

Honestly, it was probably my fourth year. We had a game in New York at the Garden and I scored 54 points, but we lost that night. And it was the first time, really, that my confidence is an unbelievable unlock in anything, especially on the basketball court. People started to talk about you a little different once I had had that night, and I think it just gave me a boost. I already knew that I was capable, but I think that the tone started to change a little bit. And then from there, there was a little failure on the back end of that next year. We had lost in the playoffs against the Clippers in seven game series, and we were still tapping on the door trying to get to the next to the mountaintop of being a championship contender. But that game specifically just kind of changed the narrative. Okay, we got to take this kid seriously because he's got game and he's fearless, and I appreciate that little stamp of validation, but I knew that there was a little bit more work that needed to be done.

[Interviewer/Host]

It's funny what a big night at the Garden can do, isn't it?

[Steph Curry]

Absolutely.

[Interviewer/Host]

The whole world notices.

[Steph Curry]

Absolutely.

[Willie Geist]

Hey, guys, thanks for listening to the Sunday Sit down podcast. Stick around to hear more from Steph Curry right after the break. Welcome back. Now more of my conversation with Steph Curry.

[Interviewer/Host]

I heard you say, and I was surprised to hear it, that you still feel a little underrated. How can that be? When people talk about you as maybe the greatest player who ever lived? Certainly right now, you and LeBron, how could you still be underrated?

[Steph Curry]

It's a tough one to explain because of what the resume looks like, but for me, it's like the healthy insecurity of the way that I've seen the game of basketball and life from day one has not changed at all. I still want to enjoy every opportunity I have. There's a lot of gratitude and appreciation for what I've been able to accomplish, but I still have that. I have to prove to myself that I can still do it, and I can still do it. I can still do it for as long as I can. That's what drives me. And maybe it's something that I can trick yourself into every year knowing, like, all right, you have success, but what have you, you know, what have you done lately? Type of mentality that you have to kind of keep living up to. And if I don't have that underrated DNA come out and that drive me in terms of how I prepare for the next season or how I prepare for, you know, a big. A big game throughout the regular season or a big playoff run, I won't be myself. And so, yeah, that's the best way to explain it. And knowing that that underrated mindset is, again, a part of, you know, just who I am. And it oozes out of me every opportunity.

[Interviewer/Host]

I imagine part of it, too, is people keep writing off not just you, but your team. I'm watching the film and remembering every time you would lose a playoff series. The dynasty's over. That's it. It's over. They're too old. Break up the band. Let's move on. And then you'd win another championship. Why do you think people keep doing that, making the same mistake of counting you guys out?

[Steph Curry]

I don't know, man. I know once you're successful.

[Interviewer/Host]

And you.

[Steph Curry]

Got the target on your back, at a certain point, people want to see you lose. Almost, in a sense, I feel like that's kind of the nature, unless you're in Dub Nation or out in the Bay Area, and you're a true warriors fan. So it's just a part of the nature of winning. And once you show a little sign of vulnerability or like you lost your powers, I think that's what we've thrived on. And we're in that position right now trying to reestablish who we are at the top of the league and especially our core being still together. It's an amazing opportunity to tap into that, you know, for one more run to see if we can get back there. And I know we're really excited about it.

[Interviewer/Host]

I was going to ask you about that. You got the core group. Draymond's back. You add Chris Paul. How are you feeling about the team going into this season?

[Steph Curry]

Even when you say it now, it's still like, yeah, we had Chris Paul on our team. It's phenomenal, just knowing all the battles that we've had when he was in LA and then in Houston. But for us, like you said, we have so much know how and how to win. I think our team is built to, you know, perform at the highest level when it, when it counts in terms of, you know, we have a high IQ team now. We have a lot of experience and maturity in our locker room, our core and how we do things. You know, maintaining that was really important. And we got some young guys that can hopefully step up into more prominent roles within our rotation to help us beat any team in the league. So you gotta stay patient through the process of figuring it out, because there is change and it's not gonna look the same like it did years past. But for us, the confidence still remains. And I think it's pretty attainable that we can compete at the highest level and beat anybody. We just gotta go out and do it.

[Interviewer/Host]

I don't think anybody smart would count you guys out at a Hall of Famer. Do you have moments, Steph? Now maybe when you're in private with Aisha or something, where you go, I can't believe the skinny kid biting his nails on the end of the bench got to where he got.

[Steph Curry]

All the time.

[Interviewer/Host]

Do you?

[Steph Curry]

All the time. I think that's a part of just being able to stay in the moment and like, really enjoy, you know, what's right in front of you. We've tried to maintain that as much as possible because I just have so much fun playing this game and don't really focus on the results as much. It's all process based and what you pour into it and having faith eventually that will put us or put me in position to be successful and be able to maintain it. But when you look back at the footage, like you said, me when I was playing nine and under AAU basketball, or me swimming in a triple X jersey in high school. Cause I wanted to wear number 30, but it was too big of a jersey, so I settled on 20 and it was still too big.

[Interviewer/Host]

The shorts were huge too. I didn't even know how you went through your legs with those shorts.

[Steph Curry]

Just thinking about all of that, the work that I put in would eventually lead to all this. Just the blessings of the people that I've gotten to experience success with on this journey, the lessons that I've learned through failures and all that, that it would have led to this. Still beyond my wildest imagination. But I think if we lose that sense of gratitude or, you know, that wonder of what's happened, that would kind of rob you of the joy as well. Because this is Truly special.

[Interviewer/Host]

Joy is the right word for the way you play. I've talked to my son, who's 14. I tell him, when I grew up, I was a Knicks fan, watching them play the heat and win 65 to 63 in a playoff game. And there was a. And we loved Michael, but it was all intensity all the time. You play with a smile on your face and you're running around like crazy and you're hiding behind screens and sneaking out and turning around. When you shoot a three, does that just come naturally to you, that joy that you wear? Because it's fun to watch as a fan and it's a good example for kids playing the game.

[Steph Curry]

It came natural early. The challenge is to maintain that, especially in the business of basketball, especially in the league, kind of can threaten that a little bit. But I vowed and been very intentional about bringing joy to every environment I go into, because I feel like that's what helps me again, tap into the moment, not be afraid of whatever expectations might be now or again, that fear of failure. If I'm having fun, that means I'm gonna work. That means I'm gonna enjoy coming to practice. That means I'm gonna enjoy the sacrifices to be successful at this level. And that's my happy place out there, you know, just putting a lot of my creativity to flow on the court and what that's done for those around me too. So I'm gonna, you know, keep smiling. And the one thing, you know, Kobe Bryant, when I was coming up through the ranks, he noticed that behind the smile was a killer instinct, that the competitive nature was always in there. And that's. I like that balance because I'm gonna enjoy myself, but I'm gonna try to win at all costs too.

[Interviewer/Host]

I was watching an interview a couple months ago with LeBron. Coach K was interviewing him and he was talking about how the league has evolved since he came in. He's really like detailed, smart, analysis walked through and then he gets a smile on his face and he said, and then this skinny kid named Steph Curry came into the league and changed everything. Do you have an appreciation for the fact that 14 year old boys take two dribbles inside half court and jack up threes because of you, that you have truly changed the way basketball is played?

[Steph Curry]

Yeah, it's hard to really reflect on it, but I understand, even just at the highest level of professional basketball in the league, how teams have shifted their strategies around, how guys have added that as a skill set of theirs. The way that they see the game, it was never an intention of. That's what I'm here to do. But it's just how I see the game and the irrational confidence that I have to shoot all those type of shots. The one thing for the young next generation is like, I want them to have the vision of being able to shoot the same shots. I want them to have the confidence that, you know, they can play the game that way, but you can't cheat it without the work that goes into it. So if I could count the amount of reps that I've gone through, I've tried to do this experiment, I know it's like more than 500,000 somewhere. You know, in that ballpark of how many shots I've actually taken and made to give myself the ability to go out onto the NBA floor on a given night and shoot those type of shots. So I want them to have that vision and inspiration. Just gotta put the work in and have the patience that you can keep stacking blocks to get to that level.

[Interviewer/Host]

That's a good message for kids, too. It looks from the outside like you just have a gift. No, actually, I shot half a million jump shots to get the gift. You know, you gotta work for it. So you've got a couple years left on your contract. You're 35 right now. LeBron's 38. He'll be pushing 40 here pretty soon. Brady played till he was 45. Do you see the end anytime soon? I mean, you're playing at a very high level. But do you start thinking that way at this point?

[Steph Curry]

You do start thinking about it. The thoughts do creep in of, you know, what that timeline really looks like. I know it almost puts into perspective how important these next two, three years are in terms of, you know, doubling down on the level that I want to be at and continue to play at and pushing it to the limit as long as I can. There's guys like you said, Bron's doing it in his 20 something year. You know, what Tom did before he retired was truly amazing. So you can learn lessons from guys like that that it is possible. Obviously, you have to be mindful of how you approach your off seasons and the work that you put in on your body to make sure you can stay at that level. And I'm doing all those things to give myself a chance to be successful. But I just love the fact that the timeline almost just gives me much more motivation for the now to take advantage of every opportunity that I had. Because, you know, the ball's gonna start or stop bouncing at Some point. I just don't think it's anytime soon.

[Interviewer/Host]

Good. You got that urgency. We don't want you to stop. Selfishly negative. Okay. Before I let you go, I won't make you name yourself. So let's take Steph Curry out of it.

[Steph Curry]

Okay?

[Interviewer/Host]

The greatest shooter in NBA history is.

[Steph Curry]

Not me, it is you.

[Interviewer/Host]

But I'm letting you take your side.

[Steph Curry]

No, I understand that. I'd say Ray Allen and not because he was just the second guy that I have broke the record from, but I think his form, his, his dedication to his craft, he had big shots in his career. He checked a lot of boxes in terms of being able to shoot the ball at a high level, which a lot of people don't remember him in his early career. He was a true athlete too. Had an all around game that was pretty special. And his shot has evolved and allowed him to have that longevity in his career. So I'd say Ray Allen.

[Interviewer/Host]

How about the toughest defender to play against? The guy who guards you, the best in the league right now, or maybe even over the course of your career.

[Steph Curry]

I would say there's a group of three that always, you know, the light bulb went off when they were on the court is Jrue Holiday, Tony Allen and Ron Artest. Actually, I didn't get to play too many games against him, but he was, he had the strongest hands you've ever seen in your life. If you put the ball around him, he'd just smack it right out of your hand. Those three guys drew especially because we're the same, we were in the same draft class and I just got to watch him play his whole career. He's gotten a lot of shine as of late as obviously he's a champion and multiple time all star, but he was definitely one of the, the greater defenders I had to play against.

[Interviewer/Host]

Ron Artest would talk a lot.

[Steph Curry]

100%. 100%.

[Interviewer/Host]

Some weird stuff I love too. Okay, Greatest player of all time. It's the debate. Is it LeBron? Is it Bill Russell? Is it Michael Jordan? You know, you could go on and on and on. Do you have a favorite in that conversation?

[Steph Curry]

So the way that I ascribe to the mindset that there are multiple goats and I hate that it's not a cop out answer, but, but it's so hard to compare eras and getting into that conversation of, oh, if you put Michael in this era or if you put LeBron in that era, it's kind of an unfair. It's a great barbershop debate and something that'll never stop until the end of time. But they're all goats because they've all changed the way basketball's played. They've catapulted themselves to the top of their time period where you can't argue that anybody there's a better resume in the sense of what they were all able to accomplish. But they are all perfect for their time. And I feel like that's something that will continue to spark the debate of you put them in the gym one on one, who's gonna win, or whatever the case is. However you want to answer that question. But there are multiple goats for multiple reasons.

[Interviewer/Host]

And let's throw Kobe in there too, obviously, before we go upstairs and hit a couple golf balls. If you're up for it, tell me about that organization that you started with Aisha and why it's so special not just to you, but to your whole family. Really?

[Steph Curry]

Yeah. It's an unbelievable foundation that we've been able to establish. We launched it in the summer of 2019 and we identified those three pillars as appropriate resources to help kids achieve their full potential. It helps support them to unlock that potential through their early childhood development and obviously nutritious, well balanced meals and access to those meals helping kids get to appropriate grade reading levels by third grade, which is a major indicator of high school completion. Once kids fall behind, it's really hard for them to catch up, especially kids from black and brown communities and trying to implement better access to culturally appropriate books and relevant books for them through all different type of resources and then active lifestyle. Sports teaches you so much about yourself. It develops community and so Elearn Play has been a huge part of us giving back to the Oakland community, which is our adoptive home in the Bay Area. We've been out there for 15 years and really important for us to continue to leverage that presence to continue to change lives. I've been very blessed and fortunate of some of the things we've been able to do over these last four years. And we're just getting started.

[Interviewer/Host]

You do a lot, man. You got that, you got your production company, children's books, all the underrated. It's just fun to watch. You go and I hope you play forever. Thanks for being a great player to watch but also a great example for our kids kids to look up to. It's great to talk to you man. Thank you so much.

[Steph Curry]

Thank you very much.

[Interviewer/Host]

Appreciate that.

[Willie Geist]

Stick around for more of my conversation with Steph Curry right after a quick break. Welcome back now to the rest of my conversation with Steph Curry.

[Steph Curry]

All right, Willie, give it a rip. Give it a rip.

[Interviewer/Host]

No, no. Tahoe hangover.

[Steph Curry]

No, it's Tahoe confidence right now. Tahoe confidence.

[Interviewer/Host]

That famous Tahoe confidence. I don't want to try the tip you gave me because it's going to matter. Messing me up.

[Steph Curry]

Oh, absolutely.

[Willie Geist]

I'll work on it.

[Steph Curry]

You gotta work on that later.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yeah. Whoa.

[Willie Geist]

Topper.

[Interviewer/Host]

All right, let's try that again. That's your warm up swing, everybody.

[Steph Curry]

There it is.

[Interviewer/Host]

Ah, I gotta get that up.

[Steph Curry]

There it is.

[Interviewer/Host]

That'll work. That'll run a little bit.

[Steph Curry]

That's. That's playable all day. There it is.

[Interviewer/Host]

There we go.

[Steph Curry]

Little five yard fade.

[Interviewer/Host]

Unintentional fade.

[Steph Curry]

The unintentional six iron.

[Interviewer/Host]

That's as good as it gets for me. I'm walking away.

[Steph Curry]

That is crazy.

[Interviewer/Host]

That's clean. What's your target, Steph?

[Steph Curry]

See, that's the thing. I didn't even have one right there, so here we go. I'm gonna hit it at the far. The far.

[Interviewer/Host]

The far white. Okay?

[Steph Curry]

It's gonna be a little fade. That's gonna land on it. Far right one.

[Interviewer/Host]

That's the fade. You called it. Smoke it Here.

[Steph Curry]

A little six iron. Let's see. It might have a new golf outfit. Now the belt. Oh, lefty.

[Interviewer/Host]

Oh. See, that's the. That's, that's the.

[Steph Curry]

That's the. Just on the heel a little bit.

[Interviewer/Host]

Let's do one more.

[Steph Curry]

This would be easy. Just one thing. Step away from the ball just a little bit.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yeah.

[Steph Curry]

And then more. More.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yeah.

[Steph Curry]

It almost feels. It might feel like you're squatting, but that right there.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yeah. Golf tips with Steph Curry.

[Steph Curry]

That's it.

[Interviewer/Host]

Here we go.

[Steph Curry]

Nice. Let it rip.

[Interviewer/Host]

Okay, just don't cut that way. Just get the swing and then we'll edit together.

[Steph Curry]

You got. You know how to do like the shot tracing thing. Now you hit the ball and then the red line just goes that way.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yes.

[Steph Curry]

You can draw. You can draw these however you want to.

[Interviewer/Host]

Just get the. Get the marker out.

[Steph Curry]

Still can't get over how beautiful this is.

[Interviewer/Host]

Isn't this amazing? You've never been up here, right?

[Steph Curry]

Never been up here before. This is definitely.

[Interviewer/Host]

Where do you play mostly? You got a good course around home you go.

[Steph Curry]

San Francisco.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yeah.

[Steph Curry]

It's called the California Golf Club of South Central Francisco, but it's called calculus.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yeah. Kind of.

[Steph Curry]

Right in that pocket, they got an Olympic Harding park and then San Francisco Golf Club.

[Interviewer/Host]

It's.

[Steph Curry]

It's beautiful. The only problem is, you know how cold it Gets in summer in San Francisco, we're like right in the. Yeah, yeah, the wind tunnel.

[Interviewer/Host]

Right, right. And all that. But wearing the ski hat.

[Steph Curry]

Exactly. In July.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. Clearly you're playing a lot, though, based on what I saw in Tahoe.

[Steph Curry]

I want to thank the Los Angeles Lakers for their contributions to me winning my golf tournaments this summer because I got a four week head start on golf training camp.

[Interviewer/Host]

A little early exit. Right to the golf course.

[Steph Curry]

Right to the golf course that helped me play. I played three rounds a week, so I got 10 to 12 extra rounds in because of the Lakers.

[Interviewer/Host]

And look where a legend holding up a trophy on Sunday.

[Steph Curry]

Nice consolation prize right there. Watch this slinger. You ready? Oh, look at it sling.

[Interviewer/Host]

There it is.

[Steph Curry]

Still, like, real. Like 1992 Tiger woods with the extra baggy pants. It's a fire fit right now. I'm actually really.

[Interviewer/Host]

Mmm. Oh, that's pure. That's real nice.

[Steph Curry]

Oh, man. Love this game.

[Interviewer/Host]

What does golf do for you, Steph, that nothing else can? What do you love about is the.

[Steph Curry]

Perfect combination of, like, I guess, three things. One, like the competition with yourself on trying to find a little ways to get just a little bit better. It's the most humbling sport in the world because one day you could have it and for no reason at all. You wake up the next day and you forget how to swing and the ball does not cooperate. So that endless pursuit as a competitor is always fun. Then the camaraderie you get just being outside with your friends and the four hours you get just to be in nature and all that, the amount of people and places that golf has taken me. I've been blessed in that respect to have a lot of amazing experience out here on the course. It doesn't really matter what you score. Some days it's about, you know, the fun that you have. And it's so cool to now see how many other athletes are getting into the game. Yeah, because I was blessed. My dad got me into the game when I was 10 and I've been playing ever since. But a lot of people are finding it later in life and realizing how much fun it is. And there's a lot of guys, especially in the league, the young guys that ask me, like, oh, we're sorry, what club should I buy? Where should I start?

[Interviewer/Host]

Right.

[Steph Curry]

And I love it. So the game is growing. Yeah, that's what I'm trying to.

[Interviewer/Host]

You'll also find when your kids get older and go out with them, that's a nice few hours just with your Kid, quality time outside, talking in the cart, all that stuff, all of that.

[Steph Curry]

You can't trade those experiences. I still play with my dad, me and my brother, I go out with him five to 10 times a year, and we look forward to it so much. So I started taking my kids out to the range and they're falling in love with it themselves. So trying to plant that seed early.

[Interviewer/Host]

Your dad played well in Tahoe?

[Steph Curry]

He did, yeah. Finished 11th.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yeah.

[Steph Curry]

So it's not bad for the old guy still out there competing. He's about to turn 60 next month. I mean, next year. And so him still hitting the ball. It's a game for life, right?

[Interviewer/Host]

Yeah.

[Steph Curry]

Yeah.

[Interviewer/Host]

The original number 30. Curry.

[Steph Curry]

Original curry number 30. How about. That's it.

[Willie Geist]

I used to.

[Interviewer/Host]

I'm not just saying this because you're here, but growing up, 80s, 90s, I used to think he was the best shooter I'd ever seen. Just so pure, clean. And then you came along, you planted.

[Steph Curry]

The seed, and I just took it and ran with it. But, yeah.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yes, you did. Yes, you did. Steph, thank you so much. It's been so much fun.

[Steph Curry]

Thanks. Thank you.

[Interviewer/Host]

Get a few more if you want to.

[Steph Curry]

That's hilarious.

[Willie Geist]

My big thanks again to Steph Curry for a great conversation. And whenever that NBA career does wind.

[Interviewer/Host]

Up, I would keep an eye out for this guy playing professional golf. He is that good.

[Willie Geist]

You can check out Stephen Curry, underrated right now on Apple tv. Plus, and my thanks to all of.

[Interviewer/Host]

You for listening again this week.

[Willie Geist]

If you want to hear more of my conversations with our guests every week, be sure to click follow so you.

[Interviewer/Host]

Never miss an episode.

[Willie Geist]

And don't forget to tune in to Sunday Today every weekend on NBC.

[Interviewer/Host]

I'm Willie Geist.

[Willie Geist]

We'll see you right back here next week on the Sunday Sit Down Podcast.