When Stephen Curry made NBA history against the Magic, Vince Carter looked on from the broadcast studio like a proud uncle. Curry surpassed the Raptors legend for 22nd on the NBA’s All-Time scoring list Tuesday after eclipsing 25,744 career points.
Though the outing ended in a Warriors defeat, Carter took a moment to reminisce on the journey of watching a young Curry rise into the star who broke his record.
From the Early Days
Curry would accompany his father, Dell, to home games with the Raptors when he was just a preteen. He would watch as Carter, Dell’s teammate, went through his pregame routine, soaking up all he could about what it looked like to be an NBA player.
He couldn’t contain his eagerness to step on the court and get some shots up like he was one of the guys.
Carter took notice of a wide-eyed Curry and saw his love for the game gradually intensify.
“Every day he was there on the sidelines with a ball working on his shot,” Carter said.
“Before every home game after my workout, Steph and I would play one-on-one.”
Going head-to-head with his teammate’s young son began as a cute story, until slowly, Curry’s progression became too much for Carter to keep up with.
“As the year moved on, he started gaining confidence by figuring out ways to get his shot off. It got to a point where I needed to block his shot because I didn’t want him to think he could beat me,” Carter laughed.
Carter believes those days of going back and forth with Curry helped the two-time MVP learn valuable skills. Understanding how to get his shot off against those taller than him has undoubtedly paid dividends in the big leagues. Curry’s unique routine also forced him to consistently work on releasing his shot quickly.
Throughout the course of their individual battles, the 48-year-old came to realize what the world would soon learn.
“Oh, he’s destined to be an NBA player.”
Mutual Respect
The respect between the two stars is a two-way street, as Curry has credited his old practice teammate for teaching him what it meant to be a pro.
Getting a glimpse into the busy life of an NBA superstar gave him a deeper appreciation for all the time Carter was willing to spend with him.
“Anytime a guy like that-in the middle of Vinsanity, would give a kid the time of day..I remember how he treated me. It (playing one-on-one together) showed the humanity of an NBA player and the influence they can have,” Curry expressed gratefully.
From hard work to interacting with fans, the basketball pupil picked up on everything he saw.
“Vince always made time for me,” Curry recalled. “Really, what I remember is him talking to me and telling me what it takes to make it to the NBA- the dedication, the hard work, bringing the intensity night after night, being a professional, always making time for fans.
Although the elder Curry was an NBA player in his own right, Carter provided a good portrayal of what being a superstar-caliber player entails.
Full-Circle
Despite the experienced Carter getting the best of his protege, Curry earned his revenge in the NBA. The Vinsanity icon references a specific instance in which he realized the student had become the master.
“He got me back in Golden State.”
“I was guarding him- I just didn’t want him to embarrass me,” he joked.
“He (Curry) shoots it, falling in the stands, taps me on the back and runs down the court like ‘good try, my boy.’”
Curry has come a long way from the days of anxiously awaiting Carter to commence their battles. Even Carter admits he didn’t foresee his one-on-one practice partner leapfrogging him in the history books.
In what was an otherwise disappointing night given the Warriors’ loss, this historic feat serves as a reminder of how far Curry has come.
So much has changed from then to now. But 25 years later, Curry still has that same fiery passion that radiated from him on those Toronto sidelines.
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