Stephen Curry: No Longer Flying Under The Radar

During the 2012-13 NBA season, Stephen Curry silenced all critics who questioned whether his history of health issues would derail his potential of having a bright NBA career, as he stepped right into the national spotlight.

Stephen Curry hit an NBA record 272 3-pointers in 2012-13. (NBA.com photo)

The turning point of Curry’s season came on Feb. 27, as the Golden State Warriors traveled to New York City in the midst of a five-game road trip. Under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, Curry would elevate his game to a level typically associated with legends of the game, the only obstacle in his path being Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks.

We tend not to be aware of historical accomplishments as they are unfolding. It typically takes a few days or months for us to completely appreciate the greatness that transpired before our very eyes. As Curry took the court that evening, little did we know that his ensuing performance would soon be mentioned among previous legendary performances in New York City from Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

In 48 minutes of play, Curry went 18-for-28 from the field and 11-for-13 from the 3-point line en route to a stellar 54-point outburst.  Fans and the media contingent in The Garden watched in awe, their eyes fixated on Curry every trip down the court and their jaws dropping every single time the ball left his hands.

It did not matter that the Knicks defeated the Warriors 109-105.  After being arguably the biggest snub in the 2013 All-Star Game, Curry finally began to receive the media recognition that he deserved.  As one of the greatest pure shooters that the game has seen, Curry was finally in the national spotlight.

A few months later, as the regular season came to a conclusion, Curry finished strong and set an NBA single-season three-point record, as he connected on 272 three-pointers.  That was hardly his only accomplishment, as he also became the first player in NBA history to make 250 3-pointers and pass for 500 assists, averaging career highs of 22.9 points and 6.9 assists per game.

Curry was third in the NBA in 3-point field goal percentage during the 2012-13 season, as he shot 45.3 percent from long distance. He also led the league in 3-point percentage from the corners, shooting 52.8 percent on corner 3s.  Mix in his ability to hit tough jumpers from mid-range, being an underrated passer with an array of handles that often keeps defenders on their heels and moves around the rim such as a high arcing floater, and Curry is one of the most dangerous point guards in the NBA.

Take a look at Stephen Curry’s shot chart from the 2012-13 NBA season:

Entering the 2012-13 season, fans and basketball experts alike questioned whether the Warriors would be able to compete with a banged up center in Andrew Bogut, who ended up missing a majority of the season with lingering injures. However, by the end of the year, Curry helped to silence all of the skeptics. Golden State was 10th in the NBA offensively last season, scoring 104.2 points per 100 possessions, as the Warriors went 47-35 in one of their most impressive seasons in years. Take that with an improved defense, one which led the NBA in defensive rebound percentage by obtaining 75.5 percent of potential defensive rebounds, and Golden State’s run in the Western Conference playoffs is all the more impressive.

Now that Curry is in the national spotlight, defenses will try to make adjustments when facing Golden State, but it will still prove to be difficult to slow down the Warriors potent offense. If you take Curry’s rise to stardom along with the development of Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes, a healthy Bogut, the return of All-Star David Lee and the offseason acquisition of veteran swingman Andre Iguodala, you will get a Warriors team that is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.

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