Stephen Curry’s Deep Range Changed the NBA, but His Reach Goes Far Beyond the Arc

If you ask me, Stephen Curry has forever ruined the game of basketball. Curry’s unparalleled shooting range has made “logo three”—shots a common sight in today’s NBA. 

This shift has influenced players across the league, encouraging attempts from previously unthinkable distances. As a result, the average number of three-point attempts per game has surged, with teams now taking over 35 shots from beyond the arc each game, up from just 18 a decade ago.

Perhaps ruined is a strong word. Curry is on the smaller side for the NBA, standing just 6’2. For him to find a way to excel in the league despite his height disadvantage is inspirational. But let’s face it, even with Father Time’s appearance, no one in the league is making the number of long-range shots with the consistency of Wardell Stephen Curry. 

He holds the record for the most career three-pointers made, surpassing 4,000. Most three-pointers made in a single season (402 in 2015-16). And most consecutive games with a made three-pointer (268). 

The man has a legacy that will last forever. What people mention less often is his legacy off the court. In 2019, he and his wife, Ayesha, launched the Eat. Learn. Play Foundation, focusing on child nutrition, education, and physical activity. To date, the Foundation has raised and invested over $70 million, distributed more than 25 million meals, and refurbished 18 school playgrounds in Oakland, according to Sports Business Journal. 

Additionally, in partnership with Under Armour, Curry’s Curry Brand has fulfilled its commitment to renovate 20 safe play courts by 2025, impacting over 300,000 children worldwide.

Curry also has a media company, Unanimous Media — that focuses on producing content that promotes family, faith, and sports, further extending his impact beyond the basketball court.

In my estimation, every NBA fan, including myself, who says they don’t love the excellence on display every time Curry sets foot on the court probably doesn’t like that he has been the reason their favorite team has lost on more than one occasion. Still, even his most prominent critics have to respect that he is a man who has stayed true to himself since day one. 

His work off the court has proven his commitment to God, basketball, family, and community. Stephen Curry’s legacy is not only defined by his revolutionary approach to basketball but also by his unwavering commitment to community and cultural development.