Today, Stephen Curry is one of the most popular athletes on the planet. The Golden State Warriors All-Star is one of the biggest reasons the game of basketball has changed to a shooting contest. Moreover, he is a beloved figure in the Bay. He has stuck with the team since coming into the league and led them to four NBA  championships.

However, during his young days as a high schooler, Curry’s teammates weren’t the best toward him. And part of the reason was him being the son of an NBA player, Dell Curry. During a podcast, his mother, Sonya explained how Steph didn’t want to be around his AAU teammates after tournaments.

Sonya and Dell both were in Virginia Tech. While Dell played basketball, Sonya was a volleyball athlete. Fast forward to 1988, they got married and went on to have their first son, Steph. Widely regarded as the greatest shooter in the history of basketball, the Baby Face Assassin didn’t start off great at all.

Having a father play in the NBA gave him some rough times in high school. There came a point Steph didn’t want to play in AAU anymore. His teammates’ behavior didn’t stick well with him. And Sonya detailed her experience of dealing with Curry at the time.

Stephen Curry didn’t have the best teammates in high school

Growing up on the NBA court as a young kid, Curry immediately took a liking to the sport. He worked relentlessly on his craft in hopes to follow his father’s steps in the NBA. While he got some first-hand experience, there was also a flip side. Being the son of an NBA star put immense pressure on Steph through high school. Being the son of two top athletes, he was supposed to be the cool kid. However, that wasn’t the case for him.

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Steph’s AAU teammates gave him a hard time. He was ridiculed for being an innocent kid. And his mother explained why he didn’t want to be near his teammates.

Sonya said: “We went to a tournament and not wanting to actually stay around. We were like, ‘No, go hang out with your teammates’. He would come back and be like, ‘No, I want to stay here’. And we knew some of the decisions those guys were making and stuff like that. He just wasn’t vibing with it. And he got ridiculed a little bit for that, of being a goodie two shoes and those kinds of things.” 

She continued saying, “At first I was like, ‘No, go be with your teammates, build a community, you need to be around them’. And a little bit of me going, ‘Stephen, they already think you are different because you are our child’. That negativity came from me a little bit.”

During a time when Curry was uncomfortable, Dell came to his rescue. He explained to Sonya to not force him to be around people he doesn’t want to. However, the tough times only made Curry a stronger person. Despite not having the best AAU game, his college coach saw a spark. Stephen Curry went on to become one of the greatest players in the history of Davidson College, leading them to a 78-23 record. Moreover, it made him one of the most mentally tough players in the country.

The Baby Face Assassin was born because of all the doubt

Most would run away after what Curry had to go through in his younger days. However, he didn’t give up on his dream. After years of struggles, Curry found his break in the NBA. And he undoubtedly overshadowed what his father did by a mile. He soon became a record-breaking machine in the NBA.

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Now, Stephen Curry is the leading three-point scorer in the history of the NBA. In addition, he is a two-time MVP, four-time champion, and a one-time Finals MVP. Millions around the world adore Curry and his Golden State Warriors teammates have immense respect for him. And his journey is nowhere near done.

Do you think Stephen Curry would be the player he is without the criticism? Let us know your views in the comments below.