In honor of Stephen Curry’s 28th birthday, we have compiled a list of 28 interesting facts about the reigning NBA MVP and the frontrunner for this year’s MVP award. One intriguing fact about Curry is that his full name is Wardell Stephen Curry II. In a recent interview, he revealed that he was named after his father, and although he is commonly known as “Stephen” or “Steph,” his close friends still affectionately call him by his birth name. Another noteworthy detail is that Curry was actually born in Akron, Ohio.
According to NBC Bay Area, it’s not just a coincidence that both Curry and LeBron James were born in the same city, but they were actually born in the same hospital. Curry comes from a family of athletes, with both of his parents having a background in sports. His father, Dell, had a successful career in the NBA, playing for five different teams over 16 seasons. His mother, Sonya, was a standout college volleyball player. It seems that athleticism runs in the family, as Curry’s sister, Sydel, also plays volleyball at Elon University.
In addition to his basketball skills, Curry is also a talented golfer. According to Golf Digest, he shot an impressive two-under par at Pebble Beach last summer. He even had the opportunity to hit the links with President Obama at Martha’s Vineyard.
Curry has made a name for himself in the record books. He holds the record for the most three-pointers made in a season in both the NBA and NCAA. During his sophomore season at Davidson, he made 162 three-pointers, according to NBA.com.
Aside from his accomplishments on the court, Curry is actively involved in charity work. He has been recognized for his contributions by winning the 2013-14 Kia Community Assist Award. His charity work also includes efforts in the fight against malaria, such as distributing bed nets to families at a refugee camp in Tanzania, as reported by NBA.com.
Curry’s childhood included some interesting experiences as well. He starred in a Burger King commercial as a kid and had a unique agreement with his mother. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Curry’s mother fines him $100 for each turnover he commits in a game after his third. This verbal contract means that if he commits four turnovers, he owes his mom $100, and the amount keeps increasing for each additional turnover.
As for his personal life, Curry started playing basketball when he was just five years old and who could have predicted that 23 years later, he would be leading a new era in the sport. When asked about which actor he would choose to portray him in a movie, Curry picked Denzel Washington, despite the age difference. Interestingly, Curry revealed that snakes are his biggest fear, but don’t worry, they should be more afraid of him than he is of them. Lastly, he has two adorable daughters. Riley, his older daughter, became a sensation when she stole the show during his press conferences last season. His second daughter, Ryan, was born in 2015 and has big shoes to fill as the daughter of an NBA superstar.
14. The thing that annoys him the most is when people sneeze without covering their nose.
(via Warriors’ Facebook Q A)
Coming in as a close second, he doesn’t appreciate criticism from retired NBA stars.
15. Muggsy Bogues was his ultimate NBA idol when he was growing up.
He mentioned to the Big Lead that he looked up to Bogues, who was not only the shortest player in NBA history but also his father’s former teammate, when he was a child.
16. On one occasion, he discovered a wallet containing $160 and returned it.
Talking to the Big Lead, he recounted the incident:
“It happened during my sophomore year. I found a wallet in the dining hall and decided to post about it on our campus-wide email. Since Davidson is a small community, we tend to look out for one another, you know? But the email had my first name, ‘Wardell,’ on it, so I don’t think the person knew it was me until they showed up at my door. They said, ‘you lit up Maryland in the NCAA tournament’ and then asked for my autograph. Pretty amusing.”
17. He experienced his first dunk in basketball during his freshman year at Davidson.
18. The initial date he had with his wife, Ayesha, took place on Hollywood Boulevard.
He revealed to AskMen.com:
“We went to Hollywood Boulevard in LA. At that time, she was living there and I was visiting. She picked me up in her Astro Van. We drove around Hollywood Blvd, took a picture with the Marilyn Monroe statue that was on the Walk of Fame, sipped on some chai tea lattes, and did some sightseeing. And it all evolved from there.”
19. Two movies he particularly cherishes are “The Princess Diaries” and “A Walk to Remember.”
According to an interview with his sister for ESPNW, Steph has a soft spot for romantic films.
20. He has been a member of the Golden State Warriors for the longest period among the current roster.
Since being drafted in 2009, there is no other player on the team who has been with the Warriors for a longer time.
21. His favorite childhood memory was when he got the chance to go on stage with the hip-hop group, Kris Kross.
22. No major Division I program offered him a college scholarship.
According to NESN.com, he only received three scholarships to play college basketball: Davidson, VCU, and Winthrop.
23. He wears the jersey number 30 to pay tribute to his father.
24. He met Kevin Durant at an AAU event when he was just 10 years old.
Durant shared in an interview with NBA 2K Uncensored:
“I walked into the gym, and this guy was pulling off jump shots from halfcourt. Splash. Splash. And when we played against him, he scored like 35 points. All of this at the age of 10. I asked myself, ‘Who is this?’ And 10 years later… that was Steph Curry.”
25. His preferred TV show is How to Get Away With Murder.
(via Warriors’ Facebook Q A)
With the nickname “Babyfaced Assassin,” it’s only fitting that this would be his favorite show.
26. His worst habit is indulging in candy.
(via CBSSports.com)
His favorite sugary snack? Maynards, a Canadian-made fuzzy peach candy.
27. If he had the chance, he would trade places with golfer Rory McIlroy.
(via Sports Illustrated)
His fondness for golf shines through once again. Rory, the decision is yours to make.
28. USATODAY.com, Twitter, ESPN.com, and Sports Illustrated are websites he frequently visits.
When asked about his favorite websites to browse, he shared with SI’s “hot clicks.”