Before the championships or the records, and even before becoming the face of a dynasty, Stephen Curry, now the 3-point king, had a playoff moment he still cannot shake. It was not a game-winner or a scoring explosion, but confusion and a halftime of a basketball game that the Warriors’ franchise face now calls his worst ever.
More than a decade later, with a legendary resume behind him, that first playoff experience still lingers as a reminder of where it all began.
Looking Back at Stephen Curry’s Chaotic Playoff Debut in Denver
Curry’s playoff journey began on April 20, 2013, against the Denver Nuggets. It was his first taste of postseason basketball, and it did not go smoothly early on.
“I remember it like it was yesterday in Denver,” Curry said. “The first half was a blur, I probably played the worst half of all time.”
That feeling, Curry explained, came from overthinking the moment. “You almost psych yourself out thinking that it’s a different game when you get into the playoffs,” he said. The energy in the building felt different, faster, and louder, and it took time to adjust.
Curry finished Game 1 with 19 points and 9 assists but struggled with efficiency, shooting 7 of 20 from the field and 4 of 10 from 3-point range. “It was a true blur, just out there running around, not really knowing what I was doing,” he added. “Then you settle in.”
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That second-half shift mattered. It marked the beginning of Curry finding his rhythm on the playoff stage.
That early struggle did not define Curry but shaped him. Leading the Warriors as a rising star, he helped the No. 6 seed upset Denver and secure the franchise’s first playoff series win since 2007. The run ended in the semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs, but something bigger had started.
Curry went on to transform from an injury-prone combo guard into one of the most consistent performers in NBA history, including the playoffs. Across 155 playoff games and 10 appearances, he has led Golden State to four championships and five straight Finals.
His impact is reflected in the numbers. Curry has played in 30 playoff series and won 24 of them, an 80% success rate. He also became the NBA’s all-time leader in playoff 3-pointers (650), redefining how the game is played on the biggest stage.
Now, the challenge returns. Golden State enters the 2026 postseason as a play-in team, needing back-to-back road wins, starting against the Los Angeles Clippers, to reach the playoffs.
The Warriors were in a similar spot in 2024-25 when they clinched a play-in berth. After defeating the Memphis Grizzlies, they secured the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference.
Curry was once again central to their playoff run, which included a 4-3 first-round win against the Houston Rockets. He filled the stat sheet, averaging 24 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in the series.
The Warriors’ run ended in the Western Conference semifinals, where the Minnesota Timberwolves beat them 4-1. Curry only played one game of that series since he suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain.
This year presents an even bigger challenge. Jimmy Butler III, who was a crucial on-court partner for Curry during last year’s playoffs, is no longer available after a season-ending ACL injury. Curry himself recently returned from a knee injury after missing 27 games, adding another layer of pressure.
