It is a story that has now become part of NBA lore. A sweet-shooting prospect from Davidson had left such a mark on scouts and players in the league that LeBron James himself came down to watch one of his most iconic rivals in action in the NCAA Tournament.
That was the birth of the legacy of Stephen Curry. Today, he is one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, a no-brainer Hall of Fame selection, and the Golden State Warriors’ greatest-ever product. But his journey to NBA superstardom can be traced back to a first-round showing against Gonzaga, where he first put his name on the map.
The Birth of Stephen Curry’s March Madness Legacy
It was March 21, 2008. The best prospect in the class was Blake Griffin with a bullet. His highlight-reel dunk package and underrated ball-handling skills had already made him a darling across the nation, which would eventually make him the first overall pick.
At that time, second-generation star Curry was starting to turn some heads for the Wildcats. But as a No. 10 seed in the tournament, there wasn’t a ton of hope for the team as a whole. That was until their opening clash against Gonzaga.
Facing a No. 7 seed, the only unanimous MVP in NBA history had an explosion for the ages that would become the theme of the entire March Madness spectacle. Trailing by double digits in the second half, he led the comeback almost single-handedly.
It led to an 82-76 victory that was the first win for Davidson in the NCAA Tournament since 1969. By the end of the night, he had 40 points on just 22 shots, with 30 of his total coming in the second half alone.
He also converted 8 of his 10 3-point attempts in a trend that would become the hallmark of his career, which now includes four NBA championships. With a final 3-pointer with the scores tied at 74 apiece, he gave the Wildcats what would be the final lead of the night.
On the anniversary of his iconic performance that made him a household name across the nation, social media reminisced about his night. “18 years ago today, Steph Curry vs Gonzaga! 40 Points (30 in 2nd half), 14/22 Shooting, 8/10 Threes, 5 Steals.”
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Additionally, an eternally important quote made it to the limelight once again. “Most people didn’t think we’d make it out of the 1st round. We had that stubborn belief that we could beat anybody in the country.”
It is a mindset that gave birth to the Warriors dynasty of the 2010s that earned them five consecutive trips to the NBA Finals and six overall, including four championships, as Curry cemented his name in history.
