Stephen Curry makes greatness look effortless. The deep threes, slick handles, and stamina feel all so natural. But behind all that magic is a brutal work ethic that few ever get to see, and even fewer can handle.
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Those who have been around the Golden State Warriors’ superstar are invariably left in awe of his approach to training. David West, a two-time NBA Champion who played with Curry on the Warriors from 2016 to 2018, opened up about just how grueling Steph’s daily grind really was, or rather is. And even for a seasoned vet like West, it was mind-blowing.
On The OGs podcast, he confessed that he simply couldn’t match what Steph was doing. What stood out most to West was Steph’s consistency. Steph didn’t take any days off and would be back on his grind every day.
“You know how long it would take somebody to do this stuff that he’s doing in a minute, two minutes. Hitting 50 straight threes and then moving and all this…,” said West.
“It’s bananas. So, it’s no secret why he’s the way he is, right? He just works at that level,” he added, reiterating that being Curry and the Warriors as a whole felt like stepping into another world.
The structure, the discipline, and the attention to detail were unlike anything he’d experienced before. And it wasn’t just Steph. Kevin Durant was there too, making the environment one of the most elite West had ever seen or been in.
Now involved in coaching AAU kids, West initially thought he could pass down some of Steph’s training secrets. But reality hit fast.
West couldn’t teach 12-year-olds how to work like Curry
Steph revolutionized the league and made everyone follow in his footsteps. It wasn’t because he invented something new. The three-point line has been in existence since the 1980s. It’s because he made it look so easy.
While many players have become great three-point shooters, no one does it quite like the Chef. West also initially believed he could teach a few things he picked up from Steph to the AAU kids.
“I’ll never forget the first time I saw Steph working out. You know me, I’m in the NBA, but I’m literally learning because I wanna be able to give it to the kids,” West said on Jefe Island in 2024.
But the reality check hit him hard. “I’m watching him work out and there’s nothing that I can ask a 10-, 11-, or 12-year-old to do,” he added.
While the Curry style of practicing is difficult to teach, one can focus on how he must’ve started. If 12-year-old kids start with the basics, like Steph did, they might end up doing what he does now, or get close at the least.
