Documentary ‘Underestimated’ shows profile of Stephen Curry – 07/23/2023 – Sports

It was a wait of many years. And, when no one else believed it, Stephen Curry surprised everyone and did it. No, the delay is not related to the fourth NBA ring or the record for three-pointers, but Davidson’s college degree.

“It’s been 14 years since I left until my graduation, but it was worth the wait, it was something that made me extremely proud”, celebrates Curry, in an online interview to promote the documentary “Underestimated”, which has just arrived on the Apple TV+ streaming platform.

With Ryan Coogler (director of both “Black Panthers”) as one of the producers and Peter Nicks (a Sundance award winner) at the helm, the documentary focuses almost entirely on Curry’s pre-NBA years, on Davidson’s origins of the short, skinny star (he is now 6’1″), who was even shorter and skinnier.

Nicks intersperses Curry’s trajectory in Davidson with current scenes of individual training sessions or in the comfort of his home, when it is possible to see the Golden State Warriors scorer concluding his thesis, in which he defended gender equality in sport —Curry is the father of two girls and a boy.

“But winning the title [da NBA] it was definitely harder [do que o diploma]. That’s why we celebrate by pouring champagne in the locker room, because we realize how hard it really is,” he says.

Born in Oakland, the city of the first three Warriors titles with Curry (the franchise moved to neighboring San Francisco), Coogler was most excited about the project.

“I was excited to work with someone who has turned great things into the field, who has brought us so much pride and great memories. We were great partners. Curry came up with really exciting ideas. He wasn’t on the project out of vanity or anything like that. He let the filmmakers create, which is rare these days,” says the producer, also known as the director of the sports drama “Creed: Born to Fight”, spinoff of the “Rocky” series.

Before going back in time, the documentary begins precisely with the feat of the player, who beat Ray Allen’s mark of 2,973 three-point baskets, in the mythical Madison Square Garden, to become the greatest long-distance trigger in the NBA (currently he already has 3,390, and counting).

That same night, during the party with teammates, friends, family and crew, there was a wrinkled, gray-headed white guy, whom Curry thanks. It was Bob McKillop, coach of Davidson’s Wildcats, and one of the men who saw Curry’s raw talent.

“I had a coach who believed in me more than I could have believed in myself, saw potential I didn’t see.” Indeed, McKillop recalls how he got involved with recruiting Curry and giving him a spot in the starting lineup as early as his freshman year, something not so common. Archive footage shows Curry wearing a uniform that looks like it was made for someone twice his size.

McKillop ignored the player’s poor debut for the Wildcats, when he committed 13 “turnovers” — a situation in which the athlete loses the ball due to error or negligence. By the way, Curry is still a turnovers champion, but his perseverance and aim pays off, often in the same game. In the next game at Davidson, McKillop kept the number 30 as a starter, and he scored 32 points.

The great sporting moment of the documentary is the story of Cinderella experienced by the team in 2008. On the occasion, the very modest Davidson, from North Carolina, surprised university powers and advanced in the national championship to the point of taking star LeBron James to the audience, who wanted to watch the young Curry. After memorable matches for the Wildcats, with unlikely comebacks commanded by the scorer, the team was eliminated before reaching the Final Four, which brings together the four semifinalists.

It was precisely after this tournament that Curry decided to enter the NBA Draft, the league’s freshman recruitment system. He was the seventh pick and left Davidson a year short of the expected completion of the course. “But I made a promise to Coach McKillop and my mother when I left Davidson. I told them I would finish my degree.”

For the athlete, the documentary should not necessarily be viewed from a sporting point of view. “I think it speaks to some life principles, perseverance, hard work, dedication to a craft,” he says. “That’s a big part of what makes me who I am, which perhaps leads to a deep dive into my NBA success.”

Curry uses the term “underrated” more than once, which gives the film its title, but not in a pejorative way. He used the adjective to shape his own motivation and personality in the game. It’s almost as if he still wants to be discredited before he takes the court.

“My time at Davidson led to early basketball experiences, which developed an underrated mentality that I have in my DNA and I still use as motivation,” he says. “I know that’s what gets the best out of me, so I try to keep that mindset at all costs.”

If you still have something to prove? “Always. That’s the motivation. You almost have to trick yourself into not feeling full after accomplishing something,” she says.

With promising youngsters entering the league, like idol candidate Victor Wembanyama, of the San Antonio Spurs, and strong teams being assembled, like the Phoenix Suns, captained by friend Kevin Durant, Curry still believes that the Warriors can win again.

“I want more championships, that’s the goal. That’s why we work so hard. Even at this stage of my career, I really believe I’m capable of playing at a high level, and so is our team. That’s the biggest motivation.” As the documentary shows, it shouldn’t be underestimated.