Greatest shooter of all time! That’s the tag Stephen Curry has rightfully earned through his career, with several unbelievable moments that only he could have pulled off. But to hold onto that throne requires an insane level of work ethic and consistency. Sure enough, Heat’s HC Erik Spoelstra got the firsthand experience of watching Steph put in the work every day during the Paris Olympics. Spo was taken aback by the Baby-Faced Assassin showing similar traits to Michael Jordan after practice in the extreme heat of Abu Dhabi.
Talking about his experience with Steph, Spoelstra revealed that the Warriors superstar is always consistent in his workout routine after practice, which has helped him play at an elite level even at this age. Moreover, Curry is so full of energy that he somehow plays 18 holes after a tiring hoop session! Then, Coach Spo talked about the time when Steph left him stunned, “He did that in Abu Dhabi once. I could not believe it. Did his hour routine. By the time we got back to the hotel, he was walking out with his golf clubs.”
Sounds familiar? Yes, Michael Jordan had the same habit of playing golf after a long day’s work on the court. The hooper had also formed a habit of playing golf on game days in the early afternoon! “He’d sneak in a round of golf or nine holes. He was amazing,” John Ligmanowski, the Bulls kit manager recalled.
The podcast host even confirmed, “MJ used to do that.” Erik Spoelstra further detailed Steph’s obsession, “I asked him the next day. I was like it was 120 degrees out there. I think he said, ‘Yeah, tried to get 18, I only got 13 holes in.’” Maybe that’s the kind of passion required to be one of the best athletes.
Obviously, Spo was asked if Steph’s routine reminded him of Ray Allen, as they are two of the best shooters ever and Erik Spoelstra coached Ray in Miami for two years. “Yes. Well, it’s not about the routine. It’s more about the OCD level of them,” Spo said on the Five on the Floor pod.
“You know, it probably is very similar to like Tiger… Take any great hitter, they probably do normal routine and then there’s something excessive over the top with it.” This connection with the golf legend Tiger Woods, though, was quite interesting. He once had shed light on his strenuous workout routine in his prime. A four-mile run to kick-start the day, followed by lifting in the gym, then practicing his shots for 2-3 hours, working on his short game, running four miles again, then playing a game of basketball or tennis!
It requires a certain level of obsession to constantly put in the work in pursuit of being the best version of yourself, and every great athlete, including Steph, Ray, and Jordan, has that trait.
Stephen Curry addressed his inexplainable love for golf and the importance of the “Next Shot Mentality”
Well, there is something special about golf that many basketball players are drawn to. Maybe, the green grass and the open air help them get away from the fast-paced life and get a better perspective on everything. For Steph, though, he sees a major connection. “In both sports, when you find that flow, to be able to stay in that space for as long as you can and enjoy it, there’s no better feeling in either sport.” Yes, a hole-in-one might be as thrilling for the Warrior as a game-winning 3. After all, it’s about timing and perfection.
Moreover, Stephen Curry revealed how important it is to have the memory of a goldfish in both sports, “The next shot mentality is huge. Basketball’s a little more reactive, so you don’t have too much time to dwell on what’s going on. In golf, you have a long walk from shot to shot to deal with the thoughts going on between the ears. You have to have a bit of amnesia out there.”
Take a recent example itself. The Splash Brother was under intense scrutiny for not contributing enough before his run in the last 2-3 games in Paris. Noticeably, none of it fazed the veteran at all, it was a similar case with LeBron, while the legends just continued doing what they did best on the court, and it eventually all fell into place. No media statements, no family members complaining, nothing.
Maybe, that’s why Steph Curry picks up his golf clubs right after practice, because it also helps him grow patience and resilience as a basketball player. “It’s something about this game. I don’t know how to explain it, but it brings a lot out of you.”
