Being the son of an NBA star who was a top shooter in the league before it was hip to be a sniper was an advantage for Stephen Curry. Curry consequently picked up the fundamentals of shooting from his father, Dell Curry, from a young age. Because of his father’s work, Steph also had the chance to play with NBA stars when he was younger.
But it’s just not possible to be as good as a former NBA player when you haven’t even reached puberty. Nevertheless, Steph once did something very similar.
Eddie Johnson recently spoke with PHNX Sports during an interview, telling the tale of his encounter with a 7-year-old Steph in the past.
Ex NBA player speaks about 7 yo Stephen Curry’s game
When Johnson was still an NBA player with the Hornets, he played outside in the drive yard and remembered coming close to losing to the future sniper. He said,
“I’m like, ‘Hold up’ and he’s used to the outside rim. You know outside rim, dawg, kinda bent, wind blowing and it going in. Man, I look up. We playing a game to 10, this dude up seven-nothing. I said, ‘Hold up now.’ I’m in the NBA and I was the top shooters in the game, okay?… Man, I went old-man style on him. I started backing him down and laying it up.”
Over the course of his more than 17 years in the league, Johnson averaged 47.2% from the field, 33.5% from three, and 84% from the free throw line. The 17-year veteran was undoubtedly one of the league’s best shooters.
But for a young Steph, a clanky rim that favored one side ended up working beautifully. Despite Johnson’s NBA experience at the time, a blowout was nearly certain due to the strong wind and the rim.
With a 7-0 lead, Steph was ready to wrap off the match and earn Johnson’s bragging rights. And the former Sixth Man used old-man strategies to get the upper hand as soon as he sensed he was going to lose as a Hornets guard. He said,
“Yes @StephenCurry30 almost beat me when he was 7 years old in his driveway when I was a member of the @hornets I went to old man basketball and backed him down. True story.”
Yes @StephenCurry30 almost beat me when he was 7 years old in his driveway when I was a member of the @hornets I went to old man basketball and backed him down. True story😂 https://t.co/vPTNps3Wck
— Eddie A Johnson (@Jumpshot8) August 16, 2024
Johnson shared the court with Steph’s father, Dell, during his lone season with the Hornets in 1994. In the end, the two guards became very close to one another. During the short season, the players got to know one other’s families, and they still treasure the relationship they formed at that time.
