From Underdog to Legend: Warriors' Nostalgic Look Back at Steph Curry's 2009 NBA Combine Journey
From Combine Curiosity to Championship Pedigree
When the Golden State Warriors posted that grainy combine footage of a baby-faced Steph Curry this week, even my data-crunching INTJ brain felt a twinge of nostalgia. That 2009 NBA Draft Combine photo might as well be basketball’s version of “before they were famous” memes.
The Metrics That Didn’t Tell the Story
Looking at Curry’s official combine numbers today feels like reading tea leaves in hindsight:
- Height: 6’2” (with shoes)
- Wingspan: 6’3.5”
- Vertical: 35.5 inches
Solid but unspectacular metrics that had six teams passing on him. The real story was in the shooting drills - though nobody realized they were witnessing the dawn of basketball’s next evolutionary phase.
The Tape Never Lies
The GIF circulating shows Curry’s now-iconic release - same quick trigger, same follow-through. My BBC Sports colleagues would call this “early evidence of repeatable biomechanical efficiency.” Fans just see the birth of Chef Curry.
Fun fact: His 3-point percentage at Davidson (41%) was actually lower than his rookie NBA mark (43.7%). Some guys just play better against better competition.
From Seventh Pick to Franchise Icon
That 2009 draft class produced:
- Blake Griffin (1st)
- Hasheem Thabeet (2nd)
- James Harden (3rd)
Yet only one player revolutionized how basketball is played at every level. Not bad for the seventh selection who initially struggled with ankle injuries.
As we watch present-day Curry chase another ring, this throwback reminds us: Greatness often arrives in unassuming packages. Even Don Nelson didn’t know he’d drafted the architect of small-ball revolution that day.
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Hot comment (6)
Quand le destin s’amuse avec les stats
Qui aurait cru que ce « petit » gars de 1m88 (oui, avec des chaussures) allait révolutionner le basket ? Les scouts de 2009 devraient revoir leur copie…
Le shoot qui a changé la NBA
Son tir était déjà là : rapide, précis, imparable. Même à Davidson, il faisait mieux contre les pros (43,7%) qu’en NCAA (41%). La classe ultime !
Et dire qu’ils ont préféré Hasheem Thabeet…
7ème choix du draft, des chevilles en verre, et maintenant 4 bagues. Cherchez l’erreur.
Alors, on fait comment pour effacer nos vieux tweets moqueurs de 2009 ? 😅 #LegendeImprovisible
Ось так і починаються легенди! Сьогодні дивишся на ці фото з драфту 2009 року — худорлявий хлопець у футболці, а завтра він уже змінює гру назавжди. Шість команд пропустили Каррі, а тепер їхні фани плачуть у подушку.
Чарівник з трьохочкових — його кидок був ідеальним ще тоді, просто ніхто ще не знав, що це майбутня революція.
А ви як вважаєте, яка команда найбільше жалкує про свій вибір того року? 😄
숨은 진주를 발견한 워리어스
2009년 NBA 드래프트 컴바인에서 스테프 커리의 모습을 보면 정말 ‘이 분이 바로…?’ 싶다. 키도 평범하고, 체구도 왜소했는데… 지금 보면 역사를 바꾼 선택이었네요!
메트릭스는 거짓말을 하지 않지만…
커리의 체측 수치(키 6’2”, 윙스팬 6’3.5”)는 평범했지만, 슛팅 능력은 이미 완성도가 장난 아니었죠. 데이비드슨 대학 시절 3점 성공률 41%가 NBA에서는 오히려 상승한 걸 보면… 천재는 다르네요.
7순위의 역습
그 해 드래프트 1픽이 블레이크 그리핀이었다는 사실이 믿기지 않아요! 커리는 발목 부상까지 겪으며 고생했지만, 지금은 NBA 역사를 바꾼 선수가 되었으니… 워리어스 스카우팅 팀에게 박수!
여러분도 커리의 성장 스토리에 감동받으셨나요? 댓글로 의견 나눠요!
看到勇士隊放出2009年柯瑞的選秀體測影片，真的讓人感嘆時光飛逝啊！當年那個看起來像大學生的瘦弱小子，現在已經是改變籃球歷史的三分神射手了。
那些年被低估的體測數據：身高6呎2吋、垂直跳躍35.5吋…這些數據放在現在看根本是「潛力股」的最佳證明，但當時居然有6支球隊錯過他！
最搞笑的是，他在戴維森學院的三分命中率(41%)居然比NBA新秀賽季(43.7%)還低，這傢伙根本就是為大場面而生的吧？從第七順位到改變籃球生態的傳奇，柯瑞的故事告訴我們：永遠不要小看任何一個「underdog」！
大家當年有想過這個娃娃臉會成為聯盟招牌嗎？留言區來聊聊你的看法！#NBA #勇士隊 #逆襲故事
O Underdog que Virou Lenda
Lembrar do Curry magrelo no Draft de 2009 é como achar aquela foto vergonhosa do ensino médio - só que no caso dele, já dava pra ver o futuro campeão!
Estatísticas Enganosas
Altura: normal. Envergadura: mediana. Salto: ok. E ainda assim seis times deixaram passar o homem que reinventou o basquete! Isso que dá confiar só em planilha, hein?
O Tiro Certo
Aquele lançamento icônico já estava lá - rápido como um raio e preciso como relógio suíço. Os scouts deviam estar de óculos sujos!
E vocês? Também têm alguma ‘foto antiga constrangedora’ que na verdade mostrava seu potencial? 😂 #CurryLenda
Curry sa Combine: ‘Bakit wala sila?’
Ang ganda ng lookback! Noong 2009, si Steph Curry ay parang “baka hindi maganda ang stats” pero ang galing ng shooting drill… parang sinabi niya: “Ito na yung future ng basketball.”
6’2” lang? Wingspan? Parang kakaiba pero okay lang. Ang totoo—kaya siya pinili sa ika-7 slot dahil may utak at talino.
Ang funny? Ang rookie nyan ay mas magaling pa sa college! 41% vs 43.7% — parang sabihin: “Hoy, pumunta ka na lang sa NBA para mag-improve!”
Sobrang nostalgic ako—parang nakita ko ang bukas ng basketball noong una pa siyang sumikat.
Ano kayo? Sino ba ang iniisip ninyo na dapat maging legend pero hindi nila napansin? Comment section na! 🏀🔥
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