In a series of rapid-fire questions, Warriors superstar Stephen Curry was asked about the “best trash talk that you’ve received” and Curry’s answer cuts deep! His answer offered a glimpse into a high school moment that still stings. Curry recalled a taunt from his high school days that stuck with him: “That my dad paid the refs when I was in high school. That was the chant from the rival high school student section. It was “Dad pays the ref” and “Daddy can’t help you.” Well, it’s safe to say Steph certainly silenced the haters!

This incident occurred during his time at Charlotte Christian School in North Carolina. While pops Dell Curry was playing for the Charlotte Hornets, Young Curry garnered accolades left, right, and center, including all-state, all-conference, and team MVP honors, while leading his team to 3 conference titles and 3 state playoff appearances.

Despite closing out his senior year with a shooting percentage from beyond the arc of over 48%, Curry’s national ranking remained modest. Ranked a respectable 16th in his state, nationally he was buried amongst the point guards – 60th overall!

Silencing the Haters: Steph Curry’s Legacy

Standing at 6-foot-2, Steph wasn’t exactly built like a typical basketball giant similar to Michael Jordan. However, unlike MJ with his late growth spurt, Steph had to prove himself purely on skill. “It drove me to work hard, but I didn’t have any patience then,” Curry once shared. He further elaborated, “I was getting frustrated with the process because I felt like the time that I had put in and my own belief in my game at that point was being reflected by the scholarship offers and the attention from the big Division I schools.“

Finally, some schools noticed his talent. William & Mary, Virginia Tech, VCU, and High Point all came calling. But Steph, staying true to his roots, chose Davidson, a program that hadn’t secured an NCAA Tournament victory since 1969.

As a sophomore at Davidson, Curry led the team to an impressive run in the 2008 NCAA Tournament, reaching the Elite Eight. By his junior year, he was a national scoring leader and a first-team All-American. These feathers in his cap paved the way for his selection by the Golden State Warriors as the 7th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.

The high school taunt apparently fueled a fire in Chef Curry’s belly. He went on to achieve what some may have doubted, becoming a two-time NBA MVP (and the first-ever unanimous MVP), a four-time NBA champion, and a legend in the league. Chef Curry is leading his Golden State Warriors (currently the 10th seed in the Western Conference) toward a potential playoff run once he recovers from his injury.

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