On a sunlit afternoon in Charlotte in 2010, Stephen Curry walked into a private sports complex, hoping for some solitude as he wrestled with doubts after his rookie NBA season. At 22, Curry was a promising but fragile point guard, his slender build and unorthodox shot drawing skepticism from analysts and fans alike. “Too small, too fragile, unconventional shot, no athletic explosion,” Curry recalled years later. Even he sometimes wondered if he truly belonged.
That day, as Curry entered the gym, he noticed a silhouette moving with unmistakable grace. It was Michael Jordan—47 years old, alone, practicing as if preparing for Game 7 of the Finals. For Curry, who had idolized Jordan since childhood—his posters on the wall, “Come Fly with Me” on repeat—this was an impossible dream come to life.
Curry hesitated, not wanting to intrude, but Jordan called out: “Hey, Davidson kid. Aren’t you going to say hello?” What followed was a two-hour conversation that would quietly alter the course of basketball history. Between shots, Jordan shared stories from his career, insights about the modern game, and—most astonishingly—detailed observations about Curry’s own play. “He had really watched me,” Curry remembered. “Not just casually, but with the attention of someone who saw something worth following.”
As they parted, Jordan handed Curry his personal phone number. “The game is changing, and you have something special that can take this change forward. If you need anything—advice, or just to vent about the pressure—call me. Sometimes the biggest battle is mental, not physical.” For a young player struggling to find his place, the gesture was a lifeline.
What began as a chance meeting blossomed into a unique, organic mentorship. There were no scheduled sessions or formal lessons—just timely calls, texts, and gestures, always arriving at crucial junctures in Curry’s career. When Curry battled ankle injuries in 2012, a package arrived in his locker: a pair of Air Jordans and a handwritten note. “Physical limitations are real, but it’s the mental barriers that truly determine how far you’ll go. Never allow the fear of getting hurt again to limit your game. —MJ.” The validation from his childhood hero helped Curry push through doubt.
After a string of tough losses in 2013, Curry received a phone call. Jordan didn’t introduce himself; he simply said, “I notice you still hesitate in the fourth quarter when the pressure increases. Hesitation is the child of fear, and fear is the enemy of greatness. You have the shot. Never doubt that.” Then he hung up. Curry was stunned—not just that Jordan was watching, but that he seemed to understand the battles inside Curry’s mind.
Jordan’s influence was never about technical fixes. It was about mindset, confidence, and resilience. When media critics called Curry’s deep threes reckless, he received a text: “They criticized my fadeaway. They criticized my shoes. They criticized my style. And now everyone copies. The game evolves through visionaries who have the courage to ignore critics. Keep shooting.” Jordan’s words gave Curry permission to trust his instincts and keep pushing boundaries.
The most profound moments came after failure. Following the Warriors’ heartbreaking 2016 Finals loss—a blown 3-1 lead—Curry was at his lowest. Jordan invited him to dinner in San Francisco. They spoke for hours, not about basketball technique, but about the weight of expectations, the pain of public failure, and the privilege of carrying a legacy. “The championships you haven’t won yet weigh more than those you already have,” Jordan told him. “Accept that weight as a privilege, not a burden. Few have the talent to carry such heavy expectations.”
These interventions, always private, shaped Curry’s mindset as much as his game. After Curry’s historic shot from nearly half-court against Oklahoma City, he found a message on his phone: “Now you’re playing a game they can’t keep up with. That’s how you change the sport forever.” When Curry broke the single-season three-point record during his unanimous MVP campaign, Jordan called: “Records are consequences, not goals. Continue playing for joy and innovation. The rest comes naturally.”
Jordan’s guidance wasn’t just about individual success. When Kevin Durant joined the Warriors, Curry struggled with how to adapt his role. Jordan’s advice: “True greatness is knowing when to take a step back so the team can take two steps forward. The greatest winners are those willing to adapt their game for the greater good.” Curry embraced the challenge, helping the Warriors become one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history.
For over a decade, Curry kept the story private. “Carrying this secret was more challenging than I imagined,” he admitted. “There were moments when I wanted to give credit to Michael for specific insights, especially when critics questioned the legitimacy of the revolution we were leading.” But he and Jordan agreed the time wasn’t right. Their connection was about authenticity, not publicity.
Finally, in a packed press conference at Chase Center, Curry revealed the truth: “For more than a decade, I’ve kept a story that I now feel needs to be shared. A story about how Michael Jordan secretly guided me in the most crucial moments of my career.” Jordan confirmed everything in a rare public statement: “What Steph has accomplished transformed the game in ways even I couldn’t fully predict. It was an honor to be part of his journey, even if behind the scenes.”
The revelation stunned the sports world. Analysts re-examined Curry’s career, spotting Jordan’s fingerprints in moments that had seemed purely original. Teammates, like Draymond Green, suddenly understood the source of Curry’s wisdom. “There were moments in practice when Steph would say things about defensive reading or shooting angles that seemed beyond his time. Now it all makes sense.”
The story also changed public perceptions of Jordan, often seen as fiercely competitive and solitary. Here was a mentor, generous and visionary, investing in the future of the game through the next generation. “The dominant narrative about Michael has always focused on his relentless competitiveness,” Curry reflected. “But he demonstrated a much greater vision about his legacy—understanding that sometimes the greatest influence happens away from the spotlight.”
The impact rippled through the basketball world. Young players began seeking mentorship, and training programs emphasized intergenerational connections. Sports historians reconsidered how knowledge and culture pass between eras.
For Curry, the greatest lesson was about legacy. “Our story proves that the true legacy in sports isn’t just about what you achieve, but about what you pass on. Michael could easily have kept his knowledge and experience to himself, preserving his place at the top. Instead, he chose to invest in a future he knew would belong to others.”
At Curry’s next game, Jordan appeared in the front row. Cameras captured the two sharing a brief, meaningful conversation. “He told me just one thing that night,” Curry said, smiling. “‘Now it’s your turn to find the next one.’ And that’s what I intend to do.”
The story of Stephen Curry and Michael Jordan, once hidden, became a powerful testament to the beauty of mentorship, humility, and the quiet connections that shape history. Their secret collaboration didn’t just change a player—it changed the game. And now, the torch burns brighter, ready for the next generation.
Stephen Curry on what Jordan taught him about success – “He never asked anybody on his team or in the organization to do anything that he wouldn’t do”
On the surface, Stephen Curry could not be any different from Michael Jordan. But when you look deeper, there are some similarities between the two players
On the surface, Stephen Curry could not be any different from Michael Jordan. Curry is a shooter, Jordan was a slasher. Curry made a name for himself in the Bay Area, Jordan made his in the Windy City. Curry is generous with his time and happy to see other players succeed; Jordan was notoriously cutthroat and driven to be the best.
But when you look deeper, there are some similarities between the two players. Both have an incredible work ethic and are relentless in their pursuit of excellence. Both have an unquenchable competitive fire that burns brightly on and off the court. And as Curry recently revealed, both players share a similar philosophy regarding success.
Lessons from “The Last Dance”
What many people may not know is that Curry draws a lot of inspiration from Jordan – specifically, something that MJ said in the highly acclaimed documentary, “The Last Dance.”
“Jordan never asked anybody on his team or in the organization to do anything that he wouldn’t do himself. Set the bar for what work ethic was and that grind. He tried to set the pace with his actions,” shared Curry.
“I’ve always carried that with me as the standard for what I expect from my teammates and people, that I lived up to that as well, and I set the pace there.”
As a Western Conference executive noted in a recent ESPN survey, Curry is the culture-setter for the Warriors. And his selflessness sets the tone for the entire organization – from the front office all the way down to the players.
Matt Barnes, who won a championship with Curry in 2017, shared that they all “checked their egos at the door” with Steph at the helm.
The Jordan rules
As calm and collected as Steph’s temperament most times is, Jordan was a notorious grouch who did not let anything or anyone stand in the way of his success. This included pushing teammates to their utmost limits, as current Dubs head coach Steve Kerr can attest to. It was back during the Bulls’ training camp for the 1995-96 NBA season when MJ and Kerr got into it, with Jordan eventually giving the latter a black eye.
It’s this type of mentality – one that is focused on the team and not the individual – that has defined Jordan’s legacy and helped him become the greatest player of all time. And it’s something that Curry has taken to heart as he looks to continue building his own legacy.
