Long before becoming one of the best leaders in the league, Stephen Curry had big ankle problems. His career could have ended very early … but a man decided otherwise.
Considered the greatest shooter in history, Stephen Curry has never ceased to delight in the past few seasons. The leader knows how to put on a show with his dribbles, his shots and his swagger when he’s in the zone, and it works. The result in a few years with its Warriors? 3 titles and 2 MVPs, including the first unanimous in history.
His 2015/16 season, which is a real butchery, is for example still in the minds of many. However, all this almost never happened. Because several years before, Curry had big health problems – ankle more precisely.
To put it simply in one stat the problem: the Chef twisted his ankle 5 times in his first season in the NBA, all in the space of 26 games. The most unusual? He was able to injure himself in any situation: after contact, a shoot … or even on his own.
From 2009 to 2011, Curry experienced many problems, including a second decisive operation for the rest of his career. In the summer of 2012, he may even have hit rock bottom:
I feel like I haven’t done anything else other than rehabilitation for the past two years. I think I won’t be able to play again.
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This is where a man comes in: the new Warriors performance chief from 2013, Keke Lyles. Curry’s 2012/13 season was reassuring, however: 78 games with averages of 22.9 points, 4 rebounds and 6.9 assists. But his teammates noticed, the leader did not trust his ankle.
Unusual movements, refusal to seek contact: Steph was far from out of business. Except that Lyles will change the situation. The problem according to him? The leader used his ankles too much to get speed and speed. Instead, he decided to bet on the hips.
The goal was clear: bet on the hips, therefore, to bring a little more power. Every day, Curry worked one leg during his rehabilitation.
A little yoga and a few exercises later, Baby Face did not take long to excel in the field. Initially, the person concerned could attack 90 kilos during the “deadlift” exercise. Two years later ? He could reach the 180 kilo mark. To better understand, he was then the second best manpower in this field. Just _a!
In the end, and despite these exercises, nothing is left to chance. Lyles is responsible for providing Curry with ankle straps. For shoes, they are specially designed for the point guard, to limit the risk of injury.
Beyond the ankles, Stephen Curry learned with Lyles to become more rigorous during training. Most importantly, he can finally trust his body. Behind it, the whole NBA has changed forever.
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