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It’s easy to look at Steph Curry and think that he will go down in history as one of the all-time greats in the NBA. And that's probably true. He’s sort of a golden boy (pardon the pun), considering all of his achievements and awards. He has broken Ray Allen's record for 3-point shooting scores; he has four rings; he has twice been named NBA MVP; and he was named Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated. Another recent accomplishment? In 2022, he finally graduated from Davidson College, having left after his junior year quite a while back. In short, Steph Curry is a superstar with many years ahead of him as long as he stays healthy.

Has Curry's life been a bed of roses and a meteoric rise to the top? Not at all.

Here's a look at the challenges and issues Curry has faced so far in his career, some of them not related to the game at all.

College Disappointments and Then Success

As a college recruit, Steph Curry wasn't high on anyone’s list. He was only 6'1" and 160 pounds, and while he played well at Charlotte Christian High School in North Carolina, his size did not make him a top-level college recruit. He really wanted to go to his father’s alma mater, Virginia Tech, but that school would only allow him to enter as a "walk-on." This meant he would have to sit out his entire freshman year.

Finally, he found a "home" at Davidson College, the one school willing to take a chance on him. And after his freshman year, there were probably many other schools that regretted their choice to pass him up. He led the freshman scoring in the entire nation; the team ended up in the NCAA regional finals. Curry left after his junior year and was picked up by Golden State.

Physical Challenges

Lots of injuries and one other medical condition have plagued Curry throughout his career.

No Olympics Yet

In 2016, he turned down the chance to play on the US Olympic team because of an MCL sprain and his higher priority of prepping for the upcoming NBA season. He turned down the next chance in 2020. While many NBA greats have Olympic competition under their belts, Curry has yet to put that notch in his belt.

Keratoconus

So, this isn't a household term. In fact, it's a degenerative eye disease that Curry suffers from. The 2018-2019 season was not going well for Curry. He slid to a 38.7% three-pointer success rate. Finally, in March of that season, he picked up dramatically – 51.4% in a nine-game stretch following the All-Star game. He finally publicly admitted that he had gotten contact lenses because of the condition and could see much better. How the continued degeneration will impact his play in the future is a big unknown.

Ankle Problems

Curry has struggled with right ankle problems on and off throughout his career. In fact, his ankle injuries have meant that he has lost play at some crucial times in the Warriors’ seasons. One of those injury periods was due to a left ankle strain. This has caused some to joke that his ankles are made of glass.

Personal Issues

FTX Scandal

Curry and some other sports celebrities became involved in a cryptocurrency (FTX) investment in 2019. By 2022, the company was in trouble, and there was a run on cashing out. There was not enough money to pay out the depositors, and, ultimately, the CEO went to jail. There are now lawsuits from depositors who lost out, and Curry is one of the named defendants.

Parents Divorce

In the spring of 2022, his parents divorced in California, both accusing each other of cheating. This marriage had lasted 33 years, and the basketball "world" was pretty shocked. This obviously affected Curry and his brother who plays for the 76ers. Smartly, he has had little to say about the matter. It’s not like his are the only parents ever to divorce. About 35% of married couples in the U.S. divorce and move on – check it out. Both mom and dad continue to attend his games, and his father has since remarried.

Wife Bullying

Curry is married to Ayesha Disa, a Canadian-American actress, cookbook author, and TV personality. As is typical of people who achieve fame, she has been the subject of a lot of criticism and bullying for her style and her attempts (according to her critics) to look whiter (occasionally going blonde). As stupid as this obviously is, Curry has been pressured by journalists and interviewers about the bullying, defends his wife at every turn, and moves on. The couple has "bigger fish to fry" given that they both have careers and three kids to raise.

Criticism That He Has "Ruined" Basketball

There's no doubt that Curry has revolutionized the game with his own playing style. His elders have criticized the fact that he doesn’t play a traditional game and that kids who play basketball today are trying to emulate his skill for three-pointers rather than focus on the basics of the game. Again, Curry brushes most of this off, is pretty nonchalant about it all, and continues to do what he does.

Curry's Legacy

This man is a fan favorite. His jerseys, in fact, are the most sold in sports apparel stores. Some of this may stem from the fact that he has often been seen as the “underdog” in the game because of his size. His approach seems to be to wear down the larger, taller players and skirt around until he gets in the right position to take his shots. He will go down in basketball history as the player who beat the odds by his size and who canonized the three-point shot.