After 17 NBA seasons, hoop fans around the world already have a solid grasp of Stephen Curry 's greatness. Undoubtedly considered as the greatest shooter the sport has ever seen and a player who, in some circles, is part of the GOAT conversation, the 6'2" guard will be remembered as a bona fide icon when all is said and done.
However, his former teammate, Andre Iguodala , believes that Curry remains one of the most underappreciated athletes in sports history. As somebody who was in the trenches with the Chef for eight seasons, Iggy has witnessed greatness daily, be it in practice, games or even off the court. And he's convinced that to this day, people have no idea just how one-of-a-kind Curry is, both as a basketball player and as a person.
Steph's imprint is clear in today's game. A few decades ago, the 3-pointer was considered a novelty, not a legitimate weapon players and teams could use to punish opponents. However, Steph broke the mold when he joined the league in 2009.
After a slow start due to numerous ankle injuries, the former Davidson ace finally got going during the 2012-13 season, a campaign that saw him take 600 3-pointers and make 272 of them.
From that point on, Curry never looked back as his attempts and makes from long distance rose with each passing season, culminating in a record-shattering 402 makes during the 2015-16 season. Iguodala asserted that even with two MVP trophies (one unanimous), four rings and an NBA Finals MVP trophy, most hoop and sports fans don't truly grasp his greatness.
"They'll never know, they'll never understand," Iguodala stressed during a conversation with former NBA champion Richard Jefferson . "Even now, they'll never understand how good he really is."
Jefferson jokingly chimed in that Curry possesses such genuine kindness and authenticity that it's annoying, especially for people who are just trying to get by being decent.
"It's also kind of annoying how good of a person he is. Like, you're a good person, but you're also…" Jefferson told Iguodala. "Steph is a legitimately good person."
"There's something about it that makes you wonder, 'Why are you so nice?'" he added.
"There's got to be something there that we don't know," Iggy responded.
As nasty as Curry is on a basketball court, hitting long-range bombs that deflate an opponent's morale faster than a punctured tire, he really, truly is a godsend to the basketball world and the community. From the "Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation" that he co-founded with his wife, Ayesha, which helps support children's nutrition, reading, and active lifestyles in the Bay Area, to his many other charitable initiatives, Curry has made it his mission to do what he can to uplift others.
As Hall of Famer and Golden State legend Chris Mullin once put it, Curry is a "treasure" who needs to be appreciated while he's still around.
"Steph Curry is a treasure. He really is. On the court, his dynamic shooting, movement without the ball, the joy, and passion he plays with every single night. The energy, truly a joy to watch him perform on the court, his leadership – quiet but effective, leads by example," Mullin remarked .
"But to me, what makes it extra special is the way he conducts himself with humility, grace. The way he treats his teammates, whether it be the guys who start with him or the guys at the end of the bench, he treats everyone with respect and dignity," he continued.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
