American Icons: Stephen Curry

If you’re a fan of the NBA, then tonight’s draft is your version of Christmas.

Regardless of where your favorite team is picking, you’re hoping they’ll draft the next Michael Jordan (3rd overall, 1984) and not the next Sam Bowie (2nd overall, 1984).

Every year, there are players who are assessed primarily by their physical attributes. They are too slow. They are too short. They are too skinny.

Stephen Curry is one such basketball player who has fought these types of labels his entire life. In high school he was overlooked by Duke, North Carolina and Kentucky. The book on him was that he was too short, too small and would never excel at the college level.

Of course, he proved them wrong.

Following his junior year, Curry declared for the NBA draft. The same doubts that college coaches had about his game followed him as he made the transition to the pros. Stephen Curry was bypassed not once, not twice, but six times before Golden State nabbed him with the seventh pick in the first round.

The knock on him was the same: Curry was too short, too small.

Again, he proved them wrong.

Last week, Curry led his Golden State Warriors to their first NBA championship since 1975, silencing the critics and the doubters once and for all.

For all that the scouting reports could tell about Curry, they could not assess his heart, his dedication and his passion for a game that he truly loves. And because of that, Curry is a modern day NBA icon.

Now, we have to wonder: who will be the Stephen Curry of tonight’s draft?

In honor of athletes like Stephen Curry who keep persevering despite what others say, we’re offering a 20% discount on all Nike, Oakley and Maui Jim, all brands that cater to those who excel both on the court and off it.  From now through Sunday 6/27, use discount code NBA2015 at checkout.

Words of an Icon:  “What I tell people is be the best version of yourself in anything that you do. You don’t have to live anybody else’s story." – Stephen Curry