Being an elite shooter requires both skill and the right mindset. Without a good mindset, nothing substantial can be achieved within basketball. A player that has mastered every element of shooting is none other than Stephen Curry. His shooting ability and approach to the game make him arguably the greatest shooter of all time. So let’s break down his shooting mentality in detail.

Something that we miss from an incredible shooter like Steph is how he handles himself after every missed shot. Curry has shot almost 8,000 times from the three throughout his entire career, so he can’t always contemplate an unsuccessful shot, which has allowed him to maintain an incredible 40 percent shot accuracy. Steph understands that not every shot will be perfect, so he has to be able to miss a few to come back stronger.

His preparation and work ethic, combined with his in-game confidence, allow him to perform at a very high level. In game seven of the Warriors and Kings series, Curry scored 50 points—the most scored in a game seven in NBA history. During this game, Curry put on an unbelievable performance shooting 38 percent from the three and 52 percent from the field goal. Keep in mind that Steph still missed many shots, 18 from the field and 11 from the three, yet he maintained a very high point accumulation. As seen, Curry didn’t let any missed shots dictate his game because he knows how many more opportunities he is going to have.

Giannas Antentekumpo, the star player on the Milwaukee Bucks, said in an interview “The best in the world realize that losing isn’t a failure if you come back stronger”—a phrase that defines Steph’s performance in game seven and the entire Warriors and Kings series.

Curry has always been known to enjoy the process and love the journey. He is effortlessly scoring, while also having fun throughout the game. His ability to have a calm mindset makes him a killer. Most players don’t understand this calm demeanor that comes from Steph as he is constantly hitting three after three. Although Steph is an undersized guard standing at 6’1, he is one of the most dominant shooters of the 2010s–2020s. He knows how to shoot in any position and also has an impressive ball-control ability.

Overall, Steph is such an amazing shooter primarily because of his consistently positive mindset. He has been shooting at an extremely high percentage and ravaging through every plate that comes his way, so he knows that one missed shot will not impact his performance for the rest of the game. Curry can’t waste any time worrying about an unsuccessful shot; instead, he gives his best on defense and gets ready for the next play. His work ethic is simply impeccable.

By Pranav Parlapall