The Right Steph: How Stephen Curry is Making All the Right Moves-with Humility and Grace

by Mike Yorkey

Steph You Can’t Keep Your Eyes Off of Him
 
In a few short years, Stephen Curry has reshaped the way basketball is played, been proclaimed the best shooter in basketball history, and has been lauded by pundits as the best player on the planet.  Stephen has been named the NBA’s most valuable player for the past two seasons, led the Golden State Warriors to its first NBA championship in forty years during the 2014-15 season, and opened his heart in such a way that America has fallen head-over-heels in love with him and his endearing family.

Likable, humble, soft-spoken, and living out his faith—using words only when necessary—Stephen Curry is one of those nice guys you’d want to meet or have your kids emulate. We feel like we’re on a first-name basis with the young man, so much so that he’s now known by the diminutive form of his first Steph.

In this fun, fact-filled biography, veteran author Mike Yorkey describes how Steph Curry has taken over a popular game that brings together a basket, a leather ball, and a flick of a wrist from beyond the three-point line—all the while with his family cheering him on.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Sports

141 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2016

Reviews

[Tim Baumgartner · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you watch basketball you KNOW the way basketball is played around the world has been changed FOREVER…and Steph Curry has influenced the latest evolution—with the 3-point shot. Nowadays, people spread the court and shoot 3’s WAY more than they used to. Before Curry came into the NBA, the most 3’s MADE were 269 [Ray Allen]. Now, the record is 402! What a difference!!! Now, other individuals and even teams have completely changed their philosophy of how to play the game and are shooting over 1,000 per season. What a change from 1979 when Boston Celtic, Chris Ford shot the first 3 in NBA history! Most people viewed it as a gimmick back then.

This book shared some very insightful things about basketball, but also about his family upbringing and off-the-court interests (i.e. marriage, golf, marketing/business ventures, etc.). Steph’s story is told as a part of author Mike Yorkey’s Playing with Purpose Series, which tells of other professional athletes who are purposefully living for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, I appreciated how Yorkey shared stories and facts about how Curry came to faith, along with family members, but also how he is a real, imperfect human being (but still needs a Savior and Lord).

I think this book would be a great pick up from the middle school age on up, but it’s not just a book for ‘dumb athletes.’ It can also be for student-athletes who strive to perform in the classroom (and like to challenge and engage their minds) AND on the court.

MY NOTES FROM THE BOOK:
Introduction:
[Jeremy Lin is]…the first Asian-American to step onto an NBA court. (A Japanese-American player, Wataru Misaka, played three games for the New York Knicks back in 1947 when the Knicks were part of the Basketball Association America, or BAA.) (5-6)

The correct pronunciation is Steff-in, not Steff-on or Steev-en. But a Nike big shot botched it at a closed-door meeting with Steph after his shoe deal expired in 2013 [which led him to sign with Under Armor]. (11)

Ch. 2: Shooting From the Hip
Steph was the first in the birth order, which greatly affects personality. Dr. Kevin Leman, a Christian psychologist and author of The Birth Order Book, said firstborns are natural leaders who tend to be reliable, conscientious, and perfectionistic. They don’t like surprises. (27)

…the day I gave my life to Christ. I was in fourth grade (30)


When Steph attended the Centrl Church of God in his teen years, he met a cute girl in the youth group. Ayesha Alexander (57)

…he [Kevin Plank, founder of Under Armor] drove to New York’s garment district and ordered sample t-shirts made with this new technology. (72)


Jeff Ryan [local pastor and chaplain for the Orlando Magic] gave a short message after the Sandy Hook Elementary School trajedy. (80)
[Message and his prayer on pages 81-2]

[After Steph was having too many turnovers, his mom challenged him:]
If you make more than three turnovers in a game, you pay me $100 per turnover, and if you make less than three turnovers per game, you get to take back $100 from the pot. (113) [It helped him out though!]

[Kyle Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mainly watch the NBA once the playoffs start, so I am familiar with Steph Curry, but I knew very little about him as a person until I read this book. The author, Mike Yorkey, writes a series called "Playing With Purpose" in which he profiles athletes that exhibit a strong faith in Christ. This series is well known and very popular among Christian sports fans, particularly impressionable young athletes. This book is an unauthorized biography, so it includes lots of direct quotes that come from interviews, speeches, and other publications. I feel that the author conjectures a lot about people's feelings, things they may have said or thought, or how they may have reacted. That being said, this book also presents a lot of facts about Steph Curry, including his upbringing, his school years, his professional career, his family life, and his faith. Overall this book is very interesting and very well written.

Steph Curry accepted Christ when he was in the fourth grade. His parents exhibited a strong faith in God, and they were dedicated to raising their children to walk with Christ. Steph attended Christian schools from elementary through high school. He has two life verses, both of which you can find in some form on his signature shoes: Romans 8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose", and Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." If you've ever seen Curry play you've undoubtedly seen his trademark move of thumping his chest followed by pointing to the sky. He says "I like to point towards the Man who died for our sins on the cross. Basically it means have a heart for God. It keeps the perspective for me, why I play the game and where my strength comes from."

One thing I learned in this book is that a chapel service is held one hour before every NBA game - regular season and playoffs - and players from both teams are welcome to attend. One of Curry's former Golden State coaches, Mark Jackson, was also a pastor, and he emphasized the importance of attending chapel. The author points out that around ten of the fourteen players on the Gokden State roster regularly attend chapel. All sports offer regular chapel services, but the frequency and duration varies.

Ayesha Curry is also featured in one section of the book. Along with her strong commitment to Christ, the author also focuses on her role as wife, mother, entrepreneur, author, and possibly TV star. She has a book titled "The Seasoned Life: Food, Family, Faith, and the Joy of Eating Well" that is set to be published this fall, and also a possible TV show on Food Network that would premiere around the same time.

I would recommend this book to all Christians, especially those who are sports fans, and also young athletes looking for a respectable role model. I received this as a free ARC from Shiloh Run Press, Barbour Publishing, on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Viki Ferrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I became a Curry family fan when Steph Curry’s brother Seth played for the Duke Blue Devils. The cameras always caught Steph’s parents, Dell and Sonya, in the stands. The commentators always had good things to say about the Curry family. Mike Yorkey brings us an unauthorized biography (with extensive references documented) about Steph Curry in his book, THE RIGHT STEPH, that heralds the upbringing of this young man and the influence his family has had on him to live a Godly life by his example.

Mr. Yorkey chronicles the life of Steph Curry from before he was born, with details about his parents’ lives, how they were raised and how they have had such an influence on Steph, right through the most recent NBA Championship games. Steph inherited an awesome set of athletic genes from both parents, but also a strong spiritual foundation and a great faith in God. Steph comes from a wealthy background with private schooling and coaching, so he had a privileged upbringing, but it by no means spoiled him. His mother, Sonya, saw to that and has been a tremendous influence in keeping him humble.

Steph’s dad set a good example for him, not only with the technical aspect of the game of basketball, but also in how to behave both on and off the court. Dell Curry had a great influence in molding Steph’s character and talent and molding him into the phenome he is today. Mr. Yorkey gives us a glimpse into NBA player’s salaries, endorsements and merchandise deals, their security and the challenges NBA players face in today’s world, both on and off the court, apart from playing the game.

THE RIGHT STEPH is a great addition to Mike Yorkey’s Playing with Purpose Series about NBA players who are serious about their faith in God. Stephen Curry has the right stuff to bring fans back to the NBA in the way that he plays the game and lives his life. He’s a great role model for kids. Steph is virtually reshaping the way the game is played and doing it with a quiet charisma. I think a broad spectrum of ages will certainly enjoy this book, from future NBA stars that are now playing middle school basketball to seasoned fans. I highly recommend it!

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great story about Steph Curry. I learned the interesting story of Steph Curry, my favorite basketball player EVER!!!!!!

[Thomas Uhl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like it because i got in to it

[Aharo]

The central idea of this book is that Stephen Curry play college basketball for Davision. His dad Dell Curry play for Hornets and Curry wanted to see his dad play.Stephen Curry got drafted in 2009 for the warriors. Curry went to the finals