Golden: The Miraculous Rise of Steph Curry

by Marcus Thompson

ALL-ACCESS LOOK AT STEPH CURRY AND THE 2017 NBA CHAMPIONS GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

Golden is the first book to provide an all-access look at Steph Curry and the team that has fueled Dub Nation—by longtime Warriors beat reporter and Bay Area News Group sports columnist Marcus Thompson, the go-to expert on all things Golden State.

A lifelong Warriors fan turned insider Thompson is uniquely qualified to tell the definitive story of a singular talent, pulling back the curtain on the crazy work ethic and on-court intensity that make Curry great—and the emphasis on family and faith that keeps him grounded.

Combining the competitive grit and fun-loving spirit of his mother with the mild demeanor, easy charm, and sharp shooting of his father, former NBA player Dell Curry, Steph Curry derives support and strength from his close-knit kin and his commitment to Christianity. This hard-working, wholesome image however is both a blessing and curse in a League of big personalities. Thompson unravels the complicated underpinnings of the Steph Curry hate with a nuanced analysis of how class and complexion come into play when a child with an NBA pedigree becomes the face of a sport traditionally honed on inner-city black top and dominated by the less privileged.

With unprecedented access, Thompson draws from exclusive interviews with Steph Curry, his family, his teammates, Coach Steve Kerr, and the Warriors owners to bring readers inside the locker room and courtside with this remarkable athlete and man.

Genres: Sports, Biography, Basketball, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Memoir, Audiobook

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Anna Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for any Steph Curry fan or Golden State Warriors fan. This book details multiple aspects of Curry's life and rise to stardom: his background, his play style, his past NBA experiences, his family life, why so many current NBA stars don't seem to give him the respect he deserves, his underdog status and the hurdles he's had to overcome to get to where he is now. Marcus Thompson II writes in a clear, informative and at times humorous style that I really enjoyed. Thompson is co-host of the Warriors Plus/Minus podcast as well as the co-host of the Dray Day podcast with Draymond Green and he has been a Bay Area journalist for years, so he is one of the most reliable sources for Warriors facts and info. I also enjoyed his retellings of games that were big-deal games for Curry; it helped me feel like I was there and it was also fun to read as I remember watching some of those games at the time.

This is a great biography in itself of an extremely influential player and human being, whether you're into basketball or not. But if you are into basketball or are a big Curry fan, you will find everything you're looking for right here. I shamelessly wore my 30 jersey the whole time I was reading (it added to the experience!).

[Favian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although Marcus Thompson II means well, his insight into Steph Curry's ascent to superstardom is all over the place. Breaking down a story thematically has its pitfalls from a reader's perspective. It was difficult to keep track of the timeline. When he mentions Kevin Durant at the start of the paragraph, I have no idea if he was still with the Oklahoma City Thunder or already with the Golden State Warriors. He did not bring fresh insight that we already knew from following the media circus.

[Grace Sanchez · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you want to know every last detail about the Golden State Warriors though 2016 then this is your book. I enjoyed the details about Steph Curry’s training and family and some details about the Warriors but there was a lot of repetition about some of the big series that they played. He continues to amaze and I appreciate him as a great human being who practices generosity and wish there was more about that side of him. It also seems a bit too soon for this story to be told.

[Barnabas Piper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Closer to 3.5 stars, really. This more a series of vignettes than a bio or deep dive into a season. It was fascinating, and my respect for Steph went even higher. Portions were captivating and offered fantastic insights into what makes Steph such a sensation and a great basketball player. Other portions dragged and felt like Thompson was turning columns into chapters. For basketball fans it is a fun, quick read.

[Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Steph Curry hagiography more than a biography. I didn't mind because I am a Steph fan. Being more than a casual Warrior fan didn't learn much new. Think a newer fan would probably learn more about the Warriors and the two time MVP.

[CJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book but not great. It's just a little too soon for the Steph Curry story. The book mostly covers the two year period in which Curry truly ascended but that leads to it being a little repetitive. Steph deserves to have his story told, just not today.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really wanted to like this book. Liked the behind the breakdown of some of the classic games through the years, showing how special curry is. Book was just all over the place. Couldn’t understand the sequence of the book and it was often repetitive and overly generic in his descriptions of Curry. Was hoping for more insight in the draft, why he didn’t want warriors, more on his strengthening to take load off ankles. More on reaction to Jackson being let go... mostly the order of book was just confusing—jumping around too much.

[Poonam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is pretty dull. The chapters are more like essays that could stand on their own. I follow basketball pretty closely and this book was full of publicly available knowledge. Was hoping for more of an insiders view, since the author has covered the Warriors for a long time. Sadly it wasn’t there. There aren’t any interviews with players, coaches, staff, etc. It comes across as a book quickly cobbled together by a Warriors beat writer who’s trying to capitalize on Steph’s fame.

[Brendan Landeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not meant for people very familiar with the Warriors run of the last decade. Not much new information, lots of stories you've heard time and time again about Steph Curry and the team in general with a couple new one's sprinkled in.

[Hristina Tserovska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Стеф Къри е играчът, заради когото преоткрих любовта си към НБА. Изпълненията му от зоната за 3 точки са феноменални. Помня как бях доста скептична относно това слабовато дребничко момче с бебешко лице, когато преди няколко години ме накараха да изгледам няколко негови коша от изумителни разстояния. Той правеше просто нереални неща в спорт, доминиран от височина и атлетизъм.
За жалост обаче книгата не разкрива много за личността на Стеф или любопитни факти за пътят му към успеха с Голдън Стейт Уориърс. Повечето неща могат да се прочетат в едно обикновено търсене в интернет. Има прекалено много статистика, а главите са доста разпокъсани времево. От сегашната звезда Къри, през годините му в колеж, после пак в наши дни...Различно е когато спортистът е написал собствената си автобиография, така че се надявам и такава да бъде издадена в скоро време.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the reason why I fell in love with the Golden State Warriors and especially with Steph Curry. His journey from being a highly doubted prospect in college and the 2009 NBA draft to the greatest shooter in the history of the sport and one of the greatest point guards the NBA has ever seen is more than inspiring. Marcus Thompson is creating a clear picture of the path Steph Curry took. Shattering all shooting records at Davidson College, coming into the NBA doing the same thing again.

Thanks to Marcus Thompson, your book was one of the main reasons why I fell in love with the game of basketball!

[Sue Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a big time Warriors fan going through a bit of a withdrawal after the conclusion of this past victorious season, this book was very satisfying and informative. I especially appreciated the insight into Steph's character, resilience, faith, and motivation. Very well written and highly recommended!

[Dallin Kohler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine you give a little kid a pen and paper and tell them to squiggle a single line (no picking up the pen) for a whole minute. That's the shape of the storyline of this book. The paragraph-level writing was great, but the overall structure and flow was awful.

Steph is so great though that the book was still good.

[Muthu Chidambaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biased because I love Steph/Marcus but a really personal examination of why Steph means so much/inspires so many.

[August Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marcus Thompson never disappoints. Nobody has the Warriors, and Curry, as dialed with prose like this.

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Golden State Warriors nerdirific, will give you conversation points as you watch Warrior games with fwends.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of my book is golden by Marcus Thompson. My book is mainly about the basketball player Stephen Curry. It talks about Curry through his college and NBA career. Also about his injuries and how he fought through them. The author does a good job on getting different players / coaches points of views on curry. I think people who like sports impartiality basketball because it talks about a basketball player.

[Kevin Dieu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for all Curry fans!

[Liam M · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was good

[Joel Alfaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Golden: The Miraculous Rise of Steph Curry by Marcus Thompson is about the life of Steph Curry. The book follows the life of Curry from his early life and struggles to make the team. It also tells the story of how he wasn't recruited by any major college and attended a small division I school called Davidson. It is here at Davidson where Curry begins to rise as a basketball player. He is eventually drafted in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. I recommend this book to any Curry fan or NBA fan.

[Paul Kapellas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book lacks focus. From the start the reader is to trust the the author, Marcus Thompson, is an authority on Steph Curry. He lacks quotes, interviews or insights from those close to Steph to make points, instead relying on his own observations as a beat writer and displaying them as law. This rings false when he describes Curry as “wanting to use his talents to do evil.” Something any fair-weathered Warriors fan knows is simply not true. The narrative is not chronological which gives off a sense of redundancy when Thompson tries to make a point. Then there’s just blatant redundancy in chapters. The bizarre tangent on Jamal Crawford and comparison of Curry to Crawford is the low point of the book - and plain weird.
All that aside there are some interesting facts and anecdotes that are nice to be reminded of. It’ll pass as a reference for a future biographer in a couple decades but this book will not be the authoritative text it tries to be now. When time has passed and future generations are trying to learn more about Curry there will be better books to reference - hopefully.

[Joe Boenzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just before the release of "Golden", I saw an interview with sports columnist and author Marcus Thompson II on NBC Bay Area Sports. I preordered the book and read it quickly during the 2016-2017 NBA season. I just completed a second read now.

As a sports writer, Marcus Thompson offers more than a biographical study; he analyzes many aspects of two-time MVP Steph Curry's family upbringing, training, character and challenges that have made him a game-changer for pro basketball in the second decade of the 21st century. Curry, at 6' 3" was considered two small to compete in the NBA, and yet in many ways, Steph Curry has changed the Golden State Warriors and the NBA. This is what makes Marcus Thompson's study a must read (I feel) for parents and coaches, for Curry and the Warriors have returned basketball to the status of a team sport, a home-town game - a game that is fun to play and a joy to watch, and which unites a community for the good.

[Aria Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, must read book for Curry fans, but it could have (and should have) been quite a bit shorter with less repetition and amature psychology. But there's some good insider info and fun tidbits for fans. And for anyone who started following Curry in the last couple years there's a lot of good backstory on how he got to where he is.

[Donny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marcus Thompson II does an excellent job highlighting the key moments of Stephen Curry's rise to one of the most iconic NBA players of his generation. Those who have been fans of the Warriors at any point during their rise will not find much new information, but Thompson makes up for this by going in-depth on Curry's cultural importance throughout his career.

[Bill Forgeard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Steph is a fascinating character, and Marcus Thompson might be the best guy to write a book about him - but this wasn't the book. The topical chapter structure was the main culprit - it made the book disjointed and repetitive, despite a few highlight sections.

[Elijah Brown]

On a scale of 1-10 how dedicated are you to what you love? Have you ever gone over 10? Stephen Curry has. Throughout his childhood, Stephen was always the underdog, he was always smaller and deemed of as worse. So with that being the case he made sure to out work all those doubters and get to where he is today.
In this inspiring story author Marcus Thompson the second uses a lot of anecdotes to develop the character development Stephen Curry went through to get to the NBA and have the life he does right now.
At the beginning of his life Curry was raised around basketball, being a son of former NBA player Dell Curry. And through this he fell in love with the game. He would grasp at any chance to get to watch or play basketball no matter what. As he got older and kids around him started hitting their growth spurts he hadn't. This caused major conflict because now he was one of the smallest guys on the court and he couldn't do much about it. But, overall his will to play the sport he loves allowed him to continue to train to be able to shoot in a way that can’t be blocked as well as gaining a crafty handle.
As he was coming out of high school being just a 3 star recruit not many colleges thought he was ready or able to play basketball at the next level because of his scrawny nature. Davidson, a small private college in North Carolina, took a chance on him however. This however turned out to be one of the best decisions they ever made as Steph in college became a household name while torching teams in March Madness(college basketball tournament). This also led to even bigger names like Lebron James coming to watch him play and see what all the hype is about.
After his Junior year he announced for the 2009 NBA draft and was selected 7th overall by the Golden State Warriors. At first he didn't want to do anything with this franchise as they were a poverty franchise at the time, but he stuck it through and decided to play for them. His first couple seasons in the league were injury riddled as he had numerous ankle injuries and surgeries. But after the 2013-2014 season he finally broke out into the all-star a lot of people knew he could be. And after that season he didn't slow down, as the following seasons he won multiple MVPs and championships as well as winning the most games in a regular season surpassing Michael Jordan's Bull’s and going 73-9.
Overall this story is a great read as it explains the trials and tribulations Steph had to go through to become this household name. As well as how it resonates with the reader about how hard you have to be willing to work if you want to accomplish your dreams, and that they won’t just be handed to you.

[Kiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't plan to read any sports books this year, or ever again in my life really. I like sports but aside from championship games I don't keep up with many teams. My students love the NBA, and I get dragged into debates about who's the greatest now and again. I let my seniors watch part of the NBA finals this year and starting reading more articles to be able to develop my thoughts and communicate with them about it. The only thoughts I've had about the NBA since Jordan retired the second time were that I don't think Lebron is better than him, and I miss the 90's Bulls. Pathetic in many ways, I know. But the more I read about Steph Curry, the more I enjoyed watching him play. And the more I watched him play the more I wanted to know about him. So I found the current definitive book about him and I'm glad I did. It's not that the author is that great a writer, but Steph's life and character are so strange for the times and context he's in. What's strange isn't that he exists, but that he's center stage as a global phenom. He and his entire family are devout Christians, with deep commitments to protecting themselves from the pitfalls that come with fame and fortune. What Steph's new teammate Kevin Durant said of him recently in the post game interview after Steph grabbed his second championship ring, that the rumors of Steph's humility are true, is a clear reality present through the entirely of his life based on his faith. His game and work ethic, and the way he doesn't get too high with the highs, or too low with the lows, combined with his proven success even though he doesn't fit the typical mold, are a testament to the affects of the fruits of the Spirit. I wanted a light and fun read and I got one. On top of that I felt inspired by an athlete for the first time since my childhood Jordan moments. I've been going on basketball shooting dates with my wife, and taking time to shoot with students after school a few days a week. I'm happy knowing a brother is the face of the NBA, and that I can tell my students he's a role model worth emulating on and off the court. He's an example of leadership through character and humility instead of power and force.

[Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steph Curry revolutionized the game of basketball with his unprecedented shooting range and his ability to dribble. Marcus Thompson sets out on a quest to look at the super Steph Curry and share how he forever changed the game of basketball. Starting the book I respected Curry's game but was not a fan. Thompson shared so much from Steph's life: his upbringing, faith, opportunities, disappointments, struggles, successes, risks, and fears leaving the reader to see this superstar as just a normal person. That I believe is the strength of this book, Mr. Thompson's inside look at Steph's life and his ability to help us see Steph's vulnerability. However, the way in which he wrote the book is difficult to follow. From the title one would gather that there would be some sort of order or progression of Steph's life instead of randomly covering different topics and events through Steph's life. That to me is the greatest weakness: one minute you are talking about Steph being voted on to be the MVP next you are taken back to his college days, then brought back to his struggles with his teammates only to be quickly led back to his childhood days in Canada...this jumping definitely left me wishing there was some type of order or timeline. However, if the authors intend was to show the reader the "real" Steph Curry I would say he was rather successful. I finished the book having a greeting respect for Curry and possibly even being able to cheer for him. I wish I could give more stars but due to the writing style and flow of the book...three stars was pushing it. It's a shame because there was really good content in this book.

[Jackson Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book that I have been reading a lot, the book is called Golden by Marcus Thompson II. If I was to give this book an overall rating based on its content, I would probably rate it a nine out of ten. The reason that I would rate this book a nine out if ten is because I could make a lot of personal connections to the characters in this book and it was very interesting to read. The reason that I think it was very interesting and entertaining to read is because of the way the author wrote everything. It was not hard to notice that Marcus Thompson II, the author of Golden, was very skilled. I also think it was very entertaining because the book is about Stephen Curry, who is a professional basketball player who plays for the Golden State Warriors located in San Francisco, California. In my opinion, one of the most interesting and fun parts to read about in this book was when they are talking about his games. Sometimes they will explain some of his better games and even some of his bad games. They are very fun to read about as I can relate to this and feel the same way that Stephen Curry feels after some of his wins and losses. One of the parts that I can really agree to in this book is when Gregg Popovich said, “ I’ve spent more time thinking about Golden State than I have any other team I’ve ever thought about in my whole career. Because they are really fun. I’d go buy a ticket and go watch them play”(page 29). I can agree with Greg Popovich as I have seen the Golden State warriors play before and I have to say it was the most entertaining game of basketball that I have ever witnessed. Also I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it to any athlete out there.

[Brayden Ricco · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Golden” by Marcus Thompson
“Success is not an accident, success is actually a choice.”
This is a quote by Steph Curry and this is a very important quote. This is important because success doesn’t just fall to you, you need to work for it.
The book, “Golden,” By Marcus Thompson, describes Steph Curry’s journey to get into the NBA and become one of the greatest players. First, Steph Curry went to play college basketball for Davidson college and played with his brother. Him and his brother were very successful so they then declared for the NBA draft. Steph Curry was a higher draft pick than his brother, Seth Curry, and now they are both succeeding in the NBA today. Stephen Curry is a professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors. I would recommend this book to anybody who is interested in basketball. I would recommend this book to somebody because it’s a really good informational book about Steph Curry’s life to get where he is today and is a very inspiring story that many people would like.I really like how the author included pictures in the middle of the book that shows Curry’s timeline. One picture that I thought was really interesting was Steph Curry next to his brother with the same Jersey on. I thought that this was pretty crazy because they are both playing for the same college and both going into the NBA draft. I don’t believe there is anything that this author can improve on. Therefore, this is a really good book that I would definitely recommend to anybody who is a big basketball fan or anyone who likes Steph Curry. Star rating 5/5