In a recent interview with San Jose Mercury News Columnist Tim Kawakami, Stephen Curry finally explained his famous chest tap, sky-pointing celebration after hitting a big three-point shot:
-Q: The tap on your chest and point to the sky after a three-pointer at a big moment…
-CURRY: Back in college my freshman year, my mom and I started that. Every time after the national anthem stopped, I’d find her in the stands whenever she came to my game and we’d do the sign to each other.
Basically means ‘have a heart for God.’ It keeps the perspective for me why I play the game and where my strength comes from.
I started to do it just to her and then it became a thing after I made it. After each play, after I made a shot.It’s been a good kind of grounding.
-Q: Seems to frame the moment mentally for you.
-CURRY: I’ll have a celebration or what-not for a clutch-time play, but at the end of it you’re going to see that sign, because it does keep my perspective; as Anderson Varejao would say, keeps me humble.
In the interview, Curry also touched on many other interesting subjects including his “Lock in!” tweet, sprint to the rim pre-game routine, and more.
Stephen Curry, 28, was named Most Valuable Player for a second consecutive season last week. Curry is the first player in NBA history to win the award unanimously, with every single voter electing to choose him as their top vote for the award.
In 79 appearances with the Warriors this season, Stephen Curry averaged a career-best 30.1 points and shot 45% from deep. Curry helped guide the Warriors to a 73-9 record, otherwise known as the greatest single season of all time.
Curry’s pre-game and in-game mannerisms help him stay focused, motivated, and concentrated on the task at hand. His sights are now set on the Western Conference Finals, where they play the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 Monday night.
