3 factors that make Stephen Curry an offensive genius

#2 Stephen Curry’s consistent shot form and range

Oklahoma City Thunder v Golden State Warriors - Game Seven

ESPN Sports Science calculated Stephen Curry’s release time to be under .46 seconds. He consistently releases the ball with this speed for all three-pointers. This quick release isn’t just a flashy move entertaining the hordes of GSW/Curry fans.

Curry’s release ensures that even with half a second of space, he will make a shot from even thirty feet away. Stephen Curry combines his quick release with a combination of jump shots, including off the dribble, off the screen, and off the pass. So creating just enough space and time, about a foot and .5 seconds, to hurl the ball towards the rim.

☔️ Step(h) Back SPLASH ☔️@StephenCurry30 made 60 of 124 stepback three attempts (48.4%) during the 2020-21 season. pic.twitter.com/EBlZLbeos5

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) July 8, 2021

People often think Stephen Curry’s greatness lies within his range. While that might be true, his range is the consequence of a more obscure skill. To understand his skill better, we must first understand a jump shot better. A jump shot requires multiple necessary movements that create enough power and accuracy to land a shot. One of the important ways to generate power is called the dip.

The dip is when a player bends his knees and lowers his hip and center of gravity to shoot up in the air and release the ball with enough velocity to reach the rim. When shooting from a distance, shooters like Russell Westbrook and John Wall often deepen their dip, bending their knees further to generate more power.

He consistently maintains his dip no matter where he shoots from, be it the logo or the paint, the dip remains the same. Maintaining the same dip decreases the probability of a form error by a large margin. Players that dip deeper see a much lower level of accuracy from far off range because the slightest error at the bending of the knee can cause exponential changes at release.

Instead, Stephen Curry generates power from his wrist flicks and forearms. Every shot attempted by him beyond thirty feet saw a much faster wrist flick creating a higher arc, spin, and power; thus maintaining accuracy.

#3 Stephen Curry's constant off-the-ball movement

A great scorer is not active only when he has the ball, a great scorer is constantly active. To be able to score constantly and lethally, there must be enough space. A good scorer will always try to create space in their preferred zone by outmaneuvering the defender. Whereas an exceptional scorer will create space anywhere on the court and shoot.

But what happens when you have a viper-like release speed, phenomenal layup package, and never-seen-before range? If you find space anywhere on the frontcourt - 5 feet, 26 feet, 30 feet, 35 feet - you can score. Only a few are in the league, Damian Lillard and Jayson Tatum, who come close to the Chef in creating space.

Steph Curry 2020-21 season:— 32.0 PPG (leads NBA)— Oldest to win scoring title since MJ— 38 30-point games (most since MJ)— 337 threes (leads NBA)— 4th 300-three season (most ever)— 7 10-three games (most ever)— 5.3 3PG (most ever)— Broke Warriors all-time scoring record pic.twitter.com/DS84gkjcAv

— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 16, 2021

Stephen Curry constantly moves in and out of screens, set-pieces, and crowds. He doesn’t look for space. He creates it by pulling the defender with him through his on-court gravity, thus stretching the defense, and then moving quickly to a free space where the defender reaches just a second later, too late to stop Stephen Curry.