As a Lakers Fan, watching a documentary on Stephen Curry would not be on the top of my list but it should definitely be on yours. You do not have to be an NBA analyst to know the name of Stephen Curry and his effect on basketball. He single-handedly revitalized a franchise and ushered a dynasty of championships. Stephen Curry: Underrated directed by Peter Nicksand produced by Ryan Coogler (Creed, Black Panther) takes us on a journey to show the evolution of one of the greatest basketball players of this generation.
One of the most challenging things about documentaries is engaging the audience and keeping them attentive about a story where they already know how it ends. Stephen Curry: Underrated was up to the challenge. It emphasizes the ridicule that Stephen Curry faced in high school, college, and in his early years in the NBA. It connects with the audience because every single person in this world has faced criticism and has been told they were not “good enough.” I am a bit disappointed that the documentary did not show more footage or narrative about Stephen Curry’s shooting drills and training on how he elevated his game on becoming an absolute sniper anywhere on the court.
The parallel of Stephen Curry’s journey at Davidson College and his NBA career with Golden State was very creative and had me on the edge of my seat during the Davidson Wildcats vs Kentucky Jayhawks scenes. It was one of those films during a movie that you wish ended differently but, unfortunately, this is based on true events so the ending cannot change.
As someone who enjoys the competitiveness attitude towards athletes, you can feel the devastation of Stephen Curry and his teammates when they lost in the Elite 8 and the frustration of when he gets injured during his NBA season. The documentary was able to capture it and made us feel as if we were part of the team. Although the documentary was brief, like Chef Curry, it did not MISS!
Stephen Curry: Underrated premieres July 21, 2023 on Apple TV+.
