Exponential Effort - Finding Your Love of Labor

Last week we looked at Steph Curry’s shooting percentages, and noted that his shooting skills were matched by an equally impressive ability to get open in the first place - leading to an incredible number of attempts from the field. You might have the best skills in the world, but if you can’t hustle to get open and take your shot - those skills will go to waste. This is true no matter what kind of court you are playing on!

So let’s look more closely about the Love of Labor that drives this incredible performance. Here’s the best shooter in the game - still working on the small things in every practice. Watch a great coach, coaching one of the greatest.

Now, here is a different set of drills, with excellent commentary linking his practice routine with game time results.

Last but not least - let’s talk sheer will to out-hustle the competition.:

“The way that he’s able to affect the game by being able to run around and play off the ball and get himself open, it’s just tough on a defender because you can’t take a break,” Celtics guard Marcus Smart said. “The instant you think that he’s not doing anything, the play is over for him. That’s when you get beaten. That’s when you get burnt. That’s when this mentality comes in, ‘you’ve got to stay ready, you can’t give up, you’ve got to keep going.’”

Curry has kept that mentality through every workout that requires him to shoot proficiently and quickly. After completing those tasks through strong marksmanship, sheer will and utter exhaustion, Curry has set out to perform the same way on a bigger stage during the Warriors’ latest title run.

“What you do in the summer shows up in moments like these,” Curry said. “So, doing my job.”

“It’s not like he’s in love with this grinding, hard and ridiculous process,” Payne said. “He’s in love with getting better. He just has to put up with the process to get there.”

Steph Curry has reached a place where maybe the only player he can really compete against is himself. Fortunately, it’s a competition and Labor of Love that he absolutely loves.

Putting it all together for the win…