Steph Curry lifts lid on how elite athletes conquer nerves on the biggest stage

Even basketball titans like Steph Curry aren't immune to pre-game jitters. In a pivotal December game against Phoenix, the Golden State Warriors star deliberately smiled before sinking two crucial free throws, securing a narrow 119-116 victory. Despite his outward composure, Curry later admitted the calm was a facade, revealing that even after 17 years in the NBA and at 38 years old, nerves still strike when the stakes are highest.

"That’s more mental warfare for me to just enjoy the moment," Curry explained. "I don’t care how many free throws you’ve made, when you need two of them, you do get nervous, so the smile is more to kind of embrace the moment and enjoy it instead of overthinking or worrying about mechanics or anything. “So I’ve been doing that a lot lately, like last couple years, just playing mind games with myself and enjoying the moment.

" This candid admission from one of basketball's all-time greats offers solace to other professionals, highlighting that even the elite grapple with anxiety. Such openness about mental struggles, once rare in professional sports, is becoming more common amidst a growing global conversation about mental health. Dave Roberts, manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have clinched the last two World Series titles, was present at Chase Center to witness Curry's decisive free throws.

Dave Roberts was present when Curry held his nerve (Getty Images) Having seen his own players perform under immense pressure in October playoffs, Roberts reflected on Curry's honesty. "I think that’s telling that Steph would say that and there is an innate fear in people to fail in big spots or to be nervous. I think it’s just important to admit it at times and then kind of move on from there," Roberts stated this spring.