At 4:02 in the first half, the camera picks up a blur in the corner of the frame. Stephen Curry gets a pass from a teammate in the opening NBA Finals game, dribbles past a swarming defender, and scores a 3-pointer.

The camera also records Curry as he swiftly puts his fist to his chest after making a basket and gestures to the Oracle Arena RAFters in Oakland, California. Curry used this as a means of giving thanks to God for the win over the Cavaliers that evening.

Curry had a fantastic regular season, but his performance under the lights was even more stunning. Curry beat the mark he had set two years prior with 286 three-pointers this season.

Curry was named the NBA Most Valuable Player due to his amazing shooting abilities, the Golden State Warriors’ 67-win campaign, and their position as the top seed in the Western Conference Playoffs.

Curry eventually won MVP after six years in the league, defeating players like LeBron James and James Harden. Unlike some other superstars, Curry gives credit to God rather than pure talent and a love of the game for his success in the NBA.

My talents to play this game are ultimately a result of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. “It is impossible to overstate how important my faith is to who I am and how I play the game.” Curry said in his MVP acceptance speech.

Long before he became well-known, Curry made the decision to follow Christ while he was still in middle school. In an interview with active Faith, Curry revealed that he made the decision after hearing from the youth pastor that he and his classmates needed to make the decision freely, without contacting their parents.

Curry’s deep religious convictions drive him to always seek out opportunities to give back to the less fortunate.

Curry joined the Nothing but Nets campaign in 2012, the same year he made his first 3-pointer. Sports writer Rick Reilly started the program, which entails giving out bed nets that have been sprayed with pesticide. Curry made 816 three-pointers in 2012, which is three for each assist he got. Having broken the previous record, Curry plans to supply even more bed nets this year.

Stephen Curry’s family’s love and support have played a major role in his growth as a Christian and NBA star. Stephen Curry’s father, Dell, was a sixteen-year NBA player who won the 1994 Sixth Man of the Year award. Sonya, Stephen’s mother, excelled while playing volleyball for Virginia Tech.

In his MVP award speech, Curry reflected on the first middle school game he ever missed because his parents punished him for being lazy. Curry went on, “Tell your teammates I won’t be able to play tonight because I neglected to do the dishes at home,” wearing a cheeky smile. He acknowledged that it was a really awkward time.

When asked what the most influential aspects of his childhood were, Curry cited discipline and faith. The Davidson College Wildcats advanced all the way to the Elite Eight in 2008 under Curry’s leadership before falling to the tournament winners, Kansas. Everyone’s attention were focused on the nimble guard with the smooth shooting when Davidson’s Wildcats advanced thus far in the competition.

Following his junior year at Davidson, Curry made the decision to enter the 2009 NBA Draft. The Golden State Warriors, who drafted him with the seventh overall choice, finished 26–56 in his debut season. The Warriors quickly turned things around after a dismal 2009 campaign, largely because of Curry’s scoring and distribution prowess.

The organization has gained 41 wins this season with a 67-15 record, as compared to the five seasons prior.

The second Finals game is scheduled to begin on Sunday, June 7, at 7 p.m.