Stephen Curry officially passed 4,000 career 3-pointers on March 13, 2025, against the Sacramento Kings. But the wild part? Director Gotham Chopra, who was filming the whole thing, ended up secretly rooting for Curry to miss shots, all for a groundbreaking new film documenting the superstar.
When a Director Rooted Against Steph Curry
Chopra, a longtime sports documentarian, had a simple plan for the 2024-25 season. He wanted to rig up over 20 IMAX cameras at Chase Center for one specific Golden State Warriors game to capture Curry’s artistic process. They settled on the March 13 tilt against the Kings. Fate, though, started making things complicated. Just three days earlier, on March 10, Curry was on fire against the Portland Trail Blazers, hitting a side-step three and then two more in the third quarter. Chopra, watching this “Curry Flurry” unfold, was mentally begging him to stop, thinking, “No, no, don’t do it!” Curry was closing in on 4,000, hitting 3,998 with three minutes left in that third quarter. Chopra tensed. Then, opportunity struck: Curry went 0-for-4 from deep in the fourth quarter in that win over Portland. Chopra called it “kind of amazing,” saying, “Just because, it’s Steph Curry. He’s going to hit two 3-pointers in a game.” But not that night. Perfect for the film.
The ‘Stinker’ Night That Made the Art
When March 13 finally arrived, Chopra’s cameras were indeed there for every angle, capturing what TNT announcer Kevin Harlan called “Truly, the portrait of an artist.” What they got, though, wasn’t a simple portrait of grandeur. By Curry’s own lofty standards, that game against Sacramento was a stinker. He scored a mere 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting and hit just two 3-pointers, his back bothering him as he told a trainer walking into the arena. Chopra admitted he was nervous about the narrative initially. But once the camera rigs disassembled, he realized the “not-so-greatness” he’d just captured was actually gold. He even texted Curry, saying, “Hey, actually, Steph, this might’ve been no offense better for us.” Because they’d just witnessed the greatest shooter ever struggle. Chopra noted great artists never say creating great art is easy, calling it “hard” and “torture.” And they captured that raw process.
The ensuing film, “Portrait of an Artist: Stephen Curry,” specifically avoids rehashing his well-trodden story. Instead, this roughly 70-minute documentary dissects Curry’s process like an artist’s, alongside interviews and commentary. It’s not just another highlight reel; it’s a deep dive into the mind of a legend, showing the real grind behind the glory. Get ready to see a new side of the greatest shooter ever when it drops exclusively in IMAX theaters on October 9.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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