What is Most Impressive about the Steph Curry Deadlift?
A Steph Curry deadlift of 400 pounds is not the most spectacular feat of his strength. At 6 feet 3 inches and 190 pounds, a 400-pound deadlift is not that remarkable today.
Take, for example, powerlifter Dr. Stefanie Cohen. She deadlifts 545 pounds at a weight of 125 pounds, over four times her body weight. As you can see in the video below:
Serial Ankle Injuries Almost Ended His Career
Tom Haberstroh, an ESPN staff writer, reported in 2015, “Curry played just 26 games in 2011-12 because of ankle issues.”¹
Curry went down with five ankle sprains in 2011-12, his first season in the NBA. It appeared like he could go the way of many other promising athletes sidelined by injuries.
Imagine, one ankle sprain every five games. See many of Stephen Curry's 17 ankle injuries in this video:
Steph had ankle surgery in April of 2012. However, that was not enough to protect his ankles from melting down once again.
Curry returned for 78 games in the 2012/2013 season, but still suffered more ankle sprains. These injuries resulted in less time on the court in the playoffs against the Nuggets and the Spurs.
Enter Keke Lyles, the Deadlift & More
In 2013, director of athletic performance Keke Lyles joined the Golden State Warriors. He designed a program to help Curry build strength in his hips and glutes.
As many athletes know, from boxers to runners, there is tremendous power in your hips and lower body. Lyles theorized that improving Curry's lower body strength will take significant stress off of his ankles.
Therefore he centered Curry's new training regimen around the deadlift and single-leg strength exercises.
Natural Talent is Not Enough
Steph Curry learned that he could not rely on natural talent alone. As gifted as Curry is, he still needed to work on his body.
Of all the exercises that Keke Lyles could have prescribed, he focused on one. The deadlift.
No matter what sport you are in, lower body hip and glute strength will rocket your athletic abilities. And even if you are not a professional athlete, the deadlift can transform your body into looking and feeling like one.
After Two Years of Deadlifting – Stephen Curry voted MVP
After two years of deadlifting, what were the results off of the court?
“He's probably ten times stronger than what people think, Lyles said. I knew he was strong, but then he started pushing that kind of weight, double his bodyweight.
Exhibit A: Curry can deadlift 400 pounds.
The exercise the Warriors prefer is the trap bar deadlift. One of the primary muscles that it works? Yup, the gluteus maximus.
Steph's the second strongest on our team pulling the deadlift.”³
On the court, the Golden State Warriors won consecutive NBA championships. Also, Steph Curry was voted Most Valuable Player in the NBA twice.
See some of his best plays of the 2015/2016 season in this video:
11 Great Training Ideas for You
Steph Curry's successful deadlift rehab experience can benefit you as well:
1. The deadlift helped Curry strengthen his hips so he could take the stress off of his ankles. How much you deadlift is not the point. Now you know that one of the best ways on the planet to build total-body strength is the deadlift.
2. True, Stephen Curry deadlifts 400 pounds, but you do not have to deadlift heavy to gain the powerful benefits of deadlifts.
3. Despite all the fantastic benefits of squats, not everyone has the mobility to squat. But most people can learn how to deadlift. No matter what your age, the deadlift will make you stronger.
4. You do not have to do the conventional straight bar deadlift. Whether you have back problems or not, you can do trap bar deadlifts. Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors use the trap bar deadlift. Use trap bar deadlifts to maximize the development of your glutes and hamstrings.
5. Start deadlifting. All you need is:
- One good beginner deadlift workout routine
- A 12 Week deadlift workout program
- Learn how to deadlift like a boss
Focus On Your Lower Body Strength
6. Hip and lower body strength is the secret ingredient to unleash your athletic potential, whether you are:
- an Olympic runner like Allyson Felix,
- a powerlifter like Lamar Gant,
- a running back like Saquon Barkley,
- an actor like Hugh Jackman or
- an 80-year-old grandmother like Shirley Webb
7. Also, practice the single hip airplane pose to build hip strength, core strength, and balance
8. Learn how to load your hips to unload your ankles and prevent ankle injuries as taught by Keke Lyles
9. Incorporate single-leg reverse lunges and single-leg deadlifts with or without dumbbells or kettlebells
10. Do rear foot elevated single-leg Bulgarian squats
11. Master the hip hinge. Watch the video below to learn how to hip hinge:
Steph Curry's Most Spectacular Feats of Strength
So, what is Stephen Curry's greatest feat of strength? It is not his 400-pound deadlift, nor is it that he is the best NBA shooter (and possible player) of all time. His secrets to success are:
- Curry sticks to his routine.
- He is a hard worker.
- He works on his body strength as much as he works on his jump shot.
- Curry never gave up. He had many ankle injuries, but he did not give up.
Stephen Curry is not the tallest or most massive player in the NBA. But many think he is one of the greatest of all time. Look how far deadlifting and his work ethic has brought him. You can do the same with the deadlift to change your body and improve your health and fitness.
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Footnotes
¹ How Steph Curry Put His Ankle Issues Behind Him – 2015 NBA Playoffs
² A Theory Building Hip Power with the Trap Bar Deadlift Appears to Have Paid Off for Steph Curry
³ Tom Haberstro Interviews Keke Lyles on Building Steph Curry's Lower Body Strength
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