Why Del Curry Pulled Steph from AAU Until High School
AAU can be exciting. Exposure. Competition. Tournaments every weekend. But if your coach is pushing year-round games with no real training? That’s a red flag — and you should seriously reconsider your child’s path.
Even Del Curry — an NBA veteran and father of the greatest shooter in history pulled Steph out of AAU until high school. Why? Because he knew what too many parents and coaches forget:
AAU Without Proper Training Builds the Wrong Foundation
- Bad Habits Stick: Without focused skill work, sloppy footwork, poor shot mechanics, and bad decision-making get locked in.
- Little Skill Development: AAU prioritizes games, not teaching. Kids play hard but don’t necessarily get better.
- Hurt Confidence: Young athletes thrown into high-pressure games before they’re ready often struggle, and it damages their self-esteem.
- Wrong Priorities: Winning tournaments becomes the goal — not effort, learning, or personal growth.
- Higher Injury Risk: If kids haven’t built strength, mobility, and movement patterns, they’re just one move away from a preventable injury.
- Low Basketball IQ Growth: Fast-paced games with minimal coaching feedback leave no room for learning how to read the game.
- Burnout Risk: Too much game-time, not enough progress. Eventually, they lose the love for the sport.
Your kid doesn’t need more games — they need better training.
You build real skills, confidence, and habits through structured reps, quality coaching, and intentional development.
Olympians train for four years for one moment.
AAU players sometimes play four games in one weekend — and don’t grow at all.
If you’re stuck in the practice-play-practice cycle, you’re already getting passed.
Build your child’s foundation — skill by skill, rep by rep, because the grind matters more than the game.
Train with purpose,
Coach Ted
