The mouthguard would not draw much attention if Curry wore it in a typical way, but he consistently munches on it during games, with a particular penchant for gnawing on it while taking free throws

Find out the story behind Stephen Curry’s famous on-court habit: putting on his mouthguard in a special way that not only keeps him safe but also makes him better.

While playing in the NBA, Stephen Curry became the most famous 3-point shot, but most people associate him with a certain piece of gear: his mouthguard.

A mask has been his choice since college, and he has worn it all the way through his NBA career.

If Curry wore the mouthguard normally, it wouldn’t get much attention. But he always chews on it during games, and he especially likes to do it while making free throws.

When he shoots free throws, he usually puts it on one side of his mouth.

So why does Curry do this strange thing with his mouthguard? He’s said over time that it’s a process that helps him stay focused and that it works for him.

Curry admitted to Jimmy Kimmel in 2015 that playing with his mouthguard has become a “irrefutable habit” for him, going back to when he was at Davidson. During a game in 2007, Jon Brick of The Citadel Һit him in the face out of the blue.

“After an elbow Һit me in my junior college year and split open my lip, I adopted the practice of wearing a mouthpiece in every game,” Curry told Kimmel.

“Over the years, it has progressively distanced itself from my teeth.”