On March 10, 2025, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors achieved a significant milestone by hitting his 4,000th career 3-pointer during a game against the Sacramento Kings at Chase Center in San Francisco. This achievement was part of a larger narrative being captured by filmmaker Gotham Chopra, who had set up over 20 IMAX cameras to document Curry's journey as a basketball player and an artist.
Chopra, a seasoned sports documentarian, had been planning this unique filming project throughout the 2024-25 NBA season. The goal was to create a film that would not only showcase Curry's incredible shooting ability but also delve into the artistic process behind his game. On the night of March 10, as Curry approached the milestone, Chopra found himself hoping that Curry would miss his shots to preserve the dramatic tension for the upcoming shoot on March 13.
During the game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Curry made a remarkable side-step three-pointer, bringing him within two shots of the historic mark. However, he missed all four of his attempts in the fourth quarter, allowing Chopra to breathe a sigh of relief as they prepared for the next game. "Which was kind of amazing," Chopra reflected, noting that it was unusual for Curry not to score more than two 3-pointers in a game.
When the Warriors faced the Kings on March 13, Curry did indeed hit his 4,000th 3-pointer, although he finished the game with just 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting. Despite the underwhelming performance by his standards, Chopra recognized the importance of capturing this moment. The documentary, titled "Portrait of an Artist: Stephen Curry," is set to premiere in IMAX theaters on October 9, 2026.
The film aims to explore Curry's journey not just as a basketball player but as an artist, featuring interviews with notable figures such as actress Viola Davis and music producer Rick Rubin. Chopra's approach is to highlight the struggles and challenges that come with greatness, illustrating that even the best athletes experience difficult moments. "When you talk to great artists about what it’s like to create great art, none of them ever say, ‘Oh, yeah, that was super easy,'" Chopra explained.
Chopra's relationship with Curry began during the 2018-19 NBA season when he documented Curry's life in a Facebook series titled "Stephen vs The Game." This collaboration evolved into a deeper exploration of Curry's identity as not just an athlete but as an artist. Chopra emphasized that Curry's understanding of his craft parallels that of other great artists, a realization that has influenced the direction of the documentary.
As Curry enters his 18th NBA season, he is also exploring various creative ventures outside of basketball. Recently, he premiered a short film titled "The Baddest Speechwriter of All" at the University of San Francisco, marking his directorial debut. This film focuses on Martin Luther King Jr.'s speechwriter, Clarence B. Jones, and is set to be released on Netflix in December.
While Curry was not directly involved in the day-to-day production of "Portrait of an Artist," Chopra kept him updated with clips and discussions about the artistic process. This collaboration has helped to solidify Curry's connection between his basketball skills and the broader world of art. Chopra believes that Curry intuitively understands the journey of an artist, which is evident in his approach to the game.
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