Even some of the greatest professional athletes, like Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, get nervous when the game is on the line. Curry has made a conscious effort to smile before converting crucial free throws, such as the two he made with 12 seconds left in a 119-116 win against Phoenix on December 20, 2025.

Embracing the Pressure

Curry, now 38 years old and 17 years into his NBA career, admits to feeling anxiety despite his success. “That’s more mental warfare for me to just enjoy the moment,” Curry said. “I don’t care how many free throws you’ve made, when you need two of them, you do get nervous, so the smile is more to kind of embrace the moment and enjoy it instead of overthinking or worrying about mechanics or anything. So I’ve been doing that a lot lately, just playing mind games with myself and enjoying the moment.”

Normalization and Preparation

Curry’s openness about his nerves has resonated with other professionals. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who witnessed Curry’s performance, noted the importance of acknowledging fear and then moving forward. Roberts emphasized that preparedness is key to mitigating those nerves. “I think Steph has shot so many free throws when he’s tired in big spots, so to admit that he’s nervous, he knows at the end of the day that he’s prepared for that spot,” Roberts said this spring.

Routine and Reframing Anxiety

Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan conducted a poll among his players, revealing they perceive free throws differently in high-pressure situations. Despite the heightened stakes, Donovan stressed the importance of maintaining the same routine. “The basket’s still 15 feet away, it’s still 10 feet high. And just because the circumstances may be different, the routine should be exactly the same,” he explained.

Turning Nerves into Joy

Mental performance coach Graham Betchart suggests reframing anxiety as a positive emotion. He shared an anecdote about a professional athlete who described pressure as “joy,” despite experiencing physical symptoms of nervousness. “I think this is one of the biggest unlocks in the entire world,” Betchart said.

Humanizing Athletes

Hall of Famer Jason Kidd, now the coach of the Dallas Mavericks, highlighted the importance of recognizing athletes as individuals with emotions. “It is healthy. I think that just lets everyone know you’re human. Steph is human,” Kidd said. Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton focuses on consistent practice, aiming to make 10 free throws in a row daily, to build confidence. Even coaches like Doc Rivers experience nerves, questioning their own decisions in critical moments.