Warriors star Stephen Curry reflects on an NBA career that's closer to the end than the beginning

NBA superstar and Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry says 'the end is closer than the beginning' for his future Hall of Fame career.

There were quiet moments, as Stephen Curry calls them, when the greatest 3-point shooter in NBA history and four-time champion didn’t think he would achieve any of his lofty goals.

In 2012, Curry had missed most of his third professional season due to injury, eventually requiring surgery on his right ankle that April. Curry, in his new book “Shot Ready,” admits to being scared at the time, but also writes that “the gift of fear is that you realize what you’re grateful for.”

“Every doubt that comes in, you kind of have to try to overcome it with positive self talk,” the Golden State Warriors point guard told NBC News on Wednesday.

After that operation, the rehab required to get back on the court took a mental toll.

“Plenty of time sitting in my basement in Charlotte with the boot on my ankle after surgery, and being so far away from just being able to put your shoes on and go hoop,” Curry said of that time in his life. “Plenty of conversations with my wife about days that we didn't want to go through a painful rehab session just thinking about how long it was going to take to feel like yourself.”