It didn’t take another title and a Final Series MVP for Stephen Curry to rise to prominence among the greatest players of all time in NBA basketball.
The prizes and rings are weapons that are brandished in the discussions and comparisons between the prodigies that have distilled their quality in the main professional league in the world. But they are circumstantial. And they do not depend on a single player.
Curry is unanimously recognized as the best three-point shooter in history. His marks in that sense speak for themselves.
The excellent basket player has perfected basketball in the offensive aspect with his attacks behind the goal.
Perhaps it has not managed to “change” or “revolutionize” this sport due to the fact that it has not caused any rule change as in other cases -Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, etc.-, although it has taken advantage of one – the line of three – to take the game to another level.
His offensive level is unquestionable. He can also drive, attack the rim, dribble, spin and feint with great skills and if he is closed by the defense he can also pass the ball well.
While he’s hardly a paragon on the defensive end, he’s been making progress and the Warriors’ system protects him.
And if it’s not already in the historical Top-10, it’s already knocking on the door.
The top five could be Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
For the next five spots there are plenty of candidates all with enough quality and pedigree to claim a spot: Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Curry and Kevin Durant.
All owners of great feats, statistics, records, championships. References in the history of the league. Players who dominated their era.
And in the middle of them, with the parameters of modern basketball, Curry enters the conversation. His legacy is there and no one can deny it.
Before the championship and the Most Valuable Player award in the final that he just won against the Boston Celtics.