After effortlessly faking a drive, dropping Kawhi Leonard, and pump-faking a three, Stephen Curry steps back and knocks down a contested jumper. This play would have made highlight tapes even if a lesser defender had been guarding Curry, but it was the leading candidate of Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard? The Lebron James stopper Kawhi Leonard? The “NBA’s Best All Around Defender” Kawhi Leonard? That is unheard of.
Stephen Curry has lead the Golden State Warriors to an unprecedented first half of the season, going 41-4, on track to beat Michael Jordan’s legendary ’95-96 Bulls’ record of 72-10. The scary part about that is, the Warriors look as if they can’t be beat.
Curry has maintained one of the greatest shooting seasons ever since the beginning of October when he shot 48.6% for the entire month from the three. His meager season average of 45.6% smashed beyond any shadow of a doubt the prospect of a post-championship drop off. Not to mention Curry leads the league in scoring by averaging 30.3 points per game even though he has sat out thirteen of the forty-three 4th quarters! But its not like the Warriors need Curry during those moments as they have averaged 114.8 points per game while holding opponents to 102.3, the Warriors dismantling teams most nights by double digits (12.5 points per game).
Most important of all the statistics is that Curry set the record for most threes in a single season at 286. This year, with 46 games played, he’s knocked down 221 threes and is on track to finish at about 390. Based on that number alone, I think it’s safe to say that Steph Curry is the greatest shooter of our generation.
Additionally, “Chef Curry” has been made his own highlight tapes with quick crossovers, flashy passes, and lightning quick threes. Look no further than what Steph Curry did to the Clippers that made head coach Steve Kerr (who played with the greatest player of all time Michael Jordan) do this. Oh, so the defense wants to go under the screen? Steph can (and will) shoot from 5 feet behind the three point line. They want to double team? Steph can easily pull the defense towards him and flip a pass to “Splash Brother,” Klay Thompson, or “Swiss-Army Knife,” Draymond Green.
The only defender to slow Curry was the Cavs’ Matthew Dellavedova; however, he was also voted the NBA’s dirtiest player last year for injuring Kyle Korver and for (arbitrarily) getting Taj Gibson and Al Horford ejected in crucial games, which may explain the defensive feat of slowing Steph Curry. But, in the Warriors and Cavs’ latest matchup, Delly “held” Curry to 35 points in 28 minutes with only one turnover as Curry sat out the 4th quarter again, the Warriors demolishing the Cavs 132-98 in a statement win.
But without Curry, the Warriors lost to the surprisingly average Dallas Mavericks 114-91, and looked mortal. Granted, all-star Klay Thompson and x-factor Draymond Green shot poorly, both going 4-15 each, and rotational pieces Leandro Barbosa and Festus Ezeli were both out due to a shoulder sprain and bruised toe respectively. The Warriors couldn’t seem to space the floor with Steph’s absence or compile any semblance of an offense, discombobulated at best on defense.
Stephen Curry’s impact hasn’t stopped on the court though. After signing last year with Under Armor, their revenue has increased exponentially by 3o% to $1.17 billion. As much as I’d like to attribute Under Armor’s recent spike in revenue to Jesuit alum and golf wizard Jordan Speith ’11, who is a fellow representative of the brand, Steph is undeniably responsible. The Under Armor shoe named “Curry 2” is now seen daily in recreation centers and on the NBA hardwood alike.
The off-court impact doesn’t stop there though. Stephen Curry has become a social icon. With meme-machine daughter Riley Curry and successful wife Ayesha Curry, the “Chef” fits the mold of an ideal sports role-model and of a marketable family man. Not to mention rapper and sports fan Drake shouted Curry out in his platinum single “0 to 100” singing, “I’ve been Steph Curry with the shot” and “been cookin’ with the sauce, Chef Curry with the pot boy.”
However, what makes Curry such a superstar is his ability to relate to people. Shaquille O’Neal, one of the NBA’s greatest centers ever, is a mammoth of a man standing 7’1 and weighing in at 364 pounds, and one of the heaviest and strongest to play the game. For more proof look here. Steph Curry is a very generous 6’3. Lebron James, the most polarizing figure in sports since his inception in the NBA after high school, is a physical specimen of raw explosive power and finesse standing 6’8 and weighing 249 pounds with an estimated 40 inch vertical. Steph weighs 185 pounds. The NBA is thought to be a collection of the biggest, tallest, strongest players on the planet, yet a high school-sized player is dominating the league.
People everywhere can emulate a Steph Curry jump shot, not having to become a dominant force like Lebron James by physically plowing over Patty Mills or ending Jason Terry’s career. Shooting like Steph is more realistic for aspiring players, compared to explosive point guard Russell Westbrook’s thunderous dunks. He can create a shot anywhere on the court with his ball handling and has an uncanny knack for knocking down big shots (his eyes were closed on that one), but more than that, he’s fun to watch. Like friend Cam Newton, Curry just seems to have fun on the basketball court, his game naturally flowing with a youthful spring to it.
But without all of the flashing lights and adoring fans, Steph’s legacy as the torch-bearer of the new era of basketball is blazing before our eyes. In the early years of basketball, the game was dominated with big men, greats like Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell who tore up the glass and dominated the paint, their sheer hustle and talent making them immortal. Then it was Dr. J, Julius Erving, with his spunk and array of awe inspiring dunks who merged the then competing associations, the ABA and the NBA. Next, it was an era of deep blooded rivalries with teams like the Pistons, Celtics, Lakers, and Bulls taking turns winning championships with their respective superstars. Michael Jordan ended this cycle, taking over games by himself and rewriting everything people knew about sports greatness. Then came the end of Michael Jordan’s reign with Kobe and Shaq emerging during Los Angeles’ revival, and the position of shooting guard thrived with Allen Iverson and D-Wade. More recently, Lebron James and other point forwards, such as Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, and aforementioned Kawhi Leonard, have controlled the league. Today, leading the Warriors to new heights by the jumper, Steph fuses his teammates’ talents of incredible defense, sharp passing, and tons and tons of threes to make professionals look silly. Steph isn’t just a scoring point guard. He isn’t even a point guard. Steph is just doing what all greats do: making his own way to win. In doing so, he has just happened to become one of the greatest NBA players of our time.
Don’t blink. The new NBA will be here sooner than you think.
