Wardell Stephen Curry is credited with revolutionizing the game of basketball.
The baby-faced assassin has used his uncanny marksmanship and slick ball-handling skills to prove you don’t have to be 6 foot 7 and uber athletic to dominate the game. He does his work under the rim with constant movement, a smooth shooting stroke and a tight handle with an array of moves used to create space for that unbelievable jump shot he possesses. Steph also has an uncanny knack for getting to the rim, as defenses tend to overplay him in fear of one his deep daggers, which allows him to blow past them for shots at the rim.
Stephen Curry has 3 games with at least 9 made three-pointers this season. The rest of the NBA has 1 such game combined (Patty Mills).
Curry recorded his 37th career game with at least 9 made threes. The next 5 players on the list have 34 such games combined. pic.twitter.com/JKkWLB8k8m
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 17, 2021
While many are aware of his greatness, longtime sports reporter, Bob Ryan recently went into a little more detail on Curry in a radio interview on SiriusXM NBA Radio.
“When we talk about lists, and they’re always irresolvable, and they’re always arguable, he’s bigger than people think, you know? He’s 6’5”, the same size almost as (Kobe Bryant) and Michael Jordan by the way. He’s different than both of them.
“Who argues this? He’s the greatest distance shooter of all time. Changed the game, he’s had an influence on the game. He’s one of the most influential players in the history of the game. Every kid in America wants to be Steph Curry. And when you talk about legacies, that’s powerful. I can’t say categorically, but he has to be in the discussion. He’s a phenomenal force.
Ryan continued to sing Curry’s praises;
“So, he’s in the discussion. I don’t know where it’s all going to end, but it will be a tremendous part of his story if they are to win this year. In terms of influence and how the game is played, there was some certain people that are clear pioneers, and Steph Curry is one of the most influential players in history. That’s got to count for something.”
Ryan captured everything Curry has accomplished since he was drafted in 2009. His ascension during the 2012-2013 season, following nagging ankle injuries in 2011, is nothing short of amazing.
Curry’s Ascension Guided Warriors To Five Straight Finals Appearances
The unlikely rise of Steph Curry into megastar helped lead the Warriors to five consecutive NBA Finals appearances. They won three titles, and Curry won back-to-back MVP trophies, becoming the first and only unanimous MVP the league has seen in 2015-16. During that time frame Golden State also won a league record 73 games, going 73-9 in 2015-2016. Curry made an NBA record 402 three pointers that season, a feat that probably won’t be broken, and even if it is, the efficiency (45 percent) that he did it with won’t be matched.
While many will say the Warriors had Kevin Durant, they also won a title without him, and are now one game away from their sixth Finals appearance in eight seasons. Durant hasn’t even made a conference finals since he departed the Bay Area.
So who needed whom more? Curry or Durant?
"Without Kevin Durant on the Warriors, this team will go as far as Steph Curry shoots this team."
— @RealSkipBayless pic.twitter.com/nunNfnXHsi
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) December 1, 2021
Curry Owns Some Unbelievable Three-Point Records: Still Adding To Them
Every era has a player who dominates on the floor, but transcending players also affect how the game is played and perceived. Curry’s been an essential part of the culture shift in basketball. While he’s also been criticized for changing it, most agree his style has given hope to players who aren’t blessed with supreme athleticism. It also made players work more on fundamentals like shooting and ball-handling and being better conditioned.
Mavs coach and former NBA All-Star Jason Kidd, whom the Warriors are facing in the Western Conference Finals, said, “Steph is the best-conditioned athlete in this game,” ahead of Game 2.
Curry holds records for most threes ever made (3,117). His (3.7) threes per game are the most ever per game. Most threes made in a season (402), he’s got that on lock too. He also holds the record for four of the top five three-point shooting seasons ever. Only James Harden making 378 in 2018-19 is why Curry doesn’t have all top five spots. His 21 games with 10 three-pointers made are an NBA record; teammate Klay Thompson is next with 10 such games.
Curry also has eight seasons of at least 200 made triples. His 470 made playoff threes are a record, as well as his 121 threes made in the NBA Finals. While Curry has a host of other accolades, the cherry on top is his 50-40-90 season of 2015-16 where he averaged 30 points per game. That’s the highest scoring average ever for a player in that elite club of just nine players.
Curry is gunning for his fourth NBA championship and his first NBA Finals MVP. Bob Ryan has seen all of the greats play and he puts Chef among them.
