Greatest shooter ever. That’s what everyone has been calling Golden State’s Stephen Curry for years, for obvious reasons. No one in the history of basketball has made more three-pointers or made the art of throwing a ball through a hoop easier than Curry does.
He deserved that distinction.
And it still looks like he’s undersold.
The thing is, Wardell Stephen Curry II is not only the best shooter ever. It’s time to finally name him who he is – one of the greatest players ever. Go ahead, put him in the greatest conversation of all time. It’s a debate that will never end anyway, and he deserved the right to be there for one simple reason.
He changed the game. The 3-punter is now essential, and Curry made it that way.
“I think he’s pretty much determined what he can do,” Warriors guard Klay Thompson said after the NBA Finals ended Thursday night with Golden State as champion and Curry as final’s MVP. “But to see how he deserves it, he is one of the greatest ever and we all followed in his leadership and goh, it was incredible. What a series. ”
Yes, what a series Curry had.
And what a player too.
Curry’s place in the Basketball Hall of Fame was locked long before Thursday night, when he scored 34 points and the Warriors won their fourth title in eight years by leading the Boston Celtics 103-90. What this one meant, however, was clear. Curry cried tears of joy before the match ended, and could no longer hold back the emotions.
“I’m happy for everyone, but I’m excited for Steph,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said as the champagne sprayed around the champion’s locker room in Boston following Golden State’s title win. “For me, it’s his crown on an incredible career.”
It was his crown at the time. For now, anyway.
There is no reason to believe that there can not be a fifth ring for this Warriors era either, as long as a healthy Curry leads the way.
“Best point guard of all time,” said Andre Iguodala of Golden State.
Also add it to the list. And his legend on the track is only growing further. The 34-year-old Curry is stronger than ever, tougher than ever and somehow more motivated than ever. He already has three rings entered this year, has the 3-point record, more money than he could have spent in 10 years and there is not a corner of the world where he is not known or honored. His wife Ayesha is a world class cook. He made birds at Augusta National.
Curry had nothing left to prove in all respects.
He apparently did not agree. When last season ended with a loss in the playoffs, Curry immediately went back to work, with this title in mind, knowing that few so-called experts thought the Warriors had a chance to extend their dynasty. They had three titles and five finals trips in five years from 2015 to 2019, then injuries and roster changes sent them to the bottom of the NBA in 2020 and to the outside of the playoffs last year.
Forget everything now. Curry reigns again.
“Damn, we did it. It’s crazy to think about, ”Curry said. “All those talks bore fruit. Manifest your destiny in a certain way, and that stubbornness – who we are matters more than anyone says about us – is why we are here. “
His resume is ridiculous: Curry is an eight-time All-Star, a two-time NBA MVP, one of them unanimously, a two-time scoring champion, All-Star Game MVP, is now a four-time champion – and, ultimately, an NBA Finals MVP, also by unanimous decision.
Not bad for a player who was number 7 in his draft class, kicked out of his first college practice at Davidson because he showed up late, plagued by worries about many things in his early NBA years – he was too small, she singles were too bad – and needed five seasons just to make his first All-Star match.
“I thank God every day that I can play this game at the highest level with some amazing people,” Curry said on the floor as the celebration began, tears running down his face, game ball under one of his arms . “That’s what it’s about.”
Very few people saw it coming 13 years ago.
On the night Curry was drafted in 2009, after six players who have a combined NBA championship heard their names call out in front of him, the Warriors made no effort to hide their excitement.
That said, it was not exactly exuberant praise either.
“He’s a guy who’s going to fit in pretty well,” said Larry Riley, then the general manager of the Warriors.
Probably safe to say Riley was right. Underemphasize, sure, but right.
Now he has more.
The fourth parade is Monday. The fourth ring is coming this fall. The respect must be there now forever. He is no longer just a good shooter. It’s official: Stephen Curry is a player of all time.
“For Steph to win a final MVP, and I know he said it does not matter … but to add it to your resume as a competitor, you want it,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said said. “For him, well deserved. It’s a long time in the making. But he left no doubt. No doubt left. He carried us. And we are here as champions. ”
