Stephen Curry: Is the Warriors star really top 10 in NBA history?
Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, in addition to being NBA champion, this season has received unique accolades that have generated a conversation that often loses proportion when a serious recounting of history is made, since receiving for the first time in his career the Bill Russell Trophy given to the Finals MVP, many experts and fans have placed him as one of the 10 best basketball players of all time.
However, when we start thinking without the emotional factor of the championship won and do a recount, we can do an analysis and answer the question, is Stephen Curry really a top 10 player in NBA history?
For this we have chosen 10 legendary players in the 75 years of the NBA and we give you some reasons why it is difficult to say that Curry is better of each of them, clarifying that the order we put them here does not necessarily mean a ranking of players.
Warriors coach Kerr relates Steph Curry to Roger Federer
Michael Jordan
"Air" Jordan has two more championships than Curry, five more Finals MVPs, four more season MVPs, more points scored, six more NBA First Team selections, among many other designations that make it almost impossible to put "Chef" above the Chicago Bulls legend.
Bill Russell
Simply saying that he was the leader of 11 NBA championships as a player of the Boston Celtics is enough argument to put him above Curry, for a powerful reason, the Trophy that the "Chef" just won is named after him.
Moment: Steph Curry gets an up-close look at the U.S. Open Trophy
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Six-time champion, six-time NBA MVP, all-time scoring leader, 19 All-Star Game selections, 10-time First Team, with notable advantages in all these aspects over "Chef".
Wilt Chamberlain
Famous for being the NBA's single-game scoring leader with 100 points, few know that he is the leader in rebounds (23,924) and that he was 10 years leader in this category, besides being seven years the one who scored more points in the entire NBA, although he has fewer titles than Curry, practically because of the existence of the three-point arc and the paint.
Magic Johnson
The comparison with Curry here may be direct, as they share the point guard position, Curry is a better shooter, but other than that, he has one less championship, two less Finals MVPs, one less regular season MVP, five better NBA First Team selections.
Larry Bird
It is very creditable for Stephen Curry to say that he has carried Larry Bird's legacy as a shooter to a much higher level, we can also say that he has won one more title than Bird, but the influence on his team in decisive moments, his five more selections to the NBA All-NBA First Team, one more league MVP, make the vast majority put the Boston legend above "Chef".
LeBron James
We said Kareem Abdul Jabbar is the all-time points leader in NBA history, that distinction will belong to "The King" soon enough, and while James has the same rings as Curry, he has three more Finals MVPs, nine more NBA First Team picks, two more regular-season MVPs and three more Finals MVPs.
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaq didn't even attempt a 3 pointer, but his dominance in the paint is for many the greatest ever, had he shot free throws decently, the record of the differential between points scored and points allowed to the man who scored in NBA history would be even greater, they have the same championships, but O'Neal has two more Finals MVPs.
Tim Duncan
The faces of the last two dynasties in the NBA may have some serious competition, and while offensively Curry may even surpass the Spurs legend, Duncan's defensive dominance makes him the best power forward in history and he also has four NBA First Team selections, eight more All-Defensive First Team selections, one more championship and two more Finals MVPs.
Kobe Bryant
This is where Curry, beyond Kobe's undisputed media impact, has a more even comparison, Kobe has one more ring, has scored more points, Curry is a better shooter, but has been elected to seven fewer NBA First Teams and, in something few know, Bryant was elected to nine defensive ideal teams, Curry to zero.
Conclusion
Stephen Curry is the best shooter in history, the player who has changed basketball the most since Wilt Chamberlain, everyone says so, he is an icon of our generation, however, it is very difficult to put him among the 10 best players of all time, surely in all cases there are arguments, but the facts presented above, make it extremely difficult to place him above any of these legends.
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