When discussing who belongs on the list of the greatest players of all time the conversation can at times be both subjective and objective. The Subjectivity comes when a fan or an analyst puts a player on their mount Rushmore simply because they admire them or they play for their favorite team. On the other hand, their are a select few players you have to include on your list all time players or your knowledge of basketball has to immediately be questioned. Many times we focus on players from previous eras that should be considered top 10 all time players. However, with the awards that superstar point guard Stephen Curry has racked up over the course of his career thus far, it has become increasingly harder to not mention his name among the greatest ever.
Any time a modern player ascends to a level where they are mentioned among the greatest from previous eras it is always an honor. Though at times we overlook the fact that inevitably if you are going to add someone to such a prestigious list of the top 10 players of all time that another player has to come off. With that in mind, I believe as tough as it might be to consider the player Steph Curry has the biggest argument in taking over a top 10 spot of is the hall of fame sharpshooter, the great Larry Bird. I know to some people, especially Celtics fans feel that taking Bird out of the top 10 all time player rankings for anyone sounds Blasphemous. However, after comparing the numbers and impact both players have made in their careers, Stephen Curry stacks up amazingly well alongside Larry Legend.
The obvious comparisons between Steph Curry and Larry Bird is that they are known as the best shooters of their prospective eras but Curry has clearly changed the game beyond measure with his shooting ability. After breaking the all time 3pt record this past season, he is undoubtedly the greatest shooter of all time. Still, one could argue that in the clutch Larry Bird was arguably the greatest shooter as he constantly came up big in so many memorable moments for the Boston Celtics. Another aspect of Curry and Bird's career's that you compare head to head is the rewards and accolades both have earned over their careers. As of last season, Curry earned his 4th ring and 1st Finals MVP which is part of why many, including myself, believe he has to be considered a top 10 all time player. Ironically, with the win over the Celtics he actually surpassed Bird who won 3 titles with the Celtics in the 1980's.
When comparing the stats of Stephen Curry versus Larry Bird it's important to take into account that Curry's career appears to be far from over which speaks to his longevity. Steph Curry currently has 20,064 points scored in his career. Larry Bird finished his career with 21,791. If Curry is able to stay healthy this coming season and average around 25 points per game he will likely surpass Bird in scoring. Curry currently has 5,388 career assist and if gets just 308 more he will also surpass Bird in career assists despite passing being a very underrated part of his game.
The primary counter argument that could be made to Curry being considered the greater player to Bird is based off their defensive abilities due in part to Curry being undersized at just 6'3". Along with the fact that Bird earned 3 all-defensive team honors in his career. Although, he will likely never be known as a defensive stopper Curry has worked hard to improve defensively which was best shown in last year's postseason run. Even more impressive is all that Steph Curry has been able to accomplish despite not having a physical or athletic advantage over his opponents. In my opinion that fact should not overlooked especially when you consider that Curry would likely be shortest player on most all time player lists.
Finally, one of the key aspects of why Curry has to be considered a top 10 player all time is due to his impact on basketball as he has truly revolutionized the way the game is played. He is the quintessential scoring point guard of his era if not all time. His shooting has become as much of a signature unstoppable skill similar to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's skyhook. With his astounding shooting ability he has inspired young fans to want to shoot just like him and has made the three point shot the most important skill in basketball. Bird's impact on the growth of the NBA as a brand is a part of his legacy that can never be duplicated making him a true basketball pioneer. Curry has also become a pioneer in his own right as the basketball has been forever changed due to his influence. He is arguably the most influential athlete in the world today and has been able to push the game of basketball to even higher heights and his career his far from over.
Sources: NBA YouTube Channel, www.basketballreference.com
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