Man on Fire
- Jun 10, 2013
- 2 min read
Everybody loves a good story, and one about a comeback kid is no exception. Troubled by ankle injuries for much of the start of his career, critics wondered if Steph Curry would ever be healthy enough to become a solid contributor to a team. Analysts knew he was a shooting threat, but he’s done them one better. Some are now calling him the best shooter of all time. I ask you this though: could he be one of the top 50 players of all time?
Assuming the top 50 contains 10 players at each position, this gives us 10 point guard slots to see if we can fit Curry. My 10? In no order, it’s Magic Johnson, Jerry West, John Stockton, Oscar Robertson, Isiah Thomas, Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Chris Paul, and Bob Cousy. My favorite thing about this list is that it shatters the thought that there’s one particular thing to expect from a player at this position. Nash was an elite passer and shooter. Don’t dribble in front of Gary, he’ll steal it and make the layup before you know the ball’s gone. Magic, Jason and Oscar? They could do it all. Score, pass and rebound. Triple double machines. There’s no set mold to becoming one of the greats, well, other than being great.
Obviously, Curry’s greatness begins with his shooting ability. The league has never seen a shooter like him. Five years into his career, he’s already an all time great. He can spot up and shoot. He can shoot off the dribble. He can make shots while coming off screens, as well as shots from distance. He’s a 90% career free throw shooter, while sporting a career 3 point percentage of 44. Mind you, that’s 44% while holding the records for most made 3 pointers in both a regular season AND a postseason. Like I said, you have to be great at what you do, and Curry surely is.
If we’re talking stats, the career assist average of the 10 players ranged from 6.7 to 11.2, averaging out at 8.7 overall. Curry currently averages 6.9. His assist average is only higher than two of the aforementioned point guards. The career scoring average of the 10 ranged from 12.6 to 27, averaging out at 18.96. Only 2 of the 10 currently possess scoring averages higher than Curry’s 20.9.
Curry’s legacy has yet to be written. He just wrapped up the 4th best regular season in NBA history, with a team that should be able to contend for at least 2 more years. He’s also still relatively young, at 27, with a type of jumpshot-first game that should work to preserve his longevity in the league.
Could he eventually be one of the best? Well he ranks pretty well among my personal top 10, and he’s only getting better. But that’s the beauty of sports. You never know.
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