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Over the past eight years, as Curry has risen from a promising player with tender ankles to the indispensable superstar of the Golden State dynasty, it wasn’t just his unparalleled shooting that transformed the sport. His overall gameplay and personality is asking us to change the way we talk about glory in the NBA. Curry’s continued dominance offers a new – and broader – example of what it means to be the man on a team.
Curry didn’t prove himself by finally claiming the trophy named after 11-time champion Bill Russell. It was confirmation of what we should already know: He’s a top-tier immortal in NBA history. And considering how good he looks at 34, he’s far from done. But now that he’s entered a signature Finals performance in the record books, perhaps there can be an uninterrupted acknowledgment of his multiple influences on the game.
Curry is a unique talent. The NBA has never seen anyone of his size with such a dominant impact on the championship. He’s now listed at 6-foot-2, which is funny because he’s reportedly been an inch taller for more than a decade. He must shrink with age. He is the smallest player who is the driver of a dynasty. If he’s among your top 10-15 players of all time, he’s definitely the smallest player on this list. Basketball will always be a sport where the most skillful tall person has the best chance of controlling the game. Curry manages to be both ordinary size and heavenly talent.
“You’ve never seen a guy his size dominating the league like that and putting everything on his shoulders during a Finals series,” Golden State forward Andre Iguodala told reporters Thursday night. “We all saw what he did with the boys. Usually you get a guy who takes center stage like a hakeem [Olajuwon]. Or Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, these guys are 6-7 and up and they can get in their seats and shoot over guys.
“But a guy his size that’s challenged vertically, they’d say, just… you saw it, we all saw it. It was just amazing.”
For all his creativity and experimentation on the pitch, Curry still plays with a lot of confidence. The 30 feet are spectacular. His joy and showmanship make him an indispensable entertainer. But he doesn’t get enough credit for his situational awareness, complete arsenal as a goalscorer, skills as a floor general and dedication to moving off the ball to help others open up.
Coach Steve Kerr compares Curry to Tim Duncan because they are both humble, selfless leaders. Iguodala, 38, is an 18-year NBA veteran who began his career with Allen Iverson in Philadelphia. He often worries about diminishing reverence for greatness due to overexposure. A longtime teammate of Curry’s, Iguodala warns that as much as Curry seems to have left in the tank, he can’t play forever.
“We’re getting away from appreciating,” Iguodala said. “I call them gods – this unique talent, generational talent. Because we’re so close to them, we don’t value them that much. When he’s gone we will truly miss him and forget how much he impacted not just the Warriors or the NBA but the entire globe. You know, like he moved the world.”
Before Curry dissected an excellent Boston Celtics defense, many had used his lack of Finals MVP hardware to minimize him. How does a two-time regular-season MVP allow himself to be outdone by other teammates on the big stage? The NBA discourse can be such a ball of haters, full of too many rigid generalizations and forced comparisons between greats of the past and current, still-developing stars. The arguments spoil the enjoyment. It makes any gamer striving to become an all-timer appear like a human reservoir of accolades. It’s uncomfortable in a team sport, this constant individual legacy talk.
Iguodala was Finals MVP in 2015. Kevin Durant won in 2017 and 2018. Curry played well in those three finals, but in the end he wasn’t the story. He was only pleased with the success of his teammates, who are thriving in a system Kerr built to capitalize on the pressure Curry is putting on defense.
“It all starts with Steph,” said Draymond Green at the start of the final. “When KD was here, our offensive started with Steph and that’s how it will be.”
To be so successful, Curry isn’t obsessed with looking at his resume and contemplating his place in basketball history. He doesn’t have to prove he’s the man. He lives this title every day. Running a franchise isn’t always about proving your individual greatness. In 2016, that responsibility prompted Curry to join recruitment efforts for Durant, a tall and veteran player whose addition meant Curry had to adapt. When Durant left for Brooklyn in 2019, Curry had to lead a younger squad for that responsibility. After two difficult seasons, the Warriors not only won a fourth championship. They have a young core that could help prolong the careers of Curry, Green and Klay Thompson.
Curry is the epitome of a franchise player. Whether he’s the center of attention, the complementary star, or the bait, he’s ready to attack victory from all angles.
Curry rubbed his eyes as he sat in the interview room early Friday morning in Boston. He wore a black championship shirt, white championship hat and glasses still sprinkled with champagne bubbles. He listened to the first question. It was about winning the Finals MVP. He banged his hands on the table.
“Forget that question!” he exclaimed. “Why do you start with this question?”
He was upset. He was playful.
“We have four championships,” he said.
You just know he’ll be thinking about #5 soon.