It was a Steph Curry coronation as the Golden State Warriors win the 2022 NBA Finals.
And now let the discussion begin about Steph Curry being mentioned as one of the greatest players of all time.
Already an 8-time NBA All-Star, 8-time All-NBA selection, 2-time MVP (one unanimous), 4 championships, and now with a Finals MVP award now added to his sparkling resume, he becomes the 5th player in NBA history with multiple MVPs, a Finals MVP and a scoring title.
Curry has put the icing on the cake to a spectacular career with his performance in the Finals. It’s time to start mentioning his name right along with Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, and Wilt Chamberlain as it’s due time to give him the respect he deserves.
Not just as the greatest shooter the game has ever witnessed but as one of the greatest to step foot on the hardwood. Equipped with insane handles, the ability to shoot it from any and everywhere, from his court vision down to his play-making ability, his work ethic down to being a great and unselfish teammate.
It’s been a pleasure watching him develop into the player he is and how he has evolved the way the game is played. Another attribute of Curry that is underrated is how well he moves without the ball which proves his phenomenal conditioning at age 34. I personally had to allow myself to sit back and just enjoy every moment I get to watch Curry play.
I grew up in the 90s when the Jordan era was in full swing. I used to watch Jordan dominate and win titles but I was too young to fully grasp the magnitude of what I was watching. Now, with the opportunity to watch Curry, I truly understand that I’m watching greatness and witnessing history and I’m glad I got to see it.
Even after Curry broke the all-time 3-point record, I wondered would there be another shooter great enough to even come close but I believe many eras will go by until someone else comes along and challenges Curry’s all-time mark. Imagine the volume and accuracy a player would have to maintain for a very long period of time just to come close to breaking the record.
That just attests to his level of greatness. Curry appears to have plenty left in the tank as the Warriors still have their main core group still intact not to mention the young players they have waiting in the wings. Curry’s path to success is inspirational because of all the adversity he faced as he entered the league.
His career could have been derailed by injuries he struggled with earlier in his career but worked hard to overcome many obstacles as he is the perfect example of what hard work and mental toughness can get you. People only focus on his shooting but there is much more to his game.
Curry is also an amazing finisher, has a basketball IQ that’s off the charts, and knows what it takes to win and be successful even without making 3’s as we saw in Game 5 of the Finals. There isn’t a player who single-handedly demands this much attention since Kobe Bryant.
It’s astonishing how whenever Curry steps into an opposing team’s arena how the other team’s home fans cheer for him. That’s just the influence he has and the effectiveness of his greatness. With his 4th championship and now a Finals MVP, Curry has solidified himself as a top 10 player of all time.