Very few players in NBA history can say they completely changed the way basketball is played.
Stephen Curry can.
The greatest shooter of all time, the man who revolutionized basketball and the superstar who helped create a dynasty. Chef Curry takes the #2 spot on my list.
Before Curry, the three-point shot was an important part of basketball. After Curry, it became the foundation of the modern game.
The Greatest Shooter Ever
There really is not much of a debate anymore.
Stephen Curry is the greatest shooter basketball has ever seen.
Curry became the NBA’s all-time leader in made three-pointers, but even that record does not fully explain his impact.
It was how he made them.
Pull-ups from several feet behind the three-point line. Shots off the dribble. Catch-and-shoot threes. Quick releases coming off screens. Defenders suddenly had to guard a player almost as soon as he crossed half court.
Curry stretched defenses farther than they had ever been stretched before.
His historic 2015-16 season showed just how unstoppable that style could become. Curry averaged 30.1 points per game, made an NBA-record 402 three-pointers and led Golden State to a 73-9 record.
He became the first and still only unanimous MVP in NBA history.
Think about what that means. Michael Jordan never did it. LeBron James never did it. Shaquille O’Neal never did it. Some of the most dominant players the game has ever seen came incredibly close, but none received every first-place MVP vote.
Stephen Curry did.
That alone tells you just how special his 2015-16 season was.
The Man Who Revolutionized Basketball
Curry’s greatest impact might not be something you can find on a stat sheet.
He changed basketball.
Teams began prioritizing three-point shooting more than ever. Players started extending their shooting range. Big men were expected to space the floor. Young players began practicing shots that coaches from previous generations would have immediately benched them for taking.
The NBA became a different sport because Curry proved how devastating elite three-point shooting could be.
There are very few players in basketball history where you can clearly look at the league before and after them.
Curry is one of them.
The Chef Created a Dynasty
Of course, changing basketball would not mean nearly as much without winning.
Curry was the centerpiece of the Golden State Warriors dynasty that won four NBA championships in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022 and reached six NBA Finals in eight seasons.
Alongside Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, and later Kevin Durant, Curry helped create one of the greatest teams and dynasties the sport has ever seen.
His 2022 championship added another defining chapter to his legacy. Curry averaged 31.2 points per game against Boston and finally captured his first NBA Finals MVP, leading Golden State back to the championship after many believed its dynasty was finished.
Curry’s résumé includes four championships, two MVP awards, a Finals MVP and numerous All-NBA and All-Star selections.
But his legacy is bigger than the trophies.
Stephen Curry changed what coaches considered a good shot. He changed how defenses were built. He changed how kids learned to play basketball.
And most importantly, he proved that his revolutionary style could produce championships.
The greatest shooter basketball has ever seen.
The face of a dynasty.
The man who changed the game.
Chef Curry takes the #2 spot on my list of the greatest point guards of all time.
And now there is only one man left.
Next up: #1 Magic Johnson.
If you enjoyed the article, make sure to like and subscribe to Ethical Sports Takes for more rankings, opinions and sports content.
Leave a Reply