Stephen Curry has been one of the most dominant and influential players in the NBA in recent years. Dubbed the “Baby-Faced Assassin,” he has amassed an impressive list of accolades, including four NBA championships, two MVP awards, a Finals MVP award, eight All-NBA selections, and is the all-time leader in career 3-pointers made. Having won two scoring titles, Stephen Curry is one of the greatest offensive players ever and is the NBA’s greatest shooter by a vast margin.
With his impressive resume, many supporters wonder whether he has what it takes to be considered one of the greatest players of all time and even if he has a chance to be recognized as the GOAT. Mentioning Steph among the 10 greatest players ever is a heavy opinion to consider, especially when looking at Fadeawayworld’s GOAT pyramid that has Michael Jordan firmly at the top. Based on the pyramid, it is clear that Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and Kobe Bryant are locked in as the first five stars on the list.
Curry has a ways to go to catch up to those five legends, and it won’t be likely he can equal them in terms of stats or accolades. Not to mention, even when looking at the remaining five of Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Larry Bird, Bill Russell, and Wilt Chamberlain, can Curry compete with them? That is also hard to compare because Steph is nowhere to be found when looking at the players with the most trophies in NBA history.
In this article, we will break down the reasons why Stephen Curry deserves to be recognized as an all-time great player but not among the top 10 players in NBA history. From his shooting prowess and leadership skills to his humble personality and contributions to the community, this article will highlight all the aspects that make Curry a true legend in NBA history, and he deserves respect. But finishing as a top-10 player ever is truly a heavy thing to consider, and it is time to close the case on this argument in complete fairness.
The Top-Five Are Locked
Let’s start from the top of the list with Michael Jordan. Has Stephen Curry shown enough to be considered the GOAT? Absolutely not. There are several reasons why Jordan is often considered the better player, and it starts with the fact that Jordan has more championship rings. Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in eight years, along with capturing six Finals MVPs, while Curry has won four championships and only a single Finals MVP award. While this is not the only measure of a player’s greatness, it is an important one when comparing two players. Of course, Michael is the far more well-rounded player with 10 scoring titles and a Defensive Player of the Year trophy, while Curry’s accomplishments pale in comparison.
What about LeBron James? We have already seen, in terms of career achievements, Curry can’t compare to The King either. First and foremost, LeBron’s versatility sets him apart from Curry. He has the ability to play and excel in multiple positions, including point guard, small forward, and power forward. This flexibility allows him to adapt to different game situations and play styles, making him an essential asset to any team he is on. LeBron’s physicality is also a key factor that gives him an edge over Curry. At 6’9″ and 250 pounds, he has an imposing presence on the court that is difficult for opponents to match. This size and strength allow him to drive to the basket, finish through contact, and impact the game in many areas. There is also no debate that James is a better passer and floor general than Steph, despite the latter being a point guard. LeBron’s leadership skills and ability to elevate his teammates is another aspect that makes him a better player than Curry. With more MVP awards (four to two), Finals MVPs (four to one), and the all-time scoring record, Curry is far off from catching The King even if he is the better player right now at age 35.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is widely considered a top-three player ever, and that is for good reason when looking at the all-time rankings. The greatest center of all time has a ridiculous list of accomplishments that makes it hard for Curry to compare to. Kareem has six championships, two Finals MVPs, six MVPs, 15 All-NBA Team selections, 19 All-Star selections, 11 All-Defensive Team selections, and two scoring titles. Not to mention, Abdul-Jabbar captured the Rookie of the Year trophy, led the league in blocks four times and in rebounds once. The big man also retired as the all-time leading scorer with 38,387 total career points before LeBron James passed him up this year. Armed with the most unstoppable shot ever and an unrivaled resume, Curry can never catch up to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as he is 35 years old with his final years nearing.
What about the all-time point guard debate involving Magic Johnson? Some are arguing for Curry over Magic, but are their reasons correct? Magic Johnson is widely regarded as the greatest point guard of all time, and for good reason. The superstar was a versatile and dominant player who could play multiple positions. He was often used as a point guard, but he could also play as a forward or even a center if needed. This made him a valuable asset to his team and enabled him to impact the game in multiple ways. Secondly, Magic Johnson had incredible court vision and passing abilities as one of the best playmakers in NBA history, consistently racking up assists and setting up his teammates for easy baskets. Perhaps most importantly, Magic Johnson was a clutch player who performed well in high-pressure situations, as evident in his performance during the 1980 NBA Finals, where he filled in for injured center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and led the Lakers to a championship while scoring 42 points and recording 15 rebounds and seven assists in the decisive Game 6. The point guard GOAT debate is over unless Curry can add his 5th championship to equal Magic’s number.
Stephen Curry can’t compare to Kobe Bryant, either. Bryant dominated the game for two decades, winning five NBA championships, two Olympic gold medals, and numerous individual awards, including two Finals MVPs and making 18 All-Star appearances. Kobe’s playing style was more versatile and well-rounded than Curry’s. Kobe was known for his scoring ability and was a master of nearly every scoring move in the book, including his iconic turnaround jumper. However, he was also an excellent defender, making the NBA All-Defensive team 12 times in his career. Secondly, Kobe’s mentality and competitiveness were unparalleled. He was notorious for his intense focus and drive, which allowed him to perform at an incredibly high level consistently. In contrast, some have criticized Curry’s consistency, noting that he can sometimes disappear in big games or have costly turnovers. Finally, Kobe played at an elite level for a much longer period of time than Curry has so far.
With the top-five insurmountable, Stephen Curry has to fight with five other superstar players to potentially have a chance to crack the top-ten list.
Stephen Curry Is Not Better Than The Quartet Of Elite Big Men
Stephen Curry is the greatest Warriors player of all time because he has played his entire career with the franchise and has singlehandedly changed the game with his three-point shooting. A one-franchise man, Steph accumulated all his accolades with the Golden State Warriors and deserves to be respected. But does Stephen Curry have what it takes to crack the top-ten list ahead of Shaquille O’Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Tim Duncan?
The elite quartet of big men occupy most all-time top-ten lists because they dominated the game in extraordinary ways. The first up is Shaquille O’Neal, the most dominant player of all time. It can’t be that Curry is a better player than Shaq because the superstar center was just horrifying to compete against. We already saw how far off Curry is from Shaq as a dominant player and that it is completely incorrect to place the point guard ahead of the superstar center. O’Neal was more dominant on both ends, won more Finals MVPs, and has a three-peat to his name. Not to mention, Shaq was more dominant, efficient, and has more accolades in a longer career. No player scared opposing teams more than Shaq, and there can’t be a comparison here because O’Neal never needed a pick or some plays to truly dominate a game.
Wilt Chamberlain has to be mentioned in the same breath as Shaquille O’Neal in terms of dominance. Wilt Chamberlain was one of the most dominant players in NBA history as he won four MVP awards and seven scoring titles, and his career scoring average of 30.1 points per game is the second-highest in NBA history. Chamberlain also holds numerous NBA records, including the most points scored in a single game (100) and the highest rebounding average in a single season (27.2). Stephen Curry, while undoubtedly great in his own right, has not had the same level of individual dominance. Wilt Chamberlain was also an extremely versatile player who could score, rebound, and play defense at an elite level. Looking at Wilt’s resume and track record shows who the more elite star was.
Next up is the greatest winner ever. Bill Russell is considered by many to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time, having won a total of 11 NBA championships during his career with the Boston Celtics, which is the most in NBA history. This far eclipses Curry’s total of four championships so far. Russell was not only a key factor in leading his team to these championships, but he was also the team captain and acted as the defensive anchor of the franchise. Next, Russell was known for his exceptional defensive skills and was arguably the greatest defensive center in NBA history. He was an expert shot-blocker and rebounder, frequently leading the league in those categories. Curry does not have the leadership or defensive skills that Russell possessed, along with coming nowhere close to the center’s total of 11 championship rings.
Finally, Curry cannot match up with Tim Duncan until he can somehow win five championships and/or three Finals MVP trophies to enter the argument. Until then, this comparison is also clear. Tim Duncan played at an elite level for more than two decades, earning 15 All-NBA selections and 15 All-Star Teams while winning five championships over his career. He was known for his consistent production and leadership, which helped the San Antonio Spurs become one of the most successful franchises in NBA history. Stephen Curry has also had a highly successful career, but he has not yet played for as long as Tim Duncan, and his career is still ongoing. The big man had a tremendous impact on the game of basketball, both in terms of his individual accomplishments and his role in building a successful team. His leadership and guidance were instrumental in helping the Spurs win five championships, and his unselfish style of play helped elevate the game of his teammates. Can Curry ever dream of making a single All-Defensive Team selection, let alone 15 All-Defensive selections held by Duncan?
Accolades Don’t Match Up With Larry Bird
With nine players fixed among the top ten, the last name that has to be mentioned is Larry Bird. As a matter of fact, Bird is the only player that Curry can truly surpass to enter the top-ten list. As things stand right now, does Steph have enough to surpass Larry Legend? Unfortunately, not yet. Larry Bird was an extremely skilled all-around player who could rebound, score, and pass at an elite level. He averaged 24.3 PPG, 10 RPG, and 6.3 APG over his career while shooting an impressive 49.6% from the field. Bird was also an excellent defender, with a reputation for being a tenacious and smart player on both sides of the ball. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team three times and was known for his ability to steal the ball and disrupt opposing offenses.
Bird was an incredibly accomplished player, winning three NBA championships, three straight NBA Most Valuable Player awards, and being selected to 12 All-Star teams over the course of his career. He was also named to the All-NBA First Team nine times. While Curry has won four NBA championships, he has only won two MVP awards and did not manage to capture three in a row. With more Finals MVP awards and MVP awards, Larry Bird had a huge impact on the NBA during his career and is widely considered to be one of the players who helped popularize the league in the 1980s. His fierce competitiveness and memorable rivalry with Magic Johnson helped elevate the sport’s profile at a critical time.
The Greatest Shooter Ever Has The Argument To Surpass Hakeem Olajuwon, Oscar Roberton, Jerry West, And Kevin Durant
Stephen Curry cannot crack the top-ten list just yet. Capturing his fifth NBA championship and second Finals MVP award could give Steph some traction to surpass Bird, but until then, it is hard to place him ahead of the Boston Celtics legend. That means Steph has to ward off competition from Hakeem Olajuwon, Oscar Roberton, Jerry West, and Kevin Durant for 11th place on the all-time list.
Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon is widely considered to be the 11th greatest player because of his elite two-way skills, capturing two NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, and the MVP award. His dominance and post moves made him a legend, but to be fair, he does not have the championships or regular season MVP awards that Curry has. Steph has played with a host of All-Stars that Hakeem Olajuwon did not have, but the point guard still got the job done in the NBA. If one wants to argue that Steph has a better resume than Hakeem, that is a legitimate argument to be had.
The same goes for Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Kevin Durant. Oscar Robertson was the original triple-double king. At 6’5″ tall, he had the size and strength to play both guard and forward positions, and he could do everything on the court, including a complete offensive game, a smooth jump shot, a strong post-up game, and exceptional court vision and passing ability. He also had a knack for rebounding, consistently averaging over 7.0 RPG for his career. However, Oscar did not have the title success that Curry had and many will place Steph over him.
Jerry West and Kevin Durant also did not have Curry’s championship success because the former went 1-8 in the NBA Finals, and Durant has gone 2-2 in his Finals appearances. West is the NBA’s logo, and Durant is a 4-time scoring champion, but Curry managed to win more than both and also capture the first-ever unanimous MVP trophy. Many will have no issue putting Curry ahead of West and Durant in the all-time greatest players list, and there is a legitimate argument to be made.
Stephen Curry Is Not A Top-10 Player Of All-Time
Stephen Curry is not a top-10 player of all time, and the evidence is clear. He can’t compete with the top-5 list of all-time because he doesn’t have the impact and accolades of those players and does not have a complete game. The point guard is among the best ever offensively, but if he isn’t making his three-pointers, can he impact the game like those players? The answer is no because he is miniature and is a defensive liability at times.
Next, Curry is not better than the elite centers, including Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq’s name gets thrown around when using a Curry comparison, but that isn’t fair. O’Neal is the most dominant player of all time, and he managed to win three straight championships and Finals MVPs despite sharing the spotlight alongside Kobe Bryant. Curry is a player opposing coaches fear, but nobody was feared more than Shaquille O’Neal.
Finally, Larry Bird was the undisputed face of the NBA alongside Magic Johnson during the 1980s and is the last player to ever win three straight MVP awards. That back-to-back-to-back is something Curry never came close to achieving, let alone the two Finals MVP trophies that Larry Legend won. In a game with everything on the line, it is hard to imagine Bird being outplayed by Steph because very few had his competitive drive and mental advantage.
Therefore, it is safe to close the case of Steph being a top-10 player of all time. If the point guard can capture his fifth championship and second Finals MVP, this can certainly be revisited but he will have to compete with the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Kevin Durant for 11th place. Curry is the game’s greatest shooter and has the all-time three-point record, so his status is set. As a result, there is no issue for most people who want to claim Curry is currently the 11th greatest player of all time, just outside of the top-ten list. At 35 years old, Curry has time to add to his resume, and if he does, we can revisit his standing, but as of now, he is on the outside of the top-10 list with Hakeem Olajuwon and Larry Bird as his biggest competitors for that honor.
