Stephen Curry is undoubtedly one of the greatest basketball players of all time. A two-time league MVP and four-time NBA champion, Curry has made a name for himself with his incredible three-point shooting and unselfish play style. However, in the past season, the Golden State Warriors have struggled to replicate their championship-winning form, leaving fans and analysts wondering what the team can do to get back to the top. One possible solution is bringing in another NBA star who would be a perfect fit alongside Curry and the rest of the Warriors’ core.
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While the team already has a talented roster, there are a few players who could take the Warriors to the next level and help them compete for a fifth championship. Obviously, a lot of the top NBA players around the league will not be available, and a dream partnership with Curry and most stars will be nothing but a dream. However, it should never be the case in which we can’t pair Stephen Curry with another elite superstar player hypothetically because the point guard is incredibly unselfish and tends to compete for titles alongside other elite stars as he showed with Kevin Durant in the 2017 and 2018 championship-winning seasons.
But imagination is key when thinking about this scenario: if there were no barriers to player personnel or team salary caps, who would be the best fit with Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors? We will explore the possibilities and examine which superstar would give the Golden State Warriors the best chance of winning another championship with Stephen Curry at the helm.
10. Brandon Ingram
Credit: Fadeaway World
2022-23 Season Statistics: 24.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.8 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Brandon Ingram has been showing steady improvement in the league and has become an All-Star as of the 2019-20 season. He has the ability to score from anywhere on the floor and has demonstrated impressive playmaking skills. Not to mention, with his length and athleticism, he can also defend multiple positions. When it comes to fitting in with the Golden State Warriors, Ingram’s versatility is what makes him an ideal fit alongside Stephen Curry. Curry is a player who can score from anywhere on the court and create opportunities for others through his playmaking skills. Ingram has a similar skill set, giving the Warriors another player who can create offense and take some of the pressure off of Curry.
In addition to his offensive skills, Ingram’s length and athleticism also make him an asset on defense. He can defend multiple positions and provides an added layer of versatility to the Warriors’ defensive schemes. His ability to switch effectively on defense would also allow the Warriors to be more aggressive and disruptive in their defensive rotations. Ingram would be somewhat of a “poor man’s Kevin Durant” because he has the same build and similar skill set to provide what Curry and Klay Thompson need.
9. Zion Williamson
Credit: Fadeaway World
2022-23 Season Statistics: 26.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG
No doubt, Zion Williamson is one of the most exciting young players in the NBA right now. The 6’6″ forward is a force to be reckoned with on the court thanks to his incredible size, strength, and athleticism. He is an efficient scorer who can get to the rim with ease, and he has a natural ability to finish at the rim that is unmatched by most players in the league. One of the reasons why Williamson would be a perfect fit alongside Stephen Curry is that he is an excellent pick-and-roll player. Curry, who is one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, is also an excellent playmaker and can create open shots for his teammates when he is on the floor.
Williamson’s size and strength make him an excellent screen-setter, and he has the ability to catch lobs and finish at the rim with ease. Moreover, Williamson also has a high basketball IQ, which is essential when playing alongside Stephen Curry in the Warriors’ offensive system. Leaving Curry open in pick-n-roll situations is essentially writing your own will, but blitzing Steph and leaving Williamson with an open lane might even be worse. Zion’s career 60.5% field-goal percentage is a sign that the big man hardly misses around the rim and that means an elite inside-outside presence could lend itself to success for Golden State.
8. Karl-Anthony Towns
Credit: Fadeaway World
2022-23 Season Statistics: 20.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 4.8 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Karl-Anthony Towns, a talented center known for his versatility and dominance on the offensive end, would be an ideal fit to play alongside Stephen Curry. With his ability to stretch the floor and shoot from beyond the arc, Towns would provide another lethal scoring option for the Warriors. Not only is he an elite scorer, but Towns is also a strong rebounder and shot-blocker, complementing the Warriors’ need for a consistent rim protector and big man. Even Towns’ playmaking ability (4.8 APG in 2023) also brings a unique aspect that could help elevate the Warriors’ offense even more, as he has the skill to make accurate passes out of the post, allowing his teammates to get open for shots.
Perhaps most importantly, the three-time All-Star’s youth and athleticism would be a perfect match for the Warriors. At 27 years old, he still has plenty of time to develop his game even further and would fit in with the team’s long-term plans for success. It’s not hard to imagine a Curry-Towns pick-and-roll causing chaos for opposing defenses, with Curry’s deadly shooting opening up lanes for Towns to drive or post up. KAT can also be more useful instead of the slow-footed and limited Kevon Looney because he can pull down boards just as well and actually push the pace like a guard.
7. Anthony Davis
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2022-23 Season Statistics: 25.9 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.0 BPG
Anthony Davis is easily a top-10 player in the world, thanks to his ability to score from anywhere on the court and his incredible defensive prowess. Davis has long been considered one of the top players in the league and would be a perfect fit alongside Stephen Curry and the Warriors. One of the main reasons Davis would thrive playing alongside Curry is because of his ability to stretch the floor. With Curry constantly drawing the attention of defenders on the perimeter, Anthony Davis would have plenty of open space to operate in the mid-range and underneath the basket. Even if the big man’s three-point shooting has been putrid (under 30% for three straight seasons), Davis is enough of a threat to make a difference from mid-range.
Perhaps most importantly, Davis’ shot-blocking and rebounding abilities would complement Curry’s offensive skills and help make the Warriors an even more formidable team on both ends of the court. Davis has also shown a willingness and an ability to play off the ball, which would allow Curry to run the offense and create scoring opportunities for Davis on pick-and-rolls and other set plays. We have seen how great the likes of Andrew Bogut and Kevon Looney have been during the Golden State Warriors championship runs, but Curry and the rest of the core have never played with an agile and dominant big man who can literally suffocate players in the post as well as Davis.
6. Jimmy Butler
Credit: Fadeaway World
2022-23 Season Statistics: 22.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Jimmy Butler is one of the greatest playoff performers in NBA history because he doubles his level of play as soon as the regular season finishes. Obviously, for this reason alone, Jimmy Butler’s partnership with Stephen Curry would cause nightmares for defenders. Butler’s scoring ability and defensive prowess would complement Curry’s shooting and playmaking skills, creating a formidable backcourt duo. His ability to attack the basket and draw fouls could also help open up the floor for Curry’s long-range shooting.
In addition, Butler’s unselfishness and willingness to play within a team concept would align well with the Warriors’ culture of ball movement and sharing the ball. Butler’s experience in the playoffs could also prove invaluable to a Warriors team looking to make a deep run in the postseason year after year, with the former Chicago Bull’s leadership skills and experience in high-pressure situations being the catalyst. As great as Harrison Barnes and Andrew Wiggins have been, they do not have Butler’s superstar two-way abilities and leadership abilities. Can one imagine Butler’s toughness and grit paired with Curry’s skill?
5. Nikola Jokic
Credit: Fadeaway World
2022-23 Season Statistics: 24.5 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 9.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Nikola Jokic could have won three straight MVP awards if not for Joel Embiid’s dominant performances this season, along with some media bias. Regardless, the Serbian is extremely impactful, even if he hardly leaves his feet when he plays. A below-the-rim player, Jokic combines size, skill, and basketball IQ better than any big man in the NBA right now. Jokic has had incredible success with Jamal Murray as his point guard, and while Murray can explode for big offensive performances, he is not on the level of Stephen Curry. In other words, Curry and Nikola Jokic would prove to be the most devastating duo in the NBA by a wide margin. In fact, no other center fits better with Steph right now.
As a 7-foot center who can shoot from distance, pass like a point guard, and grab rebounds with ease, he would be an ideal fit to play alongside Stephen Curry. Jokic is a true triple-threat player and has excellent court vision, which would make him an asset in the Warriors’ offense. One of the best things about Jokic is his unselfishness. He is always looking to make the right play and would fit perfectly into the Warriors’ team-first philosophy. As a skilled passer, he would work well with the Warriors’ ball movement system, making smart passes and setting up his teammates for easy baskets. A pick-n-roll with Curry and Jokic would give the opposition fits because if a player is open, Jokic will find him if he does not get an easy layup. Otherwise, it is a wide-open Stephen Curry three-pointer that hits the bottom of the net.
4. LeBron James
Credit: Fadeaway World
2022-23 Season Statistics: 28.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 6.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Pairing any top-10 player of all time with Stephen Curry would yield devastating results. However, LeBron James might fit better with Steph better than any other top-10 player of all time because of his elite playmaking and basketball IQ. While James often dominates the ball on offense, his excellent passing and off-ball movement would mesh well with Curry’s shooting ability and flashy style of play. James, at age 38, would have no issue being the primary point guard and playmaker, with Curry leading the Warriors in scoring.
Moreover, James’ championship experience and leadership skills would be a valuable asset to the Warriors, who have struggled this season with enough killers on the basketball court. LeBron’s ability to step up in high-pressure situations and lead a team through adversity would provide a much-needed boost to a Warriors team that has a history of going deep into the playoffs. James’ all-around excellence, paired with Curry’s shooting, would be disastrous for other teams and it is a shame that we will never be able to see it by most accounts.
3. Kawhi Leonard
Credit: Fadeaway World
2022-23 Season Statistics: 23.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Kawhi Leonard is one of the most dominant two-way players in the NBA. He is a formidable scorer who can create his own shot, and his ferocious defense (two-time Defensive Player of the Year) is a reason why he will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Leonard’s combination of offensive and defensive skills makes Leonard a perfect fit to play alongside Stephen Curry. Curry’s shooting ability and ball-handling skills would provide Leonard with the necessary support to focus on his defense and focused scoring capabilities. The two players would also be able to complement each other’s playing styles, with Leonard’s ability to drive to the basket and his focus on mid-range jumpers matching perfectly with Curry’s three-point shooting.
With the extra attention Curry draws from defenders, Leonard would have more opportunities to get to the rim and score. Moreover, Leonard’s experience as a champion and his unrelenting work ethic make him an ideal fit for the Golden State Warriors. His humble and mature approach to the game would also mesh well with Curry’s leadership and team-oriented style. Kawhi does not need “touches” to be effective, but playing off the ball and picking his spots is better suited to his style.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Credit: Fadeaway World
2022-23 Season Statistics: 31.1 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 5.7 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG
The dream target for Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors is Giannis Antetokounmpo. While it won’t be easy to get a deal like this over the line, it is not impossible and actually quite reasonable for the Warriors and the Milwaukee Bucks. No doubt, the two-time MVP would be a fantastic fit alongside Stephen Curry on the Golden State Warriors. Antetokounmpo’s combination of size, speed, and athleticism is unmatched in the league, and his ability to play multiple positions would make him a valuable asset to any team – especially one with a point guard like Curry leading the way. Both Antetokounmpo and Curry are known for their leadership qualities and their ability to elevate the play of their teammates.
Giannis Antetokounmpo would bring defensive versatility, relentless rebounding, and a smart basketball mind to the table, while Curry’s gravity as a shooter would open up the floor for his teammates. Together, Antetokounmpo and Curry would make opposing defenses work tirelessly to try and slow them down, as they would undoubtedly form a scary partnership on the fast break. The Greek Freak’s ability to attack the rim and finish through contact, combined with Curry’s uncanny ability to shoot from beyond the arc and create opportunities for his teammates, would be a nightmare for opponents to defend against. Not to mention, Antetokounmpo’s ability on defense would greatly help the Warriors, who have struggled to win enough games this year due to their lack of size and defensive tenacity.
1. Kevin Durant
Credit: Fadeaway World
2022-23 Season Statistics: 29.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 5.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.4 BPG
The best fit for Stephen Curry is non either than Kevin Durant, the player who helped the Warriors win back-to-back NBA championships after failing in the Finals the year before he joined the team. Quite frankly, the pairing was nothing short of electric. Durant’s combination of size, scoring ability, and jump shot made him one of the most dominant players in the league. And with Curry’s ability to stretch the floor and draw defenders away from the basket, the two players worked seamlessly together, leading the Warriors to two NBA championships in three Finals appearances.
Durant’s versatility as a player made him the perfect complement to Curry’s game.
With his size, he was able to play down low and create mismatches against smaller defenders, while his jump shot allowed him to space the floor and knock down threes. Additionally, Durant’s defensive prowess made him a nightmare for opposing teams, as he was able to shut down even the most dominant of players. Although Durant has since moved on to play for the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns, his pairing with Curry on the Warriors will always be remembered as one of the greatest in NBA history, and the superstar forward truly belongs alongside the talented point guard.
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