The Golden State Warriors have started the defense of their 2014-15 NBA championship in fine fashion. At the time of this writing, the Warriors are 15-0 and are within shouting distance of the NBA's best ever opening record of 16-0. The team's leader Stephen Curry is already in route to another MVP championship to go with his award from last season. The 6'3" guard is rightfully earning his reputation as professional basketball's best shooter ever. Statistically speaking Curry is only getting better, despite a fairly pedestrian 19 point outing against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, November 23. Through 15 games, this season Curry has posted a 35.6 points per game average, a field goal percent of .515 and as an insane .441 from behind the three-point line.
Curry is currently ranked third all-time among professional players (NBA and ABA) in three-point shooting percentage (.4405), just behind Hubert Davis (.4409), and Steve Kerr (.4540), coincidentally the current head coach of the Warriors. He also holds the all-time record for three-point shots made in a single season with 286, beating Ray Allen's record of 269 set during the 2005-06 season. In six full seasons in the NBA, including the strike-shortened season of 2011-12, Curry has sunk 1,021 three-point shots.
Through the first month of the 2015-16 season, Curry is on pace to destroy his current single-season record. He is currently on pace to hit over 400 three-pointers and could beat his own single-season record by late February. He is currently averaging just over five three-pointers per game and only needs 3.4 per game to reach 300 for the season.
The sports website Cheatsheat.com lists Curry and his "Splash Brothers" teammate Klay Thompson as the number 2 and 3 pure shooters currently in the NBA - Kyle Korver earned the top spot on this list. Cheatsheet.com says Curry is the master of the step-back jump shot:
"Prior to the step back, he will fake a hard drive to the hoop to get his man off balance. From there, Curry will lean into a jab step, before crossing the ball over, and stepping back behind the three-point arc. With a quick release, the ball is already over the outstretched hands of the defense and into the bottom of the net."
Judging from his personal life, Curry is an even man than he is a professional athlete. Curry is a family man and a dedicated Christian who is outspoken about his faith. During his MVP Award acceptance speech, Curry said regarding his faith, "People should know who I represent and why I am who I am, and that's because of my Lord and Savior." He and his wife, Ayesha, have two daughters, Riley, 2, and Ryan born in July.
While it seems discussions about who is the best ever are moot considering the dominance of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, the following question is begging to be asked: where does Curry rank among the game's all-time great shooting guards- Jordan, Larry Bird, Isaiah Thomas, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, etc.? Check out the statistics below and see how Curry compares with the best shooters of the NBA.
Stephen Curry
Years In The League 6
NBA Championships 1
MVP Championships 1
Career Points Per Game 21.4
Career FG% .473
Career 3-point% .441
Career Points Total 9,185
Shooting Efficiency% .564
Notes: Curry was injured during the majority of the strike-shortened 2011-12 season
LeBron James
Years In The League 11
NBA Championships 2
MVP Championships 4
Career FG% .496
Career 3-point% .342
Career Points Total 25,240
Shooting Efficiency% .531
Larry Bird
Years In The League 13
NBA Championships 3
MVP Championships 3
Career FG% .423
Career 3-point% .231
Career Points Total 21,791
Shooting Efficiency% NA
Kobe Bryant
Years In The League 19
NBA Championships 5
MVP Championships 1
Career FG% .451
Career 3-point% .332
Career Points Total 32,627
Shooting Efficiency% .484
Michael Jordan
Years In The League 15
NBA Championships 6
MVP Championships 5
Career FG% .497
Career 3-point% .327
Career Points Total 32,292
Shooting Efficiency% .NA
Isaiah Thomas
Years In The League 13
NBA Championships 3
MVP Championships 0
Career FG% .452
Career 3-point% .290
Career Points Total 18,822
Shooting Efficiency% .NA
“& whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks 2 God the Father, through Him” Col 3:17
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) September 27, 2015
