Former teammates at the Golden State Warriors and Team USA, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant seem to operate in a complex space of mutual admiration. After a tightly gripping showdown between the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors, despite losing to the Warriors by a point, NBA veteran Kevin Durant had nothing but roses and praises for Chef Curry. However, current teammate Draymond Green wasn’t enthusiastic about KD’s take.
After winning two championships together (in 2017 and 2018) while repping the “Dub Nation” between 2016 and 2019, KD, Curry & Draymond have a shared championship history. NBAONESPN shared an Instagram post with Curry’s winning 3-point 27 ft-footer and a photo with the caption “All-time greatest ever at his position…top-5 ever. -Kevin Durant”.
The Curry-Green duo has brought the Warriors back on the map. In their match-up against the Phoenix Suns, Green emerged somewhat of a hero, by deflecting Durant’s pass with only 0.6 seconds left on the clock. Green helped Curry and the Warriors secure their pertinent dub against the Suns with 15 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds. Curry, on the other hand, had an elite run with 30 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. In this season, Curry is also the NBA leader in clutch scoring with 157 points, 49 made field goals, and 27 3-pointers.
It’s no secret that big man Green likes to guard Curry on the court, but it seems like he wants to protect Curry off-court too. The ever-composed Durant even cracked a smile on the court while looking at the replay of Curry’s shot on the Jumbotron. Even though Green thinks KD’s praises and adulation for Curry aren’t enough, the internet is flooded with opinions on both sides.
Kirk Goldsberry, a seasoned basketball writer, too commented on NBAONESPN’s post, “Best PG is either Steph or Magic, who went to the Finals 9 times, won 5 rings, 3 Finals MVPs, a collegiate title, and a gold medal.”
Curry up there with Magic Johnson?
Amidst a similar debate that was sparked last year, NBA legend Michael Jordan, who was also teammates with Magic Johnson during the “dream team” era, shared his thoughts with Stephen A. Smith. “Although greatest of anything is always a debate, I beg to differ on greatest point guard of all-time, Magic Johnson is easily the best point guard of all-time. Steph Curry is very close, but not in front of Magic,” he said.
Warriors’ superstar Curry is still going strong at 35, he still has a long road ahead in the league to make or break all kinds of “all-time” records. However, one cannot overlook Magic Johnson’s “ridiculous resume” (as per Curry).
When Magic Johnson first retired in 1991, he held the NBA’s all-time record for assists with 9,921 and finished his career with 10,141 assists after coming back briefly in ’96, placing him at 7th in NBA history. His unbelievable average of 11.2 assists per game remains an NBA record. To further establish his dominance, Johnson boasts three MVP awards compared to Curry’s two, three Finals MVP awards to Curry’s one, and five NBA championships to Curry’s four.
However, the story doesn’t end there. Stephen Curry has a scoring prowess which is undeniable. His career scoring average of 24.6 points per game surpasses Johnson’s 19.5. Moreover, Curry has already bagged 21,712 points in his career, far exceeding Johnson’s total of 17,707. Curry went on to secure scoring titles in both the 2015-16 and 2020-21 seasons, averaging over 30 points per game in each. And not to forget, he reigns supreme as the league’s leader in most three-pointers ever made.
While the debate for the “PG GOAT” (Greatest Point Guard of All Time) continues to spark discussions, Draymond Green’s energy should shift towards the Warriors’ next game against the Utah Jazz tomorrow. His support is crucial for helping his teammate, Curry, solidify or achieve (depending on which band you’re in) claim to GOAT status.
