this post was submitted on 11 Feb 2024
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It depends on who you want to argue with. It's hard to compare across eras, and folks weight different things.
For me Steph was right on the edge of top 10 before he won his 4th because he singularly redefined the game in a way not done since Shaq. Shaq, a top 10er himself said the same, he's definitely in the top 10 but isn't kicking me out. Ironically, Shaq maybe the player who gets booted if you prefer Steph, otherwise Kobe or Bird probably go from most lists.
How did he redefine the game?
He’s the greatest shooter of all time. The reason everyone keeps shooting 3 point shots today compared to the 90s and early 2000s where bigger guys dominated by shooting closer to the rim is because of him. He essentially changed how the game is played.
What did he do differently?
Made the 3 point shot a regular thing. In the previous generation, the 3 point shot was generally reserved for specialist shooters on the team as it was deemed a low percentage shot. Today, everyone is shooting 3s at a high clip, and almost all players on the floor take those shots regularly.
He really was just so much more efficient at shooting from beyond the 3 point line it changed the landscape of the game.
If you look at 3pt attempts over time and 3% percentages over time there's a massive spike after Steph. The introduction of analytics plays a small role as well, a lot of shots used to be taken 2'-4' before the 3 pt line it which has largely died (just take a step back and take the 3 for an extra point)
Steph really just showed what's truly possible when shooting from deep and the entire game changes. Growing up playing in Highschool 3s were considered "bad" shots for a lot of players. Nowadays most highschool players are taking 3s and relatively efficiently as well.
There was a funny infographic comparing body sizes and skill sets in basketball, larger guys can play under the net, hit the lay ups, smaller guys drive to the rim, or feel stop short and hit the mid range. After Steph Curry, everyone goes for the 3.
His points per shot attempt were higher from the 3 than from anywhere else on the court (he hits more 2's, but gets more points per attempt, and was consistent enough at hitting the 3s), I believe he was the first person to achieve that, every NBA team is looking for the next Steph, and most every college athlete is attempting to be that.
That's really fascinating. Thanks for explaining it to me.
You don't have to, but out of curiosity, what would your personal top ten list look like?
Asking for a top 10 is fixing for a fight, but mostly it’s a matter of perspective. A lot of guys who watched 00s ball will say Kobe because of how electric he was, 90s Jordan, 80s Bird. Each era has their guys, and it’s hard to be objective. I’m not the guy you asked but for me:
I have my reasons, but Kareem was a men among boys and changed the game so much, on and off the court. He, and others, pushed for black rights while still being the best in the court and dealing with the push back from the side who didn’t want that change. He’ll always have my respect. Amazing person, I think if you can’t put him as a number one for his on court he has to be up there for his off court contributions too.
I see your list and I'm ready to fight.
Jks, but it is a very divisive question!
Wilt Chamberlain
A decently long break
Michael Jordan
Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Kobe Bryant
Larry Bird
LeBron James
Shaquille oneal
Steph Curry
Giannis ant..eto..koun...mpo
Nikola jokic
I think the last two break the mold that today's greats wouldn't stand a chance in previous decades leagues, Steph may not have survived, but giannis and Nikola would've wrecked 90s basketball.
And #11 goes to dirk nowitzki, because my grandma was in Sacramento for a doctor's visit when the Mavericks were in town, and she got in an elevator with him (she had no idea), and she hit him with "you're so tall, do you play basketball?" (She was like 85 at the time) and he was apparently super sweet to her, we had to look up who was in town that night and gave her a lineup of faces, yup, she picked out one of the taller people in the NBA! I bet he was a mountain compared to her!