Steph Curry: A Transcendent Talent

To say Stephen Curry is a transcendent talent might be an understatement.  During the past few years, he has been in quite a groove.  This groove culminated in an MVP award and NBA championship in the 2014-15 NBA Season.  Steph epitomizes the rare talent who exceeds expectations.  He was not heavily recruited in high school and he attended Davidson College, which is hardly known for being a haven for top notch, NBA-level talent.  In fact, he did not come onto the national scene until his team made a deep run in the NCAA Tournament during his last year at Davidson College.  Even with his impressive individual run, many NBA scouts thought he would not be able to become a full time starting point guard in the NBA.  Some of the comments made about Curry just before the NBA Draft were—and I am paraphrasing—he is not athletic, he is too small, he is not strong and he is a poor defensive player.  These so-called “experts” completely missed the mark.

I have been an avid basketball fan for at least twenty-five years.  During my time spent playing, observing and talking to other fanatics about the game, I learned what was traditionally expected of a point guard.  Some of the skills necessary for success as a point guard include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) toughness, (2) defensive prowess, (3) strength, (4) intelligence, (5) leadership, and (6) great passing.  These core skills were what defined the position “Before Curry” (B.C.).  Now, in order to play the position at the highest level, a point guard must possess other skills, such as the ability to stretch the floor.  This ability, B.C, was usually required of a team’s shooting guard.  But now, teams are looking for players with Curry’s shooting ability to play the point guard position (good luck with that search).  Curry’s unique shooting ability has truly revolutionized the game of basketball.   

So, what makes Curry so different?  Well, he is easily the best shooter in the history of the game.  Yes, I made that statement, and certainly stand behind it.  When you think about the great shooters in the history of the NBA, certain names come to mind—Reggie Miller, Ray Allen, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitski, and Larry Bird.  Steph, in my opinion, is a notch above each of these shooters because he has an uncanny ability to make shots, from well behind the three-point line, off the dribble.  He is not just a spot-up shooter; rather, he is a difficult shot-maker.  I watched a game just last night when he scored 53 points, with 28 coming in a furious barrage in the third quarter.  He is impossible to guard because he is a threat from any spot on the court.  Most players have certain proclivities that make them susceptible to defensive schemes aimed to stop them.  With Steph, I do not see any offensive weakness.  He has one of the tightest handles the league has ever seen—coupled with the purest jump shot in league history. Taken together: he is nearly impossible to guard.

Have we ever seen a player like Steph Curry?  The short answer is no.  However, the closest comparison, offensively, would be an “in-his-prime” Steve Nash.  He too possessed a tight handle and an ability to shoot the ball extremely well.  However, not even Steve could shoot the ball from 30 feet with remarkable precision.  Considering Steph’s relative humble beginnings, I find it very ironic and encouraging that he has to be included on a short list of players who revolutionized the game.  Some players on that list include: Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul Jabar, Julius Irving, Michael Jordan, and Shaquille O’Neal.  Of all of these players, only Steph Curry looks like a regular person.  By that I mean, he is not extremely tall, muscular or otherwise physically imposing.  If you saw him walking down the street, and did not recognize his face, he would not otherwise standout. 

If Steph Curry remains healthy, I have no doubt that he will be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer.  That would be pretty sweet considering many people thought he would not even become a full-time starter in the NBA.  His story shows that belief in oneself, coupled with a great work ethic, can help a person overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.

Peace