Steph Curry is on the NBA All Time List but is he on Mt. Rushmore? After a dominant performance in the NBA Finals where he walked away with the Bill Russell MVP trophy, many are contemplating where Steph Curry resides in the pantheon of pro basketball. Is Steph in the NBA top ten or even possibly the legendary Final 4?
The Resume
After several conversations with fellow basketball nonexperts, one thing is certain. It is next to impossible to compare cross generational players of similar skill based on championships won or, more impartantly in the 90s, how many championships were never won based on which NBA all time great was standing in their way. Ahem, Michael Jordan. With that said, the resume of Wardell Stephen Curry II boasts quite a long list of achievements. He was the 2014-15 NBA MVP and helped lead the Warriors to the championship over the LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers. He went on to win the 2015-16 MVP unanimously and remains the only player in the 75 year history of the league to do it.
Steph also has 4 NBA championships on his resume to go along with his 2 MVPs. He has been an all star 8 times and is also an 8 time All NBA player with 4 first teams, 3 seconds, and a third. in 2022, the best shooter of all time became the NBA leader in 3 point shots made. In this past series defeating the Boston Celtics, Steph probably earned his highest honor, the Bill Russell trophy for Finals MVP. He closed out game 6 with a thrilling 34 point performance, but it was his scintilating 43 point outburst at the Boston Garden in game 4 while trailing 2 games to 1 that cemented his legacy. Interestingly, he broke the 3 point mark at Madison Square Garden, the world’s most famous arena. Curry also holds numerous NBA scoring records and is the Warriors all time leader in points, assists, and steals in the regular and postseason. His superior shooting and tremendous skill have revolutionized the way the game is played and how teams defend.
The Competition
Curry’s resume is extremely impressive, but being honest, it would still be very difficult for it to catapult him into the top four NBA players of all time when talking Mt. Rushmore. The conversation begins with two names, Michael Jordan and LeBron James. In the opinion of someone who has seen MJ pour in 50 points during a playoff game at the aforementioned MSG, there is no doubt Jordan is the NBA GOAT. LeBron is an all time great as well and worthy of the second spot on Mt. Rushmore. Choosing Curry over this list as one of the final two places would be a courageous decision:
Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, Kevin Durant
The Top Ten
Rounding out the top ten would be incredibly difficult with this list:
Tim Duncan, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Julius Erving, Dirk Nowitzki, Charles Barkley, Jerry West, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry
- Michael Jordan
- LeBron James
- Magic Johnson
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Larry Bird
- Kobe Bryant
- Shaquille O’Neal
- Kevin Durant
- Hakeem Olajuwon
- Tim Duncan
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Steph Curry
In conclusion, Steph Curry is currently number 12 on my all time NBA list with room to climb. At 34, its conceivable for him to make the top ten with another championship run.