Stop, if you’ve heard this one before…Steph Curry is good, but back when I played we would have handled him differently! You can attribute that sentiment to a whole host of former NBA players of yesteryear. And while I know 2016 Hall of Fame Finalist Allen Iverson respects the great gentlemen that played the game before him, don’t count him among the group unwilling to recognize the greatness that is Chef Curry.
SB Nation’s Tim Cato wrote about AI’s thoughts on Curry, from comments Iverson recently made at the Sixers’ Youth Foundation Gala:
“You know that that guy is here. He’s incredible. He’s different. He’s different. He’s something we’ve never seen.”
I can’t say I disagree with AI. Like him, I am from the age bracket that thinks Michael Jordan is the G.O.A.T. but it’s true, we have never seen anything like Curry. His ability to shoot off the dribble with range out to 40 feet is sublime. How many times have you watched this shot?
We are witnessing the best player on planet earth, period. His handle, shooting, passing and movement off the ball are works of art. Never before have we seen someone wrestle the mantle away as top dog in the Association with such ferocity in such a short period of time.
When giving and receiving assessments nothing means more to an athlete in professional sports than the acceptance and praise of that fraternity; both contemporaries and the greats of the past. AI recognizes the genius and talent of Steph but probably also sees himself. Here is another little guard (as if 6’3″ is little for us mere mortals), fundamentally changing the game. And make no mistake, this revolution is being televised. I hope we can all appreciate what we are witnessing in this moment.