Steph Curry is a machine. In literally a season and a half, he went from a very solid NBA player to the league’s main attraction. What he’s done is unprecedented, but now the question becomes: Is he the best basketball player in the world today?
This question is a little more reasonable than it was last season and here’s why: while Curry had a great year in 2015, we had to see if he could carry it over into 2016, or if we just caught a glimpse of an NBA solar eclipse (a guy playing amazingly well for a period of time, with no explanation, then dropping off and never returning to that level again. Think “Linsanity” or Dirk in the 2011 NBA playoffs). I think we can all go ahead and agree that it wasn’t a fluke and both he and the Warriors are legit, considering they are 23-0 as I write this and haven’t lost since June.
There are a couple of different ways to look at this “who is the best” game we’re about to play. The first way is straight by the book. In other words, who is the best player, pound-for-pound, right now? Don’t think about the past or the future. Right now, who is better? The second (and more fun) way to play, is to ask who would you rather have both now and for the next 10 years?
We’ll play option numero uno first, so you people can get the answer you came here for. Pound-for-pound is Steph the best overall player in the NBA today? No, he’s not, and if you think he is, you probably don’t know much about basketball. Is he the most entertaining to watch? Absolutely. No contest. Is he the hottest ticket in town right now? Undeniably, yes. However, LeBron is still the best overall player in the game. I mean for goodness’ sake, he took these Warriors (who we have already established are becoming historically good) to six games in the 2015 Finals with, basically, J.R. Smith and the island of misfit toys. The way he controls the game in all facets still makes him King (pun intended).
However, let’s play the other version for all you Curry-ites who are, no doubt, calling me a blasphemer right about now. If you can only pick one guy for your team, but you get him right now and for the next 10 years, who do you take? It’s really a case of preference, because any way you cut it, you’re going to pick either Curry or Anthony Davis (Kawhi Leonard is probably third, FYI). Coming from a guy who plays guard, likes to shoot lots of threes from places I probably shouldn’t and who can see that the NBA is a guard-driven league now, give me Curry all day. This guy isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
